Visiting the dental practice (Updated 02.11.20) Expand UPDATE 02.11.20 - The Chief Dental Officer for England has confirmed that dental practices will be allowed to remain open in England during the second national lockdown beginning on Thursday 5th November. For a dental practice to treat you, they will need fully compliant PPE, to exercise social distancing measures and apply appropriate cross-infection control. The difficulty in sourcing PPE of the highest quality means there may be a delay before your dental practice can fully reopen while the range of treatments on offer might be limited. Your dental practice will also need to allow for more time in between each patient. This means that during the day, they will only be able to see a reduced number of patients. Dental practices are working to create an environment which is safe for both you and members of staff. As soon as you are welcomed back to the dental practice, be reassured that it is safe for you to do so. Here is what your dental team is doing to help keep you safe and comfortable during dental visits [Graphic] Booking an appointment Please do not visit your dental practice without an appointment. To book an appointment, please call your dental practice. They will be able to update you on whether the dental practice is ready to open and what treatments they are able to provide. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Wales: From 22nd June dental services in Wales can now move to the Amber phase of de-escalation, meaning all dental practices in Wales were able to open from 22 June for urgent, non-aerosol care. Scotland: Following an announcement in Parliament from the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing on 12 October, NHS dental contractors will, from Sunday 1 November, be able to provide a full range of treatments to all NHS patients within dental practices. However it has been stressed that it is not "business as usual". Northern Ireland: On 29 June, dental practices in Northern Ireland will enter Phase 2 of the general dental services re-establishment plan, which will include the provision of non-urgent dental care. Starting from 20 July, dentists in Northern Ireland will also be allowed to carry out AGPs, which constitute the vast majority of dental treatments. For further information check out the General Dental Council's (GDC) website here. Video: Visiting your dental practice More information: Dental Helpline NHS - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Urgent dental care Expand If you are in pain, bleeding, swelling, or have had an accident and need urgent dental care, please contact your dental practice. Please do not visit your dental practice without calling them first. If you are not registered with a dental practice, you can find a list of the ones closest to you on the NHS website. Before agreeing to see you, dental practices might need to speak with you on the telephone. This is to check whether you are in good health and do not have any symptoms relating to the coronavirus. More information: Dental Helpline NHS - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Dental treatment in hospitals and A&E Expand To support NHS services and protect vital resources, it is important that you do not visit hospitals or A&E departments with dental problems. If you need urgent or emergency dental treatment, contact your dental practice and they will be able to refer you. More information: Dental Helpline NHS - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Dental care for vulnerable people and those with symptoms Expand If you need urgent dental care and are self-isolating because you have symptoms relating to coronavirus, or are a vulnerable person at higher risk, call NHS 111. NHS 111 will be able to assess your needs and refer you to a special team who will be able to treat you. More information: Dental Helpline NHS - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Buying oral health products Expand There is no shortage of oral health products like toothbrushes, toothpaste and mouthwash. Because of this, there is no need to stockpile them. It is important to only buy what you need, when you need it. Supermarkets remain open for essential food shopping and we advise that you buy any oral health products you need during this time. Please remember however, to keep to social distancing rules and try to keep two metres away from other shoppers. When possible, instead of visiting supermarkets, we recommend that you buy oral health products online and have them delivered to your home. More information: Dental Helpline NHS - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Top tips for good oral health Expand To help prevent dental problems from happening during coronavirus, here are some top tips for great oral health. Brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. The best time to brush is last thing at night, before you go to bed. Cut down on how much sugar you have and how often you have it. Keep sugar consumption to mealtimes. This will reduce the time your teeth are under attack. Use interdental brushes or floss to clean in between the teeth. Use mouthwash daily to remove bad bacteria and keep fresh breath. Sugar-free chewing gum can help produce saliva and neutralise the plaque acids in your mouth. For more advice, you can also read our latest blog post: COVID-19: our guide to looking after yourselves and others through better oral hygiene More information: Dental Helpline NHS - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
More information and advice Expand Our Dental Helpline is here to answer any questions you have about your oral health. If you need help, support or reassurance about the health of your mouth, we’re here to help. For information about the coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/. If you are a dental professional, the British Dental Association’s website has ongoing advice and updates about treating patients during this time.
Advice and resources for dental practices Expand To assist to resumption of dental services, we have joined with the French Dental Association and Unilever Oral Care, to release some simple and easy-to-follow recommendations. Downloads COVID-19: Practical Guide for Dental Practices (FULL) Waiting room advice for patients (video) COVID-19: Patient experience poster Protect yourself and others poster Advice for wearing a mask How to wear protective clothing Sample letter to patients Evaluation assessment for patients