Public experience of dental services during the coronavirus pandemic

Within Stoke-on-Trent there are more than fifty public dental services that provide appointments, treatments and consultations to a significant percentage of residents in the city of Stoke-on-Trent. However, following the coronavirus outbreak dental services were asked to substantially reduce the number of routine face to face dental care check-ups. Soon after, dental services were asked to cease all routine appointments and treatments to reduce the spread of coronavirus until advised otherwise. Consequently, patient access was largely limited to urgent treatment at local Urgent Dental Care Hubs for a number of weeks. Dental staff not only stepped forward to run these centres but also to support the NHS front line in other areas, for which participation should be widely acknowledged. Most Midlands practices continued to provide virtual or telephone consultations and prescriptions during the closure. Patients with an urgent dental problem and without a regular dentist were able to obtain advice and, where necessary, an emergency appointment by contacting the Dental Advice Line.