Face mask shortage: dentists hail potential breakthrough

Dentist leaders anticipated some larger practices having to scale down activity or prioritise urgent over routine care this week. Shortages have emerged in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, following panic buying, and moves by China - the world’s leading supplier of hygienic masks - to prioritise unprecedented domestic demand over the export market.

Following BDA concerns earlier this month, the Department of Health and Social Care has indicated significant central stockpiles existed, including reserves built up for the UK’s departure from the European Union.

These stocks formed part of the supply chain for hospitals but were out of reach for primary care providers like dentists and GPs who access products directly from manufacturers and wholesalers.