Ardent Dental Care

06/10/2025

We are having problems with our broadband connection this afternoon. Our Records software is back up and running, but please be aware that the phone lines are also affected.
Please keep trying if you are having difficulty getting through.
BT have assured us that they will try to have the problem resolved as quickly as possible.

23/01/2025

STORM ÉOWYN

At the time of writing, we still plan to open tomorrow Friday 24th January.
If anyone who has an appointment feels they do not wish to travel due to Storm Éowyn, that is entirely understandable. Please call the surgery after 9.00am and we will rearrange your appointment for another day.
THERE WILL BE NO LATE CANCELLATION FEE.

31/03/2023

We are currently having problems with our main BT telephone line. Some callers can get through while others cannot.
We are very sorry if you have been having trouble reaching us by phone in the last couple of days.
BT have been notified and assure us they are working on the problem.
In the short term, if you experience problems with our main number, please try calling us on 028 91814560.

02/11/2022

Only 2 spots left!

01/11/2022

Hygiene appointments available!

We have a limited number of appointments available with our hygienist Cherith on Thursday 3rd November from 2pm.

Contact reception on 9182 1348 for availability.

26/03/2021

COVID Update

The past year has been a very challenging time for everyone. It has led to many changes in our everyday lives, not least how we are able to provide treatment for our patients. In the new world of social distancing, face masks and hand sanitizer the way in which we are forced to book appointments has changed. We have been hamstrung by constantly changing guidelines and have to follow these to ensure that we remain safe for all of our patients and staff.

As the number of NHS dental surgeries in Newtownards has decreased, the pressure on the remaining NHS surgeries has increased. Currently we remain a predominantly NHS practice and have no plans to change this.

Dentistry is one of the most high-risk environments for the spread of COVID as it is transmitted through saliva and droplets from the mouth and nose. Due to this we must follow the rules set by the Health and Social Care Board. These rules dictate that we must categorise patients into 6 groups: Urgent/Emergency, Non-urgent, Routine, Remote management, Postponed treatment and Treatment under referral. This places a huge restriction on the type of treatment we can offer. There is a very high demand for Urgent and non-urgent treatment which must be seen first before we can move to the routine phase.

We understand the frustrations of patients of would like to visit us for a check-up. We share those frustrations and would love to be able to offer this service, however we are already operating at full capacity with the amount of Urgent and Non-urgent appointments that are available.

Before COVID we could have seen up to 90 patients a day. This was with 3 dentists operating at full capacity with no social-distancing, no fallow times, previous levels of PPE and our regular high standards of cleaning.

Now, to comply with social distancing regulations, we can have 2 dentists at a maximum along with dental assistants and non-clinical support staff. Patients need to be spaced out to avoid bumping into each other on their journey through the practice and we need to have down time between procedures to allow for aerosols to settle on surfaces before surgeries undergo an even more thorough clean. Clinical staff members also need time to don and doff PPE, allow for proper personal hygiene between patients and to allow for the ever increasing pile of paperwork that is necessary for each patient.

While dental check-ups are an important part of ensuring the health of your teeth and mouth in general, there is no replacement for good tooth-cleaning and sensible diet.

In this challenging time we are here for all our patients and if you think you need an appointment, contact us where our friendly and helpful reception staff will be more than happy to help.

03/06/2020

The BBC report on Tuesday 2nd May about the re-introduction of dental services in Northern Ireland on Monday 8th June has been causing some confusion (to us as well as our patients).

Dental practices across Northern Ireland received a letter from the Chief Dental Officer only yesterday, setting out the several stages that we will have to go through as we start treating patients again.

We have only been given a date for the first stage, which will simply be a continuation of the current arrangements, except that some practices which have not been seeing patients under any circumstances, will be expected to start to provide some urgent treatments. Again, this is what we have been doing since the start of the current crisis, and will continue to do. In effect this means offering advice, issuing prescriptions, some simple temporary fillings (with no drilling) and simple (non-surgical) extractions. For emergency cases which require treatments which we are not yet allowed to provide, we will continue to refer patients to the Urgent Dental Clinics whenever appropriate.

