What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 8pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 8am - 1pm

https://www.facebook.com/144728452340209/

Mike Brown Dental, 163 Drake Street, Rochdale (2026)

05/01/2021

Hi everyone and a Happy New Year. Here's hoping 2021 will be an improvement on 2020. However, following yesterdays announcement regarding renewed restrictions i suppose we must all be feeling a sense of de ja vu. At present i am waiting for specific advice from the CDO (chief dental officer). However, i think it wise for all vulnerable and shielded patients to delay their routine examinations until March. At the same time i do not want patients to be sitting at home suffering if they have dental problems, so i am also using this post as an opportunity to remind patients we are still here to help.

Although it may never be possible to say it is "safe" we are doing everything possible to make it safer to visit the dentist. Each room at mike brown dental has an Aerosol pro direct extraction "vacuum" to prevent your infected aerosol getting into the surgery air. Each surgery also has a Woodpecker UV light air purifier which can provide 18 air changes per hour in our largest surgery and even more in our smaller surgeries. We have been using this equipment since July. Also the hygiene surgery has been fitted with a monsoon extraction fan which can recirculate the air in the room 20 times per hour. This means that in the hygiene surgery the combined power of the equipment can produce the equivalent of 60 air changes per hour.

I hope this provides you all with what re-assurance i can, and i look forward to seeing you all in 2021.

Best wishes
Mike

29/06/2020

Patients requiring treatment priority list

Since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic we have been compiling a list of patients requiring treatment. We believe the patient's in most need have been seen. However, if you believe you are on this list but have not been contacted; please feel free to get in touch, especially if you are still in pain. As a patient base, 99% of you have been incredibly supportive, and i am concerned there may be patient's at home suffering in silence. Please don't think you are bothering us, please get in touch as this helps us to prioritize who is most in need. This includes patients who were due to have routine treatment as the pandemic started at the end of March.

28/06/2020

Hi everyone- last week we received guidance from nhs England advising us that patients should now all wear face coverings when they attend the practice. To date footfall in the practice has been kept deliberately low, however, next week we will be seeing an increase in footfall from 1st July as Roberto and myself operate our own individual surgeries. Therefore patients wearing face coverings in the building will become more important. We thank you for your cooperation in these difficult times

05/06/2020

Dentists reduced capacity

There has been speculation in the media today regarding the reduced capacity of dentists to see patients. I believe this is an effort to help NHS practices explain to patients why they are unable to keep seeing high patient volumes. At mike brown dental we provide only a very small amount of NHS care because we have believed for many years that high volume dentistry is not in the patient’s best interests. It is true that long high risk AGP procedures will require treatment rooms to be “left fallow” for 1 hour following treatment. This will make things difficult at all dental practices including mike brown dental. However, I believe as we “feel our way” through new ways of working we can find a way to deliver care to the patients that need it most. Also as the national Alert level falls to level 1 or 2 I am hopeful routine care will not be too different. With regard to costs I do not believe there will be any change in NHS charges any time soon, and denplan charges are not set to change at this moment in time. However, we have already had to significantly increase the cost our private fee per item services to try to account for the massive increase in costs related to PPE. Patients who have paid in this manner in the past may now wish to join the denplan scheme, and those of you who rely on other health insurance packages may need to check the level of your cover.

04/06/2020

Patient information – Alert level 4

Mike brown dental is due to re-open on Monday 8th June. However, patients need to be aware that while the country remains on COVID-19 Alert level 3,4, or 5 we will continue to operate a closed door policy in line with latest professional guidance.

What does this mean?
Please do not just arrive at the practice. You need to contact us by phone first so we can triage you. You will then be given a combination of ADVICE, ANALGESIA and ANTIMICROBIALS, and placed on our “Urgent care priority waiting list”. However, now that we are open it is possible that you will be offered an appointment based on a risk assessment surrounding your COVID-19 risk and your dental risk. YOU ARE STILL SAFER AT HOME, but for some of you the level of your dental risk means that you need care.

