Dentists have provided around 19m fewer treatments in England since March this year compared to the same period last year, BDA figures show. PEC Chair Eddie Crouch said: “The clock is ticking on an oral health time bomb, as dentists lose the chance to act on the early signs of decay and oral cancer. Ministers have a choice. Make an investment that would pay for itself and bring millions back through our doors, or leave patients waiting for the care they need.”

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Read more: Covid restrictions on dentists threaten patients’ oral health

The British Association of Private Dentistry (BAPD) says in its latest newsletter that the announcement of the second national lockdown in England was littered with ambiguity and they were the first dental organisation to reassure both public and profession following the announcement of the second lockdown, that private practices in England should and could remain open.

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Read more: BAPD tells how it responded to second lockdown in England

The four Chief Dental Officers of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have written a letter to dentists to thank them for their professionalism and flexibility during the COVID-19 crisis and anticipating some of the challenges the profession is likely to face during the second wave. There have also been updates on Dentists as Essential Workers, priority for any Covid-19 vaccine and the Overseas Registration Exam.

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Read more: COVID-19: Update: Week ending November 13, 2020

Answering questions in the House of Lords, junior health minister, Lord Bethell said the challenge presented to the dental profession by Covid is severe. The Government is ‘grateful’ for the hard work of 10,000 NHS and private practices in introducing PPE and infection-control arrangements to keep patients and staff safe, and to the 600 urgent care centres that are providing services for the most severe cases.

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Read more: Government minister quizzed on dentistry

Helen Rumbelow, writing in The Times, has investigated the possible use of an iodine mouthwash as a way of combatting Covid-19. She interviewed Professor Stephen Challacombe who told her “I have no doubt that this should be used and had it been, it would have saved lives.” But questions have been raised about how significant its use would be.

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Read more: Controversy over possible use of iodine mouthwash in fight against Covid