Access to dental care

Updated 22 April 2021
 

Alert Level 1

New Zealand is currently at Alert Level 1. Ministry of Health & Dental Council New Zealand Guidelines for oral health services at COVID-19 Alert Level 1 will apply. 

Patients are still required to phone ahead to book an appointment so that the appropriate safety questions can be asked.

As per the MoH & DCNZ Joint Guidelines at Alert Level 1 oral health professionals will be required to ask ALL patients the following questions before scheduling an appointment, and will be required to note the patient’s responses in their record:

COVID-19 epidemiological questions:

• Do you have a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19?
• Are you waiting for a COVID-19 test or the results, or considered a probable case, or been asked to self-isolate?
• Have you had close contact* with other people in the last 14 days who are probable or confirmed to have COVID-19?

Acute respiratory infection symptoms: 

• Do you have new or worsening symptoms of an acute respiratory infection with at least one of the following: 
  - cough
  - sore throat
  - shortness of breath
  - runny nose, sneezing, post-nasal drip (coryza)
  - loss of smell (anosmia)
  with or without fever? 

Overseas travel and close contacts: 

• Have you travelled overseas in the last 14 days and been required to quarantine since your arrival in New Zealand?
• Have you had direct contact with someone in the last 14 days who has travelled overseas and been required to quarantine since their arrival in New Zealand?
• Do you work on an international aircraft or shipping vessel?
• Do you work or have you recently at an international airport or maritime port in areas/conveniences visited by international arrivals?
• Do you work or have you recently worked in customs, immigration, or at managed quarantine/isolation facilities?
• Are you a household member or a community contact of aircrew?

Less frequent symptoms:

• Do you have less typical symptoms such as:
  - fever only
  - diarrhoea
  - headache
  - myalgia
  - nausea/vomiting, or
  - the person seemed confused or having difficulty answering the questions where there is no other likely diagnosis?