Once you have an appointment what is new? ----- A LOT!!!!

1. You will be contacted prior to your appointment by phone, but if you have an email address please let us know because pre-appointment email communication will save time. This communication will confirm your medical history, your COVID-19 status, and it will be used to confirm what you expect from your appointment. Arriving at your appointment and advising us that you’ve “broken a tooth”, or “I’m in pain” will not result in immediate intervention in the way it has often done in the past. The reason for this pre-appointment communication is to reduce contact time once you are at the practice, and so we can establish if you need an AGP or non-AGP appointment (see later).
2. You must attend alone, unless you are bringing a child or a carer, in which case you must inform us before your appointment.
3. You must avoid touching anything within the practice except the stair rail.
4. Please bring your own pen.
5. Do not bring unnecessary items like bags or coats, especially valuables. You will not be allowed to take such items into the surgery.
6. If possible use the toilet before attending the practice. This does not mean our toilet facilities are unavailable, so don’t worry if you are “medically compromised” in this respect.

What happens when you arrive at the practice?
1. Telephone reception from outside so we can let you in. Only patients with pre-booked appointments will be allowed inside.
2. You may be asked to use your car as a waiting room, but if you cannot travel by car then you will be able to use our waiting area, but you will need to wear a mask in waiting areas.
3. Please be aware that although it will be very quiet in the practice, we will still need to observe social distancing rules outside the treatment area.
4. Once inside the building you will be met at the front door by reception, who will confirm your COVID-19 status, and medical history. Reception will confirm that you are ready for treatment as discussed in pre-appointment telephone call or email. You will need to sign COVID-19 consent form and consent form for treatment planned.
5. Receptionist will record your temperature with forehead thermometer.
6. Receptionist will assist you with hand hygiene at the “hand hygiene station” by the front door. You will be asked to wear gloves.
7. If necessary, you will need to leave coats and bags on hooks in downstairs hallway, but you are encouraged not to bring them. All coats and bags are left in hallway at your own risk.
8. Assuming all is well the receptionist will es**rt you to where you need to be.

What happens in the surgery?
The usual stuff! However, we may be wearing more PPE than you have been used to; and we may be using a pre-treatment mouthwash, depending on your level of risk.

What happens after treatment?
1. At the end of your treatment you will be asked to remove your gloves, and we will assist you in disposing of them in the clinical waste bins. You will then leave the surgery immediately. Outside each surgery there will be a hand hygiene station. You will need to clean your hands directly outside the surgery, at the hand hygiene station provided.
2. You will then be expected to make your own way out of the building touching as little as possible EXCEPT ON THE STAIRS. The stairs hand rail will be regularly cleaned. When you are back in your car please contact reception by phone, to arrange your next appointment, and provide any payment required. Alternatively, please contact us when you arrive home. Any payments required may be best provided by BACS transfer

Is there anything else you need to know?
There will be Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGP’s) and non-Aerosol Generating Procedures. After an AGP the surgery needs to be left fallow for 1 hour in most circumstances, to allow the infected aerosol to settle on surfaces ready for cleaning. This is why I cannot suddenly turn a planned non-AGP appointment into an AGP appointment. This will be a challenging situation and I request your understanding over the period we are at Alert level 3,4, & 5.

I apologize for the extensive nature of this information. We are following guidelines designed to keep you safe. Everything you can do to comply with these guidelines will give us more treatment time and less cleaning time.

Kind regards to all; we will be contacting our most severely affected patients soon.

