MOH and Dental Council joint guidance March 25, 2020

New Zealand will move to COVID-19 Alert Level 4 at 23:59 on Wednesday 25 March 2020.

This will place extreme restrictions on all our lives to stop COVID-19 spreading through our communities. Oral health will be significantly affected with a substantial reduction in the delivery of oral health care to New Zealanders during this time.

The Dental Council and the Ministry of Health have worked hard with Ministry experts to provide clear direction to oral health practitioners on treatment that can be provided to your patients. We have prepared Guidelines for Oral Health Services at Alert Level 4 that outline how you can provide urgent and emergency care safely for you, your staff and your patients.

While we are in COVID-19 Alert Level 4, providing urgent and emergency oral health treatment to New Zealanders is an essential service and a priority for the Minister and the government. COVID-19 is the biggest crisis we have faced as a nation, and a crisis we must all work through responsibly together for the good of all New Zealanders.