The Local Government Association has published figures showing that last year there were nearly 45,000 hospital operations to remove rotten teeth in children and teenagers – equating to 177 a day and warn of a potential post-coronavirus surge of dental treatments following the lifting of lockdown. The BSPD says there should be a resumption in toothbrushing schemes in early years settings as soon as practical.

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Read more: LGA: Nearly 180 operations a day to remove rotten teeth in children

In an article for Politicshome, Neil Carmichael, Chair of the Association of Dental Groups said they were launching a national campaign calling on ministers to take urgent action to address the crisis in UK dentistry, which is worsening by the day. He said that all of the signs point to a “worrying picture with lockdown having led to fewer patients being seen and some of the most vulnerable groups being hit hardest.”

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Read more: ADG warns of growing crisis in NHS dentistry

In a widely forecast move, health secretary, Matt Hancock has abolished Public Health England, admitting that the UK was not adequately prepared for the Covid-19. In its place he has created a new National Institute for Health Protection to fight pandemics. The move leaves open the question of what happens to other public health responsibilities, such as strategies to improve oral health.

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Read more: Public Health England axed, but where does it leave oral health strategy?

BADT and BSDHT Presidents have taken the unprecedented action of writing to all Council members of the GDC ensuring awareness is raised, and demanding the "daughter test" is applied.  Of great concern are the risks to patient safety by allowing untested foreign national dentists treat UK patients as therapists.

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Read more: Dental therapists demand action from Council of GDC

Paleogenomics, which studies DNA in remnants of ancient teeth, has been looking at how humanity’s first encounter with disease is thousands of years older than originally thought. The growing evidence suggests that the first epidemics forced change onto societies. “In the case of covid-19 we see similar processes, but we are watching it unfold in real time,” said Anne Stone, professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University.

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Read more: Ancient teeth trace the history of epidemics