Mike

03/06/2020

GOOD NEWS !!
I have good news for everyone because myself, Roberto and Elland have all tested negative for COVID-19. This is great news because if just one of us had tested positive we would ALL be self isolating, and the practice would not be opening on Monday.
With this in mind I think I should remind everyone of the situation we are still in. The Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (FGDP) have published extensive guidelines (on 1st June) regarding re-opening. Within this guidance they describe the “risk” of “possible closures” as “almost certain”. In this situation we would be back to telephone triage, advice, analgesia, and antimicrobials, with referral to UDC hubs or “buddy” arrangements with other dental practices.
However – lets be more positive than that, because on Monday we will be beginning the process of getting patients out of pain and back to normal. Also, the one think I have learnt throughout the crisis; is that trying to predict what might happen is very difficult and it is best to try to take one day at a time.
So lets get back to the headline above – GOOD NEWS WE ARE BACK.

02/06/2020

Mask fitting and COVID 19 testing.

Last Friday our staff underwent fit testing for masks. Some of you will have seen the picture undergoing his fit test. BTW the “bee keepers visor” is just used during the test not when patients are in surgery.

Yesterday myself, Roberto and Elland went for a COVID-19 test. None of us have symptoms, but I feel it is correct to confirm we are not infected with the virus before we “re-open” on Monday. We will receive our results within 48 hours.

Unfortunately if any of us test positive it will be in everyone’s best interest for the practice to only remain open for triage and the three A’s. I will keep you informed.

Here are our fit test certificates and my COVID-19 test card.

02/06/2020

Expansion of services – mike brown dental

By now many of you will know that dental practices have been given permission to “re-open” on 8th June. However, as I have explained before on this page we have never been closed, and this has been the message conveyed by government officials on TV and the wider media.

However, our services have been limited to triage and the three A’s:
ADVICE
ANALGESIA
ANTIMICROBIALS
Only after failure of these measures have we been referring to UDC hubs.

We are now very busy preparing for face-to-face appointments from the 8th June, and we have a lot to do.
There are extensive guidelines for new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s), which we will be working through this week.
We will then be contacting some of our patients in most need and arranging appointments. Unfortunately, many of these offers of treatment will be made at short notice.
We will continue to cancel all appointments in June, to facilitate treatment of patients in need. July appointments will remain under review as the situation and guidance develops.
As patients it is important for me to help you understand what you can expect from us. IT IS DEFINITELY NOT “BUSINESS AS USUAL”.

DO NOT ARRIVE AT THE PRACTICE WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT. We will not be “squeezing you in” before we begin morning surgery. You will need to contact us by phone to discuss your problem. Then, we will need to continue offering triage, ADVICE, ANALGESIA, and ANTIMICROBIALS. We will need to continue placing patients on our urgent care priority waiting list, but now we will be able to start providing active treatment for patients on this list.
As we return to face-to-face appointments we will become more familiar with how many patients can be seen safely within the building.

Initially some of the following measures will be in place.
1. If possible your car will be your waiting room.
2. There will be large gaps between patient appointments to facilitate new infection control procedures necessary for COVID-19.
3. There will be AGP appointments and non-AGP appointments.
4. You will need to have your temperature taken as you enter the building.
5. We will need to ask you questions regarding your COVID status and your living arrangements – Do you live with a vulnerable or shielded person?
6. You will need to wash your hands when you enter and leave the building and wear a pair of our disposable gloves.
7. You should attend wearing a mask if possible.

So what is an AGP ?
This is an Aerosol Generating Procedure. When we drill (or polish!!) your tooth bacteria from your mouth go up into the air in an aerosol. Unfortunately, in the current world of COVID this makes our staff vulnerable to virus transmission. It is a risk for us, and it is also a risk that we then pass on the virus to the next patient. For this reason it is likely that after an AGP, we will all leave the surgery ASAP, and leave the room fallow for 1 hour while the aerosol descends. Only then will the surgery be fully cleaned and prepared for the next appointment.

Examples of AGP’s:
1. Any procedure using high speed drill
2. Routine polishing of teeth
3. Ultra sonic scaling
4. Any procedure using 3 in 1 syringe – the tool we use to blow air.
Unfortunately, this is quite a depressing list as all common dental procedures cause aerosols.

