Update from the Chief Dental Officer – 25.09.2020

Dear Colleague,

I welcome the publication of the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) Review of Mitigation of Aerosol Generating Procedures in Dentistry. The rapid review of the evidence related to the generation and mitigation of aerosols in dental practice adds to our understanding and risk management of transmission of COVID-19 in dental settings. As the authors state in the review's introduction, it is important to stress that the SDCEP consensus recommendations do not have the status of guidance. However, we can confirm that this review is informing Public Health England's development of government Infection Prevention and Control guidance necessary for the continuing restoration of dental care services whilst the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

In the event of Public Health England and the government updating the IPC advice, we will update our SOPs for dental practices in England to reflect changes. In the interim the current IPC guidance for dental practices in England still applies, as detailed in Appendix 1 to our current Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Primary Care Dentistry - Transition to Recovery SOP  (28 Aug 2020).

Thank you for your continuing commitment to the provision of high quality safe dental care in these exceptional times.

Yours,

Sara

Sara Hurley

Chief Dental Officer for England