COVID-19 case management in primary dental care settings in Yorkshire and the Humber

Introduction Emerging guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic aimed to minimise transmission risk within dental settings. This service evaluation provides an overview of reported cases of COVID-19 among primary dental care staff within Yorkshire and the Humber.Methods Data for COVID-19 cases reported within dental practices between November 2020 and August 2021 were extracted from the Public Health England, Health Protection Zone database and summarised using descriptive statistics.Results In total, 421 cases across 223 dental practices were reported, with 221 close contacts and 77 outbreaks identified. Cases/contacts were highest among dental nurses (51/49%). Household and community (42/22%) were the most frequently reported sources of transmission, with the majority of staff-to-staff contacts (60%) occurring in communal/non-clinical areas.Discussion There was a low number of reported COVID-19 cases/contacts among dental professionals, with most cases suspected to have acquired the infection from outside of the dental setting. The majority of personal protective equipment breaches occurred within communal/non-clinical areas. When infection prevention and control guidance was followed, there were no incidences of staff or patients becoming contacts or cases.Conclusion With adherence to strict protocols, the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the dental setting was low within the context of this review. The evaluation highlighted the importance of collaborative working during the pandemic.