Level 3 – Health Press Release

IS DENTAL TREATMENT AN ESSENTIAL SERVICES?

The short answer is ‘no’. Dental services are not considered essential by the Ministry of Health, and this means we’re not able to see patients unless it’s an emergency (a problem that cannot be remedied by medication).

WHAT PRECAUTIONS IS KOWHAI DENTAL TAKING?

To ensure we can keep serving the community, the Kowhai Dental office has been open to patients for emergencies since the lockdown began on 23 March. To keep you (and us) safe we have also implemented all recommended safety precautions. This includes distancing protocols, increased time between appointments, upgraded Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), and pre-screening.

I STARTED TREATMENT BEFORE LOCKDOWN, WHAT DO I DO NOW?

Many of you started dental treatment prior to the isolation period, and are probably wondering what to do next. As soon as we know when we're able to re-open, we'll let all of our patients know. Unfortunately, we just don’t know when that will be. If the Alert Level is lowered to Level 3 next week, we still might not be able to see non-emergency patients. The Ministry of Health will make that decision, and we'll just have to wait for their call.

WHAT IF I NEED DENTAL TREATMENT NOW?

Rest assured: if you're having a dental problem, we'll do our best to remedy it. We'll find a way to help you, whether that means seeing you at our offices, getting a prescription to your pharmacist, or giving advice to get you by until we can see you. Simply give us a call on 09 430 0707 and we’ll find the best solution possible under the circumstances.

Although there may be a healthy price to pay for "going hard and going early", our government’s decisive action will hopefully see New Zealand spared the extremes the rest of the globe is facing.

I hope you're coping well with the current lockdown, and finding some level of contentedness despite the isolation.

Like Aunt 'Cindy says, "Be safe, be kind".