{my}dentist begins rollout of air filtration units across network

{my}dentist, the UK’s largest dental chain, is to invest in more than 2,500 air filtration units to reduce fallow time between dental appointments across its network.

The new units, which represent an investment of more than £1.25 million, will ensure that surgeries have at least 10 air changes per hour and the fallow time after aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) to be reduced to just 20 minutes.

This will mark a huge step in the restart of routine dentistry at {my}dentist, significantly increasing available surgery hours and meaning much greater access for patients and improved productivity for clinicians.

The rollout of the air filtration units across the network will be complete by mid-October.

In addition, there are a small number of practices in Wales and Scotland where {my}dentist is installing fixed ventilation to ensure that it meets the required government standard.

Nyree Whitely, Clinical Director for {my}dentist, said: “There is one overriding obstacle that is preventing more patients getting access to the care they need and our clinicians being able to return to their normal levels of productivity: that is the 60-minute fallow period that is currently required between aerosol-generating procedures.

“None of us know how much longer the pandemic will last, but it is clear that patients need our services now more than ever. The installation of these units will help us take a step closer to being able to support more patients and ensure our practices are among the safest in the country.”

Further investments {my}dentist has made in protective measures during the pandemic have included a nationwide review of suction in all of its surgeries, improving efficiency where necessary to ensure that all units achieve a minimum of 300 litres per minute as well moving to an increased level of wide bore aspiration of the aspirator tips. This is in addition to strict social distancing and hygiene measures to reduce the risk of transmission.

{my}dentist research reveals the urgent need to grow access to dentistry

Unprecedented levels of decay and periodontal disease, dental health neglect, lockdown overindulgence and life-threatening diagnoses missed – just some of the predictions for the UK’s dental health from professionals on the front line if access to affordable care isn’t increased.

A survey of {my}dentist’s clinicians across more than 600 dental practices, carried out during lockdown, revealed 96 per cent of dentists, therapists and hygienists believe lockdown has had an adverse impact on the nation’s oral health and that greater access to affordable dental care is needed. {my}dentist, the country’s largest provider of affordable and NHS dental care, is calling for an urgent review of access to dentistry in response to the challenges.

Prevention has been prevented

Eighty-eight per cent of dental professionals believe the UK’s dental health could decline because of a lack of routine appointments leading to preventative dental issues worsening.

And a further 77 per cent are especially worried that oral cancers will be missed and not referred.

Sixty per cent of the clinicians asked also believe that some patients could put off going to the dentist to treat minor symptoms, such as toothache and bleeding gums, leading to larger problems in the longer-term. 

Lockdown diets

But it’s not just a lack of access to dental practices during lockdown that dentists fear will leave a lasting impact on the nation’s health.

Seventy-eight per cent of {my}dentist clinicians worry about the impact on oral and dental health of lockdown comfort eating and over-indulgence in alcohol, sweets, snacks and sugary drinks.

In-demand dentistry

As clinicians return to practice, they are bracing themselves for more caries, periodontal disease and trauma.

Seventy per cent of dental professionals believe treatment for children with caries will be the most common reason for a visit to practice post-lockdown.

While 69 per cent of clinicians predict an influx of adults looking for treatment to cope with periodontal disease and 58 per cent believe treatment for trauma caused by broken or knocked out teeth will be one of the main reasons adults return to their practice.

The lockdown hangover

Overall, 41 per cent of clinicians believe it will take between a year and 18-months for the UK’s oral health to return to ‘normal’ after the COVID-19 crisis.

And a further 12 per cent predict it will take at least two years for the nations dental health to recover from lockdown. Without the right decisions, including ensuring there are enough dentists able to practise in the UK, it may take longer still.

Even before the pandemic, more than 50 per cent of all dental practices across the UK were closed to new NHS patients, with more than 75 per cent reporting difficulties in recruiting enough dentists to meet demand. 

Nyree Whitley, group clinical director at {my}dentist comments: “Temporarily suspending routine dentistry during the pandemic was absolutely the right thing to do to protect patients and colleagues and to help stop the spread of the virus. But it came at a cost and it will be felt by both the profession and patients for several years to come.

“As our research shows we’ve got a long journey ahead of us, particularly since access to affordable dentistry was limited before the pandemic. We’ve worked hard to reopen as quickly and as safely as possible to help get the nation’s dental health back on track, but we need an urgent review of access to dentistry to ensure no patient misses out.”

Since reopening its practices in June, {my}dentist has made significant investment to protect its  colleagues and patients.

Temperature checks have been introduced across all of its dental practices, as has the installation of protective screens and social distancing POS, floor stickers and posters, a review of suction in all surgeries, appropriate PPE for both AGPs and non-AGPs, hand sanitiser stations and a new patient journey to minimise time in practice. 

To cope with patient demand and capacity issues {my}dentist practices are still offering the phone triage service which was put into place during lockdown and individual practice plans are being rolled out to help maximise capacity in the fastest and safest way possible. 

Nyree adds: “How the dental community has responded to this challenging time has been nothing short of fantastic, we’ve all adapted to new ways of working and pulled together to support one another.”

One of the ways which Nyree and her colleagues are supporting the wider dental community during this challenging time is through the {my}dentist Academy.

A resource previously available only to {my}dentist professionals, access to the academy has now been extended for a limited time to all the whole dental community so everyone can take part in world-class CPD through a variety of workshops and lectures. 

For more information visit www.mydentist.co.uk

mydentist provides a look at what they did during lockdown

mydentist has released a short video on its YouTube channel, providing an update on what the company has been doing in lockdown to give support to local communities, both inside and outside of the practice. mydentist reportedly received more than half a million calls from patients needing advice.

Watch the video below.

Dentists: Heatwave resulting in spike in sugar consumption among kids

The British Dental Association has urged restraint as new figures show kids are eating five times their recommended daily sugar intake during the summer, with the heat pushing them to ice creams, lollies and soft drinks.

A poll of 1,000 parents with children aged two to 17-years-old conducted by mydentist found sugar intake will be hugely boosted during the break from school. 24.5 per cent of parents estimated they gave their children twice as much sugar over summer compared to other times of year. 15.6 per cent said three times as much, with 11.5 per cent suggesting more than five times.

The BDA has been a leading advocate of action on sugar, including the soft drinks industry levy. It has called on parents to take responsibility over sugar consumption, and on Ministers to deliver an ambitious follow up to its landmark Obesity Strategy, with measures to restrict the marketing, sale and formulation of sugary products.

Every 10 minutes a child in England has a tooth removed in hospital due to preventable decay according to figures from Public Health England. Tooth extraction also remains the most common reason for hospital admissions in five to nine-year-olds.

Russ Ladwa, Chair of the BDA’s Health and Science Committee, said: “It is tempting to beat the heat with soft drinks and ice cream, but parents must recognise the damage these sugar-laced confections can do.

“Tooth decay is now a wholly preventable epidemic, and the number one reason a child will be admitted to hospital. Yes, we need parents to take responsibility over what they buy, but Ministers also need to force industry to change the way they formulate and market these products.

“Added sugar is cheap, addictive and nutrient free. Ultimately if you want to keep the kids cool and hydrated reach for the water.”