One in three dental practices in the South West have re-opened for urgent cases during Covid-19
Dentists are now allowed to re-open for urgent cases following a relaxation in coronavirus restrictions that came into force on Monday, 8 June.
But only a third of surgeries have been able to do so at present, partly due to access to the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that dentists and their assistants need to wear to stay safe.
Dentists are having to restrict the number of patients that they see each day because of social distancing, and it will still be some time before people will be able to go for regular check-ups again.
Torrington Dental Practice in Devon is one surgery that has been able to re-open.
Staff showed ITV News the kind of PPE that they have to wear for procedures like high-speed drilling or using an ultrasonic cleaner, which create airborne droplets of saliva and increase the risk of transferring a virus.
Screens have gone up, appointment times are being staggered, and there is a one-way system. It means Torrington Dental Practice can only see a fraction of the patients that it is used to.
All patients have to use hand-sanitiser on arrival and there is strict social distancing. The reception and waiting areas have been stripped back to the bare essentials - no magazines or rows of seats.
Ian Mills, works at Torrington Dental Practice and is also the Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practice. He says many practices "can't get hold of the PPE that they need and the cost of that equipment and the materials has absolutely rocketed up to ten times what they were previously and that is a problem for practices and, ultimately, it'll be a problem for patients and, potentially, access to care as well."
With fewer patients receiving treatment and funding arrangements yet to be clarified by the NHS, concerns have been raised about the long term sustainability of some dental practices.
Other barriers that dentists face in returning to work include cash flow problems, preparing practices for social distancing, and access to childcare because of confusion over key worker status.
The British Dental Association has called for immediate clarification on key worker status for dental team members, and action on PPE supplies.
Mick Armstrong, the Chair of the BDA says, “Those expecting dentistry to magically return will find only a skeleton service. Practices reopening across the South West now face fewer patients and higher costs and will struggle to meet demand.
“Dentists returning to work still lack the support offered to our neighbours on the high street, and even clarity on key worker status when it comes to childcare.
“Ministers must change tack if dentistry is going to survive the new normal.”
Watch Bob Cruwys' report on dentists returning to work during lockdown