Children living in greatest deprivation have most to gain from having a fluoridated drinking water supply, according to new research. Fluoride is added to water in order to prevent tooth decay and the new study demonstrates that community water fluoridation is particularly beneficial for the youngest children in the poorest communities.
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Denplan has invested £2million into PPE for their member dentists. All PPE will have full certification and carry the CE mark/BSO mark to reassure members that the equipment received is of the highest quality and fit for purpose. This announcement comes at a critical time for dental practices across the UK who are starting to receive guidance on when they can reopen their practices.
Read more: Denplan partners with Wright-Cottrell to supply essential PPE
The CDO (England) has written to all practices to tell them that they should all open from Monday June 8 for all face to face care, but only where they assess that they have the necessary IPC and PPE requirements in place. It gives further advice on the sequencing and scheduling of patients for treatment. But practices must use their clinical judgement of their ability to risk manage the delivery of dental care, as service provision is re-commenced.
Read more: Countdown to opening your dental practice: 10 days to go in England
Following COVID-19 shutdown in Scotland, the NHS has now published a guide and implementation tools for general dental practices for the next phase of dental services remobilisation. The aim of this guide is to provide advice for primary care dental practices, but warns that as COVID-19 has only emerged in recent months, evidence to inform how to approach reopening is scarce or non-existent.
Read more: NHS Scotland announces plans for resuming General Dental Services
The Care Quality Commission has restated its current position on providing non-NHS dental care services. ‘The decision to offer dental care services is one for the provider to take,’ they say. And continue by confirming that the CQC cannot require providers of dental care services to close, if ‘providers are providing an appropriate level of safety within the context of our regulations’.
Read more: COVID-19: Update: CQC clarifies its advice to dentists in private practice
In a letter to GDPs in Wales the chief dental officer, Colette Bridgman, signalled that UDA targets will be removed from NHS dental contracts during the period July to September. Each patient will have an Assessment of Clinical Oral Risk and Need (ACORN) and a personalised annual care plan. Those with greatest need will be the priority in the first phase.