There’s no doubt that 2020 has not been the year we had imagined, but with it coming to a close, we thought it would be good to reflect on the ups and downs of the year. 2020 started off as expected with everyone well rested after the holiday break. We also have some tips for your teeth over Christmas (Don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom of the post!)
By the time March rolled around, the COVID-19 pandemic had hit Australia and we were starting to worry what this would mean for our staff, our patients, and our community.
Early on in the pandemic, under the advice of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), our peak health governing body, we were placed under restrictions that meant we were only able to treat certain dental emergencies. This happened quite quickly and really tested our ability to adapt. We were forced to reschedule all appointments except emergencies (sorry!) and adapt to all of the new COVID-safe procedures. Time away from the clinic passed slowly but we were able to use it to develop our clinic coronavirus policies and procedures and of course – have a whole bunch of zoom meetings. Thankfully, restrictions were gradually eased and we were back up and running by the end of May.
We’ve been very busy trying to catch up on all of the missed appointments during the year but we have been working on some special projects as well. The most exciting of which is the possible expansion of Highgate Hill Dental Centre! For some time now we have been hearing from patients that it is getting increasingly difficult to book appointments in a reasonable timeframe. This is concerning to us as we pride ourselves on being there for you for any dental issues that may pop up. We are hoping to expand the clinic to three surgeries (pending council approval) to help alleviate the long wait times. The process is a long one but it’s our goal for 2021 to get the ball rolling!
We hope your 2021 is starting to look a little more ‘COVID-normal’ and have been able to get into the holiday spirit after what has been a difficult year. We celebrated our annual Christmas party on Friday 27th November and had an absolute blast!
Cheers to the end of a difficult year and hopefully a great 2021!
TIPS for Christmas for you and your family!
We want you to be able to enjoy the festive season without taking all the fun things away from you, so here are some of Dr Will Wang’s top tips for keeping your smile healthy during the holidays:
Red and white wine:
- Finish your last drink not too close to bedtime to reduce the erosive effects of reflux on your teeth.
- Be sure to rinse your mouth out after drinking wine in order to reduce the residual acidity.
- You’ll probably want to head straight to bed, but don’t forget to brush with a fluoride toothpaste to help combat against erosion!
Danger foods! Foods to avoid to prevent fractures at Christmas Lunch:
- Minties
- Almonds and other hard nuts
- Pork Crackling
- Chewing Ice
- No opening bottles with your teeth
We will be open during the Christmas and New Years Period, closing only on the public holidays. Happy brushing, flossing, and holidays and we’ll see you at your next check-up in 2021!
