Millions of dental appointments have been delayed due to COVID-19

There is an estimated ten-million backlog of appointments due to dental practices closing over lockdown, the BDA estimates. In addition, the BDA forecasts that it could take months or years for dental practices to work through the backlog, due to the numerous that aren’t even operating at a quarter of their usual capacity.

Furthermore, the BDA has highlighted that a number of practices are financially struggling and that closures may leave millions of people without access to dental treatment. As a result, councils are warning of a post-coronavirus surge in dental procedures due to lockdown.

BDA Chair, Mick Armstrong stated: “It’s a struggle dealing with the backlog, let alone new cases. Ministers must ensure this does not become the new normal. We have thousands of practices struggling to stay afloat. If they go under their patients have nowhere to go.”