DENTISTS across Sussex have cancelled appointments and routine dental care in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Dental practices have contacted patients to say they are cancelling all appointments until further notice.

They have asked people to call it if they have a "severe emergency" during normal working hours, or phone 111 out of hours.

The cancellations came after the Chief Dental Officer said today that routine dentistry and orthodontic treatment should no longer be provided and deferred until advised otherwise.

All practices will be required to establish (independently or by collaboration with others) a remote urgent care service, providing telephone triage for their patients with urgent needs during usual working hours, and whenever possible treating with:
- Advice
- Analgesia
- Antimicrobial means where appropriate.

All community outreach activities such as oral health improvement programmes (e.g. Starting Well, routine non-urgent work in care homes) and dental surveys will be stopped until advised otherwise.

  • The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal.  Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund