The practice · 14 Bridge Street

Two treatment rooms, one sterilising room, no stairs

A ground-floor practice in a converted shop on 14 Bridge Street, with a level entrance from Mill Lane. Here is what is in each room and how every instrument is cleaned.

Treatment room oneGround floor, with the screen where you see your X-rays.

Treatment room one: the chair, the cabinets and the screen for your X-rays — Treatment room oneGround floor, with the screen where you see your X-rays.

Treatment room twoWhere Priya runs the hygiene appointments.

Treatment room two, with the chair by the basin — Treatment room twoWhere Priya runs the hygiene appointments.

Equipment

WHAT is in THE ROOM

Digital X-rayImages appear on the screen in seconds, at a lower dose than film.
Magnifying loupesWorn by every clinician for every examination and treatment.
Intraoral cameraA pen-sized camera, so you see the same tooth we see.
Rubber damUsed for every root canal: it keeps the tooth dry and clean, and nothing goes down your throat.
3D scannerFor crowns, aligners and whitening trays: no impression putty.

Hygiene and sterilisation

FROM the CHAIR TO the POUCH

Instruments never get cleaned in the room you are treated in. They go to a separate decontamination room and come back sealed. Steam sterilising works on the same principle as a pressure cooker; the autoclave was invented in 1879.

After your appointmentUsed instruments go to the decontamination room in a closed cassette.

A cassette of instruments waiting to be cleaned, bagged and sterilised — After your appointmentUsed instruments go to the decontamination room in a closed cassette.

The steriliserA vacuum steam cycle at 134 °C, logged every time.

The steam steriliser in the decontamination room, door open — The steriliserA vacuum steam cycle at 134 °C, logged every time.

Sealed and datedThe indicator strip changes colour in the steriliser.

Instruments sealed in sterilisation pouches with their indicator strips — Sealed and datedThe indicator strip changes colour in the steriliser.

01WashedInstruments leave the room in a closed box and go through a washer-disinfector.
02InspectedEach one is checked under a lit magnifier for anything left behind.
03SterilisedA vacuum steam autoclave: air pumped out, steam in, 134 °C under pressure. The machine records every cycle.
04SealedBagged in a dated pouch whose indicator strip changes colour in the steriliser, and opened in front of you.

Getting in

Step-FREE, START TO FINISH

Level entranceStep-free from Mill Lane, with a wide door and a ramp to reception.
Hearing loopAt reception and in treatment room one.
ParkingBridge Street car park, 40 metres, free for two hours; two blue-badge bays behind the practice.
By busMarket Cross stop, three minutes' walk.

Longer appointments are free if you need more time; just tell Joanne when you book.

The waiting roomArmchairs by the window, and a hearing loop at the desk.

The waiting room: armchairs by a tall window and a low table — The waiting roomArmchairs by the window, and a hearing loop at the desk.

Come and see it first

Nervous? Ask to see the room before your visit

Book an appointment