Business is more-or-less back to normal for Wagga dentists, with restrictions being eased to the minimum levels after weeks of coronavirus lockdown.
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For weeks dentists could only offer emergency treatments, but now they will be able to resume all of their normal services and routine checkups with restrictions being reduced to Level One.
They will still need to screen patients at the door for COVID-19 risk and stick to a vigilant hygiene protocol, but will otherwise by allowed to operate as normal.
The news comes to the immense relief of Best St Dental dentist Rosemary Morgan, who said she never would have imagined the restrictions would be lifted so soon.
"I think I can speak for everyone who's a dentist: we're just really excited to get back to work after being restricted for six weeks," Dr Morgan said.
"It was quite funny today just picking up my drill and little air puffer and thinking to myself - hooray, I've got all my tools back."
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The clinic has been rostering their staff half-on half-off throughout the shutdown, but starting from next week they will be reuniting as a full team for the first time since the lockdown.
Dr Morgan said the team were looking forward to getting back to work and chipping away at the backlog of patients that had built up during the last six weeks.
When patients return to their clinics they will be required to use a special mouthwash to reduce the risk of infection to the dentists, who are among the most at-risk frontline workers.
"The patients have all been amazing over the past six weeks; everyone's been really understanding, everyone's adapted to all the changes, and everyone's really appreciative," Dr Morgan said.
"You could just sense there was this low level of anxiety, so it was really great to be able help people so they had one less thing to worry about."
Australian Dental Association NSW president Kathleen Matthews said the lowering of restrictions was a gamechanger for Wagga dentists, some of whom were not able to trade at all under the previous Level Three restrictions.
"What that means is that all dental services that your regularly might see a dentist for can go forward today in Wagga Wagga, which is fantastic," Dr Matthews said.
"It's good people can get those dental checks done early, because it's important to get your teeth sorted before they become a big problem."
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
