Northern Ireland

Delivery of PPE should enable an estimated 38,000 patients to be seen by dentists each week

Dentists in Northern Ireland are "fighting a short-term and a long-term battle" as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Stormont Health Committee has been told
Dentists in Northern Ireland are "fighting a short-term and a long-term battle" as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Stormont Health Committee has been told Dentists in Northern Ireland are "fighting a short-term and a long-term battle" as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Stormont Health Committee has been told

DENTISTS in Northern Ireland are "fighting a short-term and a long-term battle" as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Stormont Health Committee has been told.

Michael Donaldson, acting chief dental officer, said Covid-19 restrictions had had a detrimental impact on the population's dental health.

Mr Donaldon said oral health groups created at the start of the year for children and older people will be brought back as quickly as possible.

Dentists in Northern Ireland have been able to provide non-urgent care to the public since June 29 and it is expected they will be allowed to perform AGPs (non-aerosol-generating procedures) - including fillings - from July 20.

Mr Donaldon said a delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE), required for AGPs, should be completed next week.

He said the amount of PPE to be distributed to dentists was "colossal" - requiring 30 articulated lorries and more than 700 pallets to be transported.

Mr Donaldson said the delivery of PPE should enable an estimated 38,000 patients to be seen each week, which was a "very significant advance" on the 4,000 emergency patients seen weekly during the pandemic.

He added that an increase in patients who are able to be seen would help address levels of dental disease, and that the service was "keeping on top" of urgent cases.