30 March 2020
Suspension of non-urgent dental care in Victoria
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), comprising the state and territory Chief Health Officers, has recommended that all dental practices in Australia implement Level 3 restrictions. This effectively means that all routine examinations and treatments should be deferred until these restrictions are lifted.
Postponing all non-urgent dental services is an important measure to help limit the spread of coronavirus.
Dental practices have already been significantly impacted during this pandemic, firstly through a critical shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is essential for safe dental practice, and then as spatial distancing recommendations and general community concern about COVID-19 reduced patient visits. As a result, many dental practices have already voluntarily closed to play their role in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Nonetheless, dentistry remains an essential service, and it is critically important to provide urgent and emergency dental care to avoid the likely burden on medical primary care and emergency services that would otherwise occur should access to urgent dental care cease.