Examples of Non- AGP’s:
1. Examination and x-ray
2. Hand scaling – in the past we have often scaled teeth using ultra sonic equipment. It is inevitable that over the coming months hand scaling will become the new normal. But a non-AGP hand scale will be that alone ie: NOT a hand scale AND polish.
3. Non-surgical extraction. Every extraction will need to be assessed for risk of AGP. If we attempt an extraction within a non-AGP appointment we will need to be extremely confident that the tooth will be easily removed.
4. Denture procedures.
5. Hand removal of caries (decay) – quite common in deciduous (baby) teeth in children.

Our problem with non-AGP appointments will be that it will not be possible to turn a non-AGP appointment into an AGP appointment like we routinely did in the past. If we are forced into this situation, then other patients will lose their appointment at short notice because the surgery will require 1 hour fallow while the AGP descends. This is a situation that I am sure we all wish to avoid. However, to help with this all patients will need to accept the difficulties of our new Standard Operating Procedures. So attending for an examination, and declaring that you have a problem, will not result in immediate treatment in the same way as it has in the past.
Our problem with AGP’s will be PPE. AGP’s will require correctly fitted masks and there is no reliable supply chain for this equipment. Our good news is we have some in the practice and we have our “fit” certificates.
Unfortunately, all the problems surrounding new Standard Operating Procedures are going to cause delays, and for now I ask for your patience and trust that we are keeping you safe, and treating those in most need.

29/05/2020

Hi everyone!

Quick update! All of the staff have now under gone fit testing for our masks ready for the re opening of Mike Brown Dental.

Here is Mike Brown undergoing his fit test.

29/05/2020

Re-opening of dental practices

Many of you may have heard that dental practices in England will be opening on 8th June. Although this is true everyone should be aware that it will NOT be “business as usual”. There will be many constraints surrounding AGP’s and non-AGP’s, and there will be social distancing measures required. We are currently working our way through the guidelines, and developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s), to make things as safe as possible, within the constraints of our particular building.

More information will follow as soon as possible. However, if you have trouble contacting the practice this morning it is because myself and the staff are going to Bury to be fit tested for FFP3 respirating masks, so as you can see we are AND have been preparing to re-open for some time. However, please also be aware that we intend to continue cancelling routine appointments for June so we can deal with patients who are on our Urgent Care waiting list.

22/05/2020

Re-opening of dental practices.

Information is beginning to emerge regarding the reopening of dental practices. Throughout the crisis Scotland has often been the first to instigate appropriate COVID-19 measures, and again they are taking the lead with a three phase plan.

• Phase 1 involves increasing the capacity of the Urgent Dental Care Centres. The UDCCs are currently treating patients with urgent dental care needs, but the centres should now grow their capacity to increase the range of treatments available to patients.
My comment here is that phase 1 of “re-opening” sounds a lot more like phase 42 of “Staying closed”.

• Phase 2 will see NHS practices start to see patients, initially for consultations using non-aerosol generating procedures (AGPs), and later for routine care – including examination and treatment – that can also be provided using non-AGPs. There is no precise timeline for Phase 2, though the Scottish Government expects to have made some progress by 31 July, with consultations available in every practice by then.
My comment here would be that where it says NHS practices it probably refers to private practices aswell.

• Phase 3 will involve a limited introduction of AGPs to dental practices, depending on risk and mitigation. There is no timescale yet for this phase.
My comment here is that they can’t guarantee the PPE.

I also believe that the faculty of General Dental Practitioners will be providing guidelines regarding re-opening of dental practices and these should be available next week.

As I have said before, I believe that PPE will be the crucial factor to re-opening and there continues to be a huge shortage. The number one piece of PPE shortage being FFP3 valved masks, of which I am expecting a delivery today, and hopefully Roberto will also be bringing masks from Greece next Tuesday. Once I have the masks within the practice, myself and all the staff will require fitting, so this will be a job for next week when I have the masks within the building.

