Written question WQ82741

We are making good progress with the recovery of dental services but dentistry is one of the most complex areas of primary care in terms of the reinstatement of services.

Dental services remain in the Amber phase of recovery. In this phase dental practices are providing a full range of care and treatment for patients, including aerosol generating procedures such as fillings. However, as Covid-19 is still in circulation, public health measures such as physical distancing, enhanced PPE and infection control requirements, mean fewer patients can be ‘seen’ in a clinical session. We need dental practices to continue to follow strict infection control measures to protect practice staff, patients and the wider community.

We have not stopped routine dental examinations but there is a clear requirement to see patients according to need. Practices have been asked to treat people who have experienced problems during lockdown first. We also need to consider prioritising care for those who had treatment delayed as a result of the pandemic.

If capacity in practices which have been active in addressing urgent problems to date allows, then routine assessments can be offered. However, there is a need to manage patient expectations as throughput will be reduced and practices could be overwhelmed by requests for routine ‘check-ups’.

The return of services will continue to be gradual. The approach we are taking proposes to deliver dental services for those most in need, with the treatments provided increasing as the Covid-19 risk reduces.