How Platinum Dental Surgery Is Keeping You Safe: Our COVID-19 and Infection Control Commitment
When the world first heard of the coronavirus (COVID-19), it sounded like a distant issue — something happening somewhere else. But soon, it became clear that no corner of the world was untouched. Lagos, being Nigeria’s busiest and most connected city, quickly became one of the country’s hot spots.
At Platinum Dental Surgery, your health and safety have always been our top priorities. We understand that visiting a dental clinic can make some people nervous even under normal circumstances — and during a global health crisis, that concern naturally increases. That’s why we’ve gone above and beyond to ensure that our environment, team, and procedures follow the strictest infection control standards possible.
This article will walk you through what we’re doing daily to keep our patients and staff safe — and how you can protect yourself, your family, and your community.
Why Infection Control Matters in Dentistry
Dentistry is a close-contact profession. Every dental procedure involves proximity to the mouth — a potential source of airborne droplets, saliva, and blood. Infection control procedures in a dental setting aren’t just about COVID-19; they’re about preventing the spread of all kinds of infections such as flu, hepatitis, and even common colds.
These procedures are not new to us at Platinum Dental Surgery. Long before COVID-19, we had strong safety protocols in place. But the pandemic has made us double down, train harder, and upgrade our systems to meet global best practices.
The goal is simple: to protect everyone — our patients, our staff, and their families.
Staying Informed and Prepared
Information about the coronavirus continues to evolve, and misinformation spreads even faster. We understand how overwhelming reports in the media can be. That’s why we take our responsibility seriously — not only as healthcare providers but also as educators.
Our team regularly reviews updates from:
- The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
- The World Health Organization (WHO)
- The Lagos State Ministry of Health
We adapt immediately to new findings and recommendations. Preparation, we believe, is the best form of protection.
Our Commitment to Strict Infection Control Procedures
At Platinum Dental Surgery, our motto has always been “Your smile, our priority.” Now, that also means “Your safety, our responsibility.”
Here’s how we’re keeping you protected:
1. Hand Hygiene: The First and Most Important Step
Hand hygiene saves lives. Every staff member — from the front desk to the dentist — is trained and required to wash hands thoroughly:
- Before and after contact with each patient
- After touching surfaces
- After removing gloves
We’ve installed multiple hand-washing stations and alcohol-based hand sanitizers at the clinic entrance, reception, waiting area, and every treatment room.
Patients and visitors are also encouraged to sanitize their hands upon arrival and departure.
You’ll often hear our friendly reminder:
🧴 “Please sanitize before you smile!”
2. Respiratory Hygiene and Cough Etiquette
Coughing and sneezing can release infectious droplets into the air — and we take this seriously.
To help prevent airborne spread, we:
- Provide face masks to all patients and staff.
- Supply tissues and covered waste bins in waiting areas.
- Encourage patients to cover their mouth and nose with tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing.
- Display visible educational posters about proper hygiene and COVID-19 precautions.
Even children visiting the clinic are taught simple, fun ways to stay safe — turning learning into play.
3. Disinfection Between Every Patient
Before each new patient enters the operatory, all surfaces are cleaned and disinfected using hospital-grade solutions approved by global health authorities.
This includes:
- Dental chairs
- Lights and control handles
- Drawer handles and countertops
- Door handles and waiting room surfaces
Protective barriers and disposable covers are used on items such as chair handles, light switches, and suction tips — and are replaced after every single patient.
This level of diligence ensures a fresh, sterile environment for each visitor.
4. Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Our dental team wears medical-grade PPE during all procedures. This includes:
- Gloves
- Masks (N95 or surgical grade, depending on procedure)
- Gowns
- Face shields or protective goggles
- Hair covers and shoe covers where necessary
These items are either disposed of or properly sterilized after each use.
In addition, patients are given disposable protective goggles for added safety — because infection prevention is a two-way partnership.
5. Screening and Patient Triage
Before any appointment, our team screens patients by asking:
- Have you had fever, cough, or sore throat recently?
- Have you been in contact with a COVID-19 positive individual?
- Have you traveled out of Lagos or the country in the last 14 days?
Temperature checks are conducted at the entrance using non-contact thermometers. Anyone showing symptoms is advised to postpone their visit and contact their doctor or NCDC hotline for guidance.
This simple process ensures that only healthy patients enter the clinical area — protecting both staff and other visitors.
6. Limiting Non-Urgent Procedures
As part of our support for the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Lagos State Government guidelines, Platinum Dental Surgery temporarily postponed all non-urgent dental treatments during the peak of the pandemic.
