Dentists in Wales prepare to go back to work in July
The chief dental officer for Wales, Dr Collette Bridgman, has announced plans to reopen dental practices in Wales from July.
Dr Bridgman outlined proposals for a phased reopening from July 1st. During the first phase, urgent dental centres and dental clinics will be able to expand the range of services available to include treatments like fillings. Patients who need emergency assistance and those who have experienced issues during the lockdown will be prioritised at this point. The second stage will involve further increasing the range of treatments and providing care for patients who started treatment before lockdown. The final phase will see the return of routine services, including check-ups, for all patients.
There are currently no set dates apart from the 1st July when phase 1 of the reopening will launch. Patients who need urgent care in the coming weeks are advised to contact their local dentist. Dentists are providing a triage service over the phone and they can refer patients to a local emergency care hub for treatment. Urgent dental centres have ben set up across the UK to treat patients with severe dental symptoms and injuries.
Dental practices in England opened their doors on the 8th June, but only around a third are up and running. In Wales and Scotland, surgeries remain shut.
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