A worldwide shortage of face masks due to coronavirus is prompting fears New Zealand dentists may need