Allergy Awareness week runs from 21st – 28th April and we thought this was the perfect time to address what we are doing here at Aloe Vera Dental Studio.
- Comprehensive Patient Medical History
If you have been to us before, you will know that before you are seen, you are asked to fill out a comprehensive medical history form. In this form, we ask about allergies. We rely on our patients to please disclose ANY known allergies so that we can treat you as safely as possible.
If you are prescribed EpiPens, please let us know, and bring them along to every appointment.
2. Use of Non-Latex Gloves
Latex allergies are common in healthcare settings. To avoid triggering allergic reactions, we do not use Latex gloves.
3. Proper Cleaning and Sterilization
We ensure that all dental tools, equipment and surfaces are properly cleaned and sterilized. This reduces the chances of cross-contamination from allergens such as dust, mold or chemicals.
Our qualified and experienced dental team are trained in decontamination, and receive annual refresher training.
To meet our team; https://www.aloeveradental.co.uk/meet-the-team
4. Medication Awareness
Some patients may have allergies to certain medications commonly used in dental procedures, such as local anesthetic or antibiotics. If you have any known drugs allergies, please let a member of our team know so that we can add this to your medical history form. This will be checked at every appointment.
5. Environmental Control
Our dental practice has good ventilation, and was designed with airflow in mind. This helps minimize the build-up of air-borne allergens. We also have air purifiers for each surgery.
6. Emergency training
All staff are trained to deal with medical emergencies including anaphylaxis. Emergency medications are readily available in our first aid kit! We do however, still recommend bringing your Epinephrine auto-injector with you if you have been prescribed one.
7. Patient Communication
We can not emphasize this one enough – Patients are encouraged to inform the dental team of any allergies or sensitivities including past reactions to dental procedures.
8. No scented products
Here at Aloe Vera Dental Studio, we do not order ‘gimmicky’ scented products. Not only is it not necessary, it helps reduce our patients to chemicals that may cause an allergic reaction.
By incorporating these precautions, dental practices can significantly reduce the risk of allergic reactions and provide a safer environment for patients
This year, Allergy Awareness Week is being used to launch a new campaign, ‘I Wish I Knew…’.
The last campaign ‘It’s Time’ was a call to arms to take allergies seriously. The new campaign will build on the core message of this whilst highlighting the importance of early interventions when symptoms of an allergy begin to appear.
The campaign will run throughout 2025 and beyond. Allergy Awareness Week 2025 will be the first chapter in this conversation and efforts will focus on highlighting three key things everyone needs to know about allergies.
They are:
- Allergies can strike at any age
- An allergy can make other health conditions such as Asthma worsen
- Getting a diagnosis for an allergy matters: it is the key to accessing the right care
In raising awareness of #these3things the aim is to ensure anyone is well placed to act early and seek help, should any symptoms of an allergy appear.
With half the population expected to have allergies by 2026 and our healthcare system not optimised for their care, it’s crucial that anyone who is newly diagnosed is empowered to access the support they need early on in their journey.
To find out more information on allergies, please visit the Allergy UK Website; https://www.allergyuk.org/news/allergy-awareness-week-2025/
