Accessing dental services in Greater Manchester during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you, or your child, have a dental issue during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that you know how to access help when you need it.

What to do if you, or your child, have a dental problem during the COVID-19 pandemic

If you, or your child, have a dental issue during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that you know how to access help when you need it.

All dental practices in Greater Manchester are now open and have resumed face-to-face care, although many are working at reduced capacity and may not yet be able to offer the full range of services due to increased infection, prevention and control guidelines.

If you need dental help or advice, please contact your dental practice over the phone first, rather than in person. You, or your child, will be assessed over the phone and may be given advice, medication or a face to face appointment if needed.

Your practice will look different to normal, as it will be operating in a way that observes COVID-19 social distancing and hygiene rules as part of measures taken to ensure your safety and that of the dental team. For all face to face care, additional infection prevention and control measures and personal protective equipment requirements are in place to ensure patient and staff safety.

While dental practices work to ensure that those who need dental care most can receive it, they may be unable to offer routine examinations and other non-urgent care for some time.

Patients who started a course of treatment pre-COVID will be prioritised alongside high risk patients and children.

Urgent dental services have been established across Greater Manchester during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are continuing to see and treat patients who have been referred from their regular dentist who may not be able to offer the specific treatment required.

If you, or your child, are in pain or in need of support, help or advice, please telephone your dental practice in the usual way.

If you don’t have a usual dentist and have an urgent need you can call your local dental helpline: 0333 332 3800. You will be assessed and given advice over the phone, which may result in a remote consultation with a dentist or a face to face appointment.

To support NHS services, it is important that you do not visit hospitals or doctors’ surgeries with dental problems unless you are advised to do so.

If you don’t have a usual dentist, you can find one by going to: www.nhs.uk/servicesearch/find-a-dentist