By having the appropriate PPE in place, mike brown dental will have the opportunity to provide Aerosol Generating Procedures, as soon as possible (AGP’s). This is really important because a dentist cannot provide much care without AGP’s. Non- AGP’s would include check-ups, HAND scaling (no polish), SIMPLE recementing crowns, very simple filling repairs – the type of quick fix that I usually try to avoid. Also impressions for dentures, bite guards, sports mouth guards, orthodontic retainers may be possible, but FITTING a denture will probably require an AGP.

So although we are now beginning to get some welcome information, it is not “giving me permission” to get back to normal practice. Also, nearly all the patients on my urgent care priority waiting list will require AGP’s. However, I ask you all to remain patient and continue to call me at any time for help with your dental problems. On a positive note, both the GDC and CQC continue to state that they cannot compel any dental practice to close. The GDC and CQC are the two governing bodies that ensure dental care is delivered professionally and safely. These are the regulators that will investigate any dental practice that is operating “illegally”. Therefore, as soon as mike brown dental has the correct PPE, and the correct paperwork that says it is correctly fitted, I will be contacting the CQC for permission / advice regarding re-opening.

At present, given the information above, we are cancelling appointments in June. Patients with appointments at the beginning of June will already have been contacted, and we will continue to work our way through June on a day- by day basis.

In conclusion, I still find myself speculating as much as giving you solid facts. I do not expect to be seeing routine care in June, but it may not be impossible, and re-opening may be sooner than we think. To present this in another way – we are having some painting and decorating within the practice. We are also having some minor internal building works to divide Kaths surgery and provide the staff with a changing area. I expect this to be completed in the next three weeks, and I am slightly concerned it won’t be completed in time for the “Grand re-opening”.

Stay safe everyone, I’ll be back next week.
Mike

14/05/2020

Good morning everyone,

it has been on my mind to follow up last weeks post to try and provide up to date information regarding dental care at Mike Brown Dental, and dental care nationally.

Unfortunately, this is quite difficult to do in a manner where i confidently give you solid facts. Therefore, I will do my best to communicate what I KNOW, and what I FEEL is likely.

ARE WE OPEN?
Well a government politician on TV told the nation "Your dentist is open and available for advice to help you with your dental problems"

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
It means you ring 01706 647746 and you will speak to me any time of the day. The practice number is on call divert to my mobile at all times. If the call divert fails, which has happened once in the last 8 weeks, let me know of the problem via Facebook if possible. Thanks to Debra who helped me with this on the one occasion when my call divert failed.

When you contact me i will asses your problem and offer
Advice
Analgesia
Antibiotics ( The 3 A's)
If your problem does not resolve you will need to contact me again.

Any painkillers / antibiotics I will deliver to you in almost all circumstances, so you have the medication in your hands (not a piece of paper)

No matter the severity of your problem I would like you to contact me. I am compiling a priority list so the patients in most need will get their treatment first when we are able to provide face to face care. If you have a minor problem still let me know. That way you are on the list albeit lower down.

After I have provided AAA if your problem does not resolve you will need to contact me again. In many cases i will actually take the lead on this, and choose to get back in touch with you 4-5 days later to check on your progress.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU'RE JUST NOT IMPROVING?
Well this is the point at which I make a referral to an Urgent Dental Care hub. This is where things get tricky. Many UDC's require a patient to have had two courses of Ab's before they will consider face to face care.

I have emailed the BDA, and subsequently spoken to the BDA regarding this situation. The BDA agreed that this situation is "diabolical" and i am using their choice of words. Also given that the patient is only being considered for treatment when the situation is becoming severe/grave, the response time is not necessarily rapid. With this in mind I have spoken to "Dental Protection".

