PPE still a major concern as dental practices re-open

Dental practices were able to re-open this week, however, a leading professor has raised concerns about the lack of PPE. 

Phil Taylor, who will shortly take up the role of dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, called for a unified approach on PPE to avoid a “postcode lottery”. 

In response to guidance published by the Faculty of General Dental Practice on 1 June, Taylor, said that if all dental practices were not adequately equipped with PPE they would not be able to open, despite being able to do so from June 8. He also said that there was a “huge disparity” across the regions on the issue of PPE, which may lead to a “postcode lottery” for patients.

He has now called on the UK Government to provide greater supply of and clarity around guidance for PPE for dental practices. He said, “As a profession, our PPE awareness and practices have been scrupulous for many years, largely due to our response to the HIV crisis.  However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, dentists will have to wear even more enhanced equipment for certain aspects of our work.  

 “As it stands, guidance for dentists on exactly what equipment they should be wearing when they re-open and resume treatment on patients is unclear, with many professional bodies offering differing advice.  Without concrete advice, there will be disparity amongst dental practices, with some practitioners feeling the necessity to wear more advanced PPE than others, when this may not be clinically necessary. 

 “There’s going to be a huge backlog of patients requiring dental work, and in order to encourage them to go to their dentists, we need to make sure they feel safe and confident that their dentist will be wearing the appropriate PPE in order to minimise any risk.  

 “In most regions, dentists have struggled to source enhanced PPE, and without this they won’t be able to re-open. Without clear guidance from the Government, patients will be facing a postcode lottery.  We need a consistent approach across the regions right away.” 

A Save Face survey has shown that safety and the wearing of PPE will be a top priority for patients once clinics re-open.