Specialist dental hubs are to be set up across the East Midlands for people with Covid-19 symptoms or who are self-isolating, the NHS has confirmed.
The hubs will be in place across the region as the health service looks to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the community and protect users from the virus.
It comes as the NHS also alerted patients that routine, face-to-face appointments are no longer available at its practices - with people urged to call their centre or NHS 111 for a consultation.
There will also be a small number of practices catering for vulnerable or shielded patients if there is a dental emergency.
A spokesperson for NHS England said: "For safety, some sites will be designated for patients with Covid-19 symptoms or those self-isolating because of their contacts and others for patients without symptoms.
"A small number of sites will treat only vulnerable or shielded patients.
"It is important for their own safety that patients are clear about whether or not they are symptomatic, self-isolating or in a vulnerable or shielded group.
"One hub for patients with Covid-19 symptoms, or those who are self-isolating, will be open this week and the further sites will be rolling out over the coming weeks.
"Initially for patients with Covid-19 symptoms requiring treatment, they must be available to travel."
The NHS is also in the process of identifying and setting up a number of local treatment centres to see any patients referred on for urgent treatment.
These will be provided through a network of specially-equipped and trained dental practices.
And with access to routine face-to-face appointments now unavailable, urgent treatment can be accessed by calling dental practices between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
The spokesperson added: "NHS England and Improvement is aware of the problems currently being experienced by those seeking urgent dental care across the East Midlands in advance of these arrangements being fully in place.
"We have been working on interim arrangements to ensure that patients can access care and we have shared these arrangements with dentists.
"This will be at a smaller number of sites initially and they will be operating from Thursday, April 9, with more local sites being opened in the coming weeks.
"Access will provided at weekends, on Good Friday and Easter Monday. We will continue to provide further updates on these services."
Residents have been urged not to visit A&E or their GP surgery in the event of a dental emergency, but instead to call NHS 111.