Dental protection are the company that indemnify me against legal action; every doctor and dentist has such insurance. Their view was that if i follow correct procedure and i have exhausted all other avenues of providing patient care, then Dental protection will consider that I am acting in the best interest of the patient. On this basis I will be intervening should the need arise. This does not mean I will be re-cementing your crown. However it does mean that I will be dealing with your facial swelling or uncontrollable pain, but only after the UDC has failed to respond.

To put this into context - DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE UDC HUB. I am not criticizing my fellow professionals who are hard at work. If you go to a hub you can be confident in the professionals who will be providing your care. You can also be confident in cross infection control etc which will be exemplary.
Earlier i quoted the BDA and the word "diabolical".That only refers to the referral process and the total inability of the services ability to cope with the demand. Once your are actually in the chair my colleagues are exemplary professionals putting themselves in the line of fire from Covid 19 to provide your care. I applaud them, as we all should.

WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING AT MIKE BROWN DENTAL?
1. We are in the practice answering calls from 9am to 1pm, Call divert is on full time after 1pm.
2. We are delivering Oral Hygiene products to patients at risk and to many patients who are missing routine appointments due to Covid 19 restrictions.
3. We are sourcing and buying where possible PPE (personal protective equipment). PPE is going to be a crucial factor in re opening. At present I am confident we will be ready to re-open when we have the go ahead from our professional bodies.
4. We are compiling a list of priority patients that will be seen first when we re open. Routine care will not resume on day 1.

WHAT CHANGES CAN I EXPECT? A LOT !!!!
I expect standard operation procedure to be along the following lines :
1. Front door remains closed. The patient telephones the practice to let us know they are here, and waits in their car until it is safe for us to let them in.
2. Patient enters practice and has their temperature taken with a "forehead" thermometer. This equipment has been ordered and I expect delivery within days.
3. Patient uses alcohol rub to wash their hands and then puts on a pair of gloves. Patient will be taken direct to surgery. We have large stock of alcohol rub and gloves.
4. Patient rinses their mouth with new mouthwash which reduces the "viral load" in their mouth. This protects the dentist and staff, and it also protects the patient from the previous patient. We have 200 doses of this mouth wash currently in stock. The majority of "leading countries are adopting this measure according to Cochrane review published last week,
5. Your dentist will be using new PPE. He/She will be wearing an FFP2 or FFP3 mask, The BDA is recommending an appropriate FFP3 mask that has been fit tested. Such masks should be available at Mike Brown Dental by the end of next week. Obtaining the "fit testing" may be more difficult but I am following up on a lead, and think this should be resolved. Non-Fit tested FFP2 and FFP3 masks are already in the practice (100+) and over 300 more should be in the practice by the end of next week. The World Health Organisation and many "leading" countries are happy with this level of mask and are not recommending fit testing. However the BDA INTEND TO KEEP ME SAFE and therefore are requiring a higher level of PPE.
Your dentist will be wearing a head cover and we have 200 in the practice.
Your dentist will be wearing a gown/apron. We have over 200 gowns likely to be in the practice by the end of next week. We have over 600 aprons already in the practice. Your dentist will also be wearing a visor - we have 25 in the practice and 50 more on the way.
6. After your appointment you will be es**rted to the front door where you will remove your gloves and wash your hands with alcohol rub before leaving.

SO, WE ARE WORKING HARD TO BE READY TO RE-OPEN.
We will be prioritizing patients most in need.
We will have necessary PPE to keep staff and patients safe.
But the world has changed. Things will be different for an unknown time frame. We all still need dental care, but as a patient you need to reconsider what you expect from dental care.

THE NEW NORMAL IS ON THE WAY

Mike Brown Dental

05/01/2021

29/06/2020

28/06/2020

05/06/2020

04/06/2020

03/06/2020

02/06/2020

02/06/2020

29/05/2020

29/05/2020

22/05/2020

14/05/2020

Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Monday	9am - 8pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 1pm