At last! You can go and see a dentist in Northamptonshire if you really need to

Northamptonshire now has eight new urgent dental centres open to help anyone suffering during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The county's dentists went into hibernation eight weeks ago after NHS advice to scrap face-to-face consultations once the coronanvirus began to bite.

Deborah Manger, Deputy Medical Director and Specialist in Special Care Dentistry at Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, said: “I am pleased that we now have a system in place which enables those with an urgent dental care need during the Covid-19 pandemic access to treatment.

"It is important that patients can access urgent services and these new urgent dental care centres will provide essential services for those most in need.”

Strict measures are in place to avoid visits except where absolutely necessary following video consultations.

Every member of dental staff will wear full Personal Protective Equipment to protect patients and also themselves. Every surgery will be ventilated and cleaned after each patient to prevent the transmission of the virus ensuring that the services are safe.

Patients seeking help with dental problems should still NOT go to their own dental practice in person but phone between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, for advice on alternative arrangements. For out of hours support, patients can contact NHS 111 during weekday evenings after 5pm, weekends and bank holidays.

The few patients in need of rapid treatment will be referred to an urgent treatment centre and given instructions. Patients who are not registered with a dentist can search for their nearest dentist HERE and call them.

Following telephone or video consultation, urgent cases will be referred to one of the new UDC systems which have been established to meet the needs of people who are possible or confirmed Covid-19 patients, those who are shielded or vulnerable, or do not fit into any of these categories.

The UDCs will operate by appointment only following telephone or video triage – there are no walk-in or drop-in appointments in order to ensure the safety of all patients and staff.

It is vital that patients are clear about whether they have a temperature or any other Covid-19 symptoms, are self-isolating or are in a vulnerable or shielded group to ensure that they receive support from the appropriate centre.

In addition, people seeking help should not visit hospital A&E departments or GP surgeries for dental care. They will not be seen and will be directed back to their own dental practice or to NHS 111.