Dentists warn of financial disaster as they start work again

The dental industry is braced for a financial meltdown as the huge cost of buying protective kit for staff piles fresh pressure on practices already hammered by lockdown. Dentists have been allowed to reopen this week - but added bills and reduced patient numbers mean just 8pc of firms believe they will be able to survive if tough social distancing rules continue. The industry has been hit particularly hard because most dental practices do not qualify for the Government’s business rates ex