The second stage, for which no date has yet been given, will allow us to do a few more non-aerosol generating treatments. Again this will mean no drilling, hygiene appointments, or any other treatments which generate a spray of any sort. We have been told that we will be given guidance on exactly which forms of treatment we will, or will not, be allowed to offer from that date, in due course. This may allow us to do non-urgent temporary dressings and some simple denture work, for example.

The third stage, when it is announced, will hopefully allow us to do some aerosol-generating procedures. This will allow us to return to something like a full range of treatments, but under fairly restrictive arrangements regarding cross-infection control, and patient numbers. This stage will also be dependent on the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) of the type required to safeguard our staff and patients alike. Again, we have been told that we will receive further guidance on the exact details of this stage nearer the time.

We will try to keep our patients informed about the progress through these stages, but we are entirely bound by the rules handed down to us by the Chief Dental Officer. The progress from one stage to the next will be "guided by scientific and public health evidence".

I am sorry that this is all so complicated, but hopefully it throws a little bit more light onto what the state of affairs is as of today.

I would like to sincerely thank all our patients for their continuing patience and understanding, in what has turned into a much longer shutdown than I think any of us had anticipated several weeks ago.

Finally, any speculation that this whole process might be speeded up if Dominic Cummings gets a toothache is pure hearsay and I couldn't possibly comment.

Simon Gay

30/04/2020

We all at Ardent Dental Care just wanted to let you know that we're still here for you. We're just working a bit differently for now.

Unfortunately all appointments are cancelled for the immediate future due to the heavy restrictions placed upon us by Covid-19. Routine dentistry such as check-ups, cleaning and fillings will be postponed.

However, if you are having any dental problems, we are your first port of call. There are dentists available to speak to every day. Ring the surgery for advice and from there we will manage your problem as best as possible.

Stay safe everyone

28/03/2020

⚠️Coronavirus- Update⚠️

Following further instructions from the NHS, we are now only able to provide urgent emergency treatment.

As a result we will be reducing our opening hours and will be open from 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00 (Monday to Friday.)

Patients will be seen by appointment only so if you require emergency treatment or advice please DO NOT visit the practice but instead call our reception on 028 9182 1348 where we will be glad to help.

We will keep you all up to date as more information becomes available.

Thank you and stay safe,
All the team at Ardent

20/03/2020

19/03/2020

The UK government's latest guidance for people with possible coronavirus. For further information on COVID-19 see www.pha.site/coronavirus

19/03/2020

At Ardent Dental Care we wish to ensure all our patients that we are fully aware of the latest advice issued by the Public Health Agency and Department for Health regarding the spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus and understand the growing concerns.

Please be assured that as a dental practice we operate with the highest level of cross infection control, hygiene and cleanliness at all times.

In accordance with the most recent HSC guidelines, patients experiencing a new persistent cough or a high temperature should self isolate for 7 days. In addition it is now recommended that anyone living in the same household as a symptomatic person should self isolate for 14 days from the date of onset of symptoms. If anyone in the household subsequently displays symptoms they need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appear, regardless of what day they are on in the original 14 day isolation period.

Any people in the above group should not attend the surgery.

Follow this link for more information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance



The government have also advised people aged 70 or older or anyone with underlying health conditions or those who are pregnant to instigate social distancing measures.

Any people in this group should only attend for urgent or emergency treatment and must contact the surgery by telephone before attending.

Follow this link for more information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people



When visiting, we ask that you follow Public Health recommended advice for the prevention of spread of infection:

- Wherever possible patients should attend unaccompanied.
- On arrival check in at reception and then wait in your car if possible and you will be called when the surgery is ready for you. This measure is to minimise contact with other individuals and is for your own protection.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze and put used tissues in a bin immediately.
- Wash your hands with soap and water often - Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth even if your hands are clean.

We thank you for your patience and cooperation at this time and we understand this is an ever evolving situation.

Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and protecting older people and vulnerable people.