As the number of our news stories and resources related to COVID-19 grows we have developed a new page for the site that pulls these resources together. Go to the COVID-19 summary page for professionals. We also have information for the public about dental services during the pandemic. If you have a COVID-19 dental resource…
A letter from Paul Cushley, Dental Director at National Services Scotland indicates that funding for PPE in General Dental Services as in other Primary Care services will continue under the current arrangements until the end of June 2021. Download a copy of the letter
CDO Letter clarifying the position for dental practices following the further restrictions announced from 5th January 2021.
The Chief Dental Officer (CDO) has today issued a letter about the Level 4 COVID restrictions coing into force on Boxing day. The letter indicates that there will be no change to dental service provision during the Level 4 COVID restrictions. The letter also higlights the national infection prevention and control guidance and standard operating…
The Chief Dental Officer (CDO) has issued a letter today providing information on the practice premises revaluation exercise and quality improvement (QI) activity. Download a copy of the letter CDO(2020)17
A new process allowing for the repatriation of low -level concerns to Health Boards and dental practices has been agreed by the Chief Dental Officer (CDO) in collaboration with the General Dental Council (GDC), British Dental Association (BDA), NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and the NHS Board Directors of Dentistry. The new process is outlined…
During the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic when PPE supply chains were at risk, the European Commission issued an easement to relevant rules with the effect that non-CE marked PPE could be purchased and used subject to their approval by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). A decision has been taken to end this…
This memorandum, PCD(D) 2020 (14) advises NHS Boards of the opportunity to involve NHS dental contractors in the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Participation in the COVID immunisation programme is to be agreed by Boards and Area Dental Committees, depending on the overall requirements to deliver the programme. It is not mandatory for NHS dental contractors to…
Update 24th November: an updated version of the Standard Operating Procedures for Dental Teams was released. As previously indicated NHS dental services will be moving to phase 4 of the NHS Dental Remobilisation Plan from the 1st of November. From that date NHS dental contractors will be able to provide the full range of NHS…
This is a joint letter to all dental health professionals from the UK’s four Chief Dental Officers.
The 2019 report on the ‘ Oral Health and Psychosocial Needs of Scottish Prisoners and Young Offenders ‘ has now been published. The report is the third in a series assessing the oral and dental health of prisoners published since 2002. It is also the first published since the transfer of dental services to the…
A new dental appendix to the recently published UK COVID-19: Guidance for the remobilisation of services within health and care settings is now available. The new guidance document can be viewed here The dental guidance seeks to ensure a consistent and resilient UK wide approach, though some differences in operational details and organisational responsibilities may…
The latest findings of the Detailed Inspection programme of P1 children in school year 2019/20 have now been released by Public Health Scotland. The National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP) is carried out annually under the auspices of the Scottish Dental Epidemiology Co-ordinating Committee on behalf of NHS Boards. Main points Almost three quarters (73.5%) of…
SAPG-Dental and clinical governance background to new prescribing guidance for penicillin V The Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG), part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, was established in 2008 at the request of the Scottish Government, to support the safe and effective use of antibiotics across hospital and community settings. The SAPG committee is a multi-professional clinical…
In a letter released today, Tom Ferris CDO Scotland announced that, as of Sunday 1st November dental contractors will be able to provide a full range of dental treatments to NHS patients. This announcement follows the recent publication of the Scottish Dental Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) ‘Review of Aerosol Generating Provcedures in Dentistry’ which improves understanding…
Today the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) published their rapid review of the evidence related to the generation and mitigation of aerosols in dental practice and the associated risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Significant support for the review was provided by Cochrane Oral Health, a key partner in the project. The review is now available to…
The Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP)is leading a rapid review of the evidence related to the generation and mitigation of aerosols in dental practice and the associated risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This short questionnaire which should take 10-15 minutes to complete is to help SDCEP better understand the current provision of aerosol generating…
This letter from the Scottish Government Primary Care Directorate advises NHS Boards of the possible role for NHS dental contractos in the flu vaccination programme for 2020/21.
Scotland’s Chief Dental Officer and NHS NSS Clinical Directorate address have written to dentists about the safety of the 3M 1863 FFP3 respirators provided by NHS Scotland to allow the provision of urgent aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) in practice.
A new Memorandum PCA(D)2020 (11) has been issued providing guidance on the provision of certain AGPs in practice from the 17th August. This includes the following ‘Rule of Thumb’ which should be followed until further definitive advice is available: For a treatment room with more than 10 air changes per hour (ACH) and which can…
This SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) on ventilation water and environmental cleaning in dental surgeries relating to COVID-19 was developed by a Short Life Working Group (SLWG) that included all devolved administrations, representatives from Public Health England (PHE) and academia (see table below). The purpose of the short life working group was to review and…