A DENTAL practice in Ryedale is ensuring the safety of staff and patients with a new investment.

Riverdale Healthcare, which includes Alpha Dental Care in West End, in Kirkbymoorside, is believed to be the first UK dental company to install Radic8, an advancement in coronavirus killing technology.

The unit is believed to kill 99.9 per cent of all respiratory viruses, including coronavirus, by releasing sterilised air both during and between patient appointments, on a continuous cycle.

“One of the biggest challenges in infection control within healthcare settings is in dealing with the air and whilst there is no real evidence of transmission in a dental practice via this route it has remained an area of some concern,” said Ian Gordon, Riverdale director.

“This is a technology not just for now but for the future.

“Nobody who has lived and worked through this period will forget the impact of coronavirus – we are confident this additional measure will reassure and protect our patients and staff from what admittedly is already an extremely low risk.”