We focused strictly on emergency and urgent dental care such as:
- Tooth pain or infection
- Dental trauma or broken teeth
- Swelling or abscesses
- Urgent extractions
By prioritizing emergencies, we reduced patient traffic and minimized exposure risk while ensuring that those in pain still received timely treatment.
7. Encouraging Sick Employees to Stay Home
At Platinum Dental Surgery, our staff members are our family — and we care for them as such.
We have a strict policy that any staff member feeling unwell must stay home and only return after medical clearance.
We also conduct routine health checks and ensure that our team members have access to personal protective supplies both inside and outside the clinic.
When the caregivers are safe and healthy, the patients are too.
8. Social Distancing in the Waiting Area
We redesigned our reception and waiting area to comply with social distancing guidelines.
- Seating is spaced apart to maintain at least one meter between patients.
- Appointment times are staggered to avoid crowding.
- Companions are limited to one per patient, and children are asked to come with only one parent or guardian.
Our goal is to make every visit safe, comfortable, and stress-free.
9. Air Quality and Ventilation
Airborne safety is just as important as surface cleanliness.
We use medical-grade air purifiers and ensure good cross-ventilation in all treatment rooms.
Each room is aired out between patients to allow fresh air circulation, reducing the risk of aerosol transmission.
10. Safe Sterilization Practices
Every reusable instrument (such as dental mirrors, forceps, or handpieces) goes through a strict sterilization cycle:
- Ultrasonic cleaning
- Steam sterilization (autoclaving)
- Safe storage in sterile pouches
We also use disposable dental tools whenever possible — and never reuse needles or syringes.
Our sterilization area is monitored daily to ensure compliance with safety protocols.
Protecting Our Community Beyond the Clinic
Platinum Dental Surgery believes that health doesn’t end at the clinic door.
We’ve engaged in community education across Lagos — through our website, WhatsApp broadcast lists, and social media — teaching families about:
- COVID-19 symptoms and early signs
- How to properly wear and dispose of masks
- The importance of hand hygiene and social distancing
- Maintaining oral health during lockdowns or illness
We’ve also encouraged our patients to reschedule non-urgent visits when feeling sick and to communicate honestly with our team about their health history. Transparency keeps everyone safe.
Collaborating with Health Authorities
We continue to support and follow directives from the NCDC and Lagos State Ministry of Health.
Our staff undergo ongoing training on:
- Case identification and isolation procedures
- How to handle suspected COVID-19 patients safely
- When and how to refer patients for testing
- The latest updates on variants and symptoms
Our partnership with local authorities ensures we remain compliant, prepared, and proactive.
Caring for Your Emotional Well-Being Too
We understand that anxiety about health, hygiene, and public spaces increased during the pandemic. That’s why our approach goes beyond masks and sanitizers — we also offer reassurance and empathy.
Every staff member is trained to communicate with warmth and patience.
We explain each procedure, show safety steps openly, and encourage questions.
Many of our patients have told us they feel relieved and confident after seeing the effort we put into protecting them.
Continuing Dental Care Safely During and After COVID-19
While COVID-19 is still present globally, oral health should not be neglected. Ignoring tooth pain or bleeding gums can lead to more serious health problems — and, ironically, more exposure risk when emergencies occur.
That’s why at Platinum Dental Surgery, we’ve made it possible to receive dental care safely, even during challenging times.
Whether it’s a routine checkup, cleaning, braces adjustment, or emergency visit, every appointment follows the same gold standard of infection prevention.
Our Promise to You
- Your safety comes first, always.
- Every visit will be conducted in a clean, disinfected, and ventilated environment.
- Our team will wear full PPE and follow global infection-control guidelines.
- You’ll never be treated alongside a sick patient — we screen everyone.
- We’ll continue to educate, protect, and care for our patients and community with compassion.
Stay Safe, Stay Informed
COVID-19 has changed the world, but it hasn’t changed our mission: to give you a healthy smile in a safe environment.
We encourage you to keep following NCDC and WHO guidelines:
- Wash and sanitize your hands regularly.
- Avoid touching your face unnecessarily.
- Maintain physical distancing where possible.
- Wear a mask in crowded areas.
- Stay home when you feel unwell.
Remember, prevention is always better — whether it’s cavities or COVID-19.
If You Need Dental Care in Lagos, We’re Here for You
📍 Platinum Dental Surgery
106, Aladelola Street, Ikosi Ketu, Lagos
📞 0803 373 8471 | 0812 153 2801
🌐 www.platinumdental.com.ng
Your smile deserves professional care — and your safety deserves Platinum standards.
