Cold Sore Policy

At Family Dental Clinic, patient safety and infection prevention are one of our top priorities. As part of our infection prevention and control protocols, we kindly ask that patients with a cold sore (caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus) for less than two weeks reschedule any non-emergency dental or hygiene treatments until the contagious period has passed.

 

Cold sores are highly contagious. The Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) can easily spread to other areas of your face, including your eyes, and to others. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with saliva or airborne droplets that may be generated during dental or hygiene procedures, such as aerosols. Protecting both yourself and others from the risk of infection is essential.

 

If you require urgent dental care and have an active cold sore, our clinicians will ensure the cold sore is appropriately protected with a cold sore plaster to minimise the risk of cross-contamination. The plaster can be provided by the Practice at a cost of £3 or you can provide your own plaster. It must be a plaster only for cold sores. Should it not be satisfactory or not been applied correctly, we will reserve the right to postpone your appointment.

Please note that cold sores are contagious from the moment they begin to emerge and remain so until they are fully healed. This makes it crucial to defer non-essential dental treatments during this time.

 

If you arrive for your appointment and we observe an active cold sore, we will reserve the right to reschedule your treatment to ensure everyone’s safety. As mentioned, we will make exceptions for patients with acute dental pain.