Bupa Dental Care announced last week that it would be opening more than 400 practices on June 8, including those in Liskeard, Launceston and Bude.
But after the Government gave dentists the green light to re-open, the British Dental Association (BDA) has warned that only just over a third of dental practices planned to open this week, and those that do will be on a ’skeleton service’.
A survey carried out by the BDA of more than 2000 practices in England suggests that most say they will be able to treat less than a quarter of the patients they were seeing before the Covid-19 outbreak.
A major factor is the shortage of PPE, says the BDA, and it says that many practices are also facing financial pressures: dentists are among the only businesses on the high street still paying business rates.
BDA Chair Mick Armstrong said: ’Anyone expecting dentistry to magically return on Monday will find only a skeleton service.
’Those practices reopening 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.’
BUPA Dental Care, which provides both NHS and private treatments, says that different sorts of treatments at its practices will be phased in over time based on clinical need, with emergency patients prioritised and people able to book advance appointments over the telephone.
Sarah Ramage, clinical director at Bupa Dental Care said: ’We really welcome the chance to reopen our practices and start seeing patients for face-to-face treatment and give them the care they need.
’We’ve been working hard over the last few weeks to prepare for this moment. Our teams have all been through enhanced Infection prevention control training and will be wearing enhanced PPE.’