Fareham dentist warns of coronavirus 'distribution' following sudden reopening of practices

After eleven weeks of lockdown, where only limited emergency treatment was available, patients will now be able to visit practices again for treatment today (Monday).

Treatments will be phased in over time based on clinical need with patients able to book advance appointments over the telephone.

The move has been welcomed by councillor Matthew Winnington, cabinet member for health at Portsmouth City Council.

He said: ‘Good oral health is really important to your overall health and wellbeing so it's been a concern for Portsmouth residents to have had dentists closed except for some Urgent Dental Care sites carrying out emergency treatments for those that were really suffering.

‘Clearly the safety of patients and dentists is key but as outlined in the new guidance for dentists, the use of PPE and infection prevention and control protocols will mitigate risk.’

But Ronald Davison, a dentist at Kings Road Dental Surgery in Fareham, criticised the government over suddenly announcing the reopening of surgeries.

He told The News: ‘The announcement from the government (at the end of May) that dental surgeries would reopen came out of the blue - we didn’t expect to be opening again for several weeks.

‘We have had no time to prepare and get things ready. We have been given up to five new sets of lengthy guidance. I’m still going through the latest guidance - I’m not sure what we can and can’t do yet.

‘A lot of surgeries won’t be ready to open. Things are not going back to normal. I think we will only be able to see about a third of patients at best, especially with all the time it will take to decontaminate the room after every patient.’

Mr Davison also said the majority of dental treatments will involve high speed drilling producing an aerosol which can potentially ‘distribute the virus throughout the surgery’.

He said: ‘We need specially made PPE masks to do this work. These masks require fitting by an experienced mask fitter who needs to be booked. We won’t have these masks by the time we open.’

Mr Davison added: ‘It’s not straightforward what we can and can’t do. I just hope patients don’t have the expectation that things are getting back to normal yet.’

Dentists will be following clear guidance to ensure social distancing and hygiene is maintained including patients waiting outside until their appointment and one-way entrance and exit to practices.

There will also be antibacterial hand gel, removal of magazines and toys in waiting areas, two metre distance markers at reception and card payment facilities.

Bupa Dental Care has backed the move to reopen. Sarah Ramage, clinical director, 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 so anyone visiting us can be reassured that we’ve put in lots of measures to keep them safe.

‘Our teams have all been through enhanced Infection prevention control training and will be wearing enhanced PPE to protect everyone.’

She added: ‘We will be trying to see as many patients as possible, triaging those with an emergency need and those in the middle of ongoing treatment.’

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