Dental practices are gradually continuing to resume services – but patients are being reminded there is no return to business as usual.
As of Monday, aerosol generating procedures could be reintroduced.
That means practices will be able to use their high-speed drills and the 3-in-1 (the air and water gun). With enhanced PPE, dentists will be able to deliver additional treatments to their patients.
NHS Lanarkshire ’s clinical director of general dental services Laura Milby said: “Practices are still only allowed to undertake AGPs to provide urgent
dental care, and because of the additional decontamination requirements associated with AGPs, only a very small number of patients will be able to be treated in this way. Not all dental practices will be offering AGPs initially and it will be a gradual process of reintroduction.
“The reintroduction of AGPs is, however, good news as patients will begin to be able to be seen again in their own practice and will not have
to travel to the Urgent Dental Care centre.”
Dentists are currently not able to provide routine examinations, ultrasonic scale and polish, crowns, veneers or routine fillings.
With the reintroduction of AGPs, dentists will be able to use the high-speed drill to access teeth, however only to help relieve pain or swelling.
They will continue to provide a number of other treatments including extractions, dressings of broken teeth and repairs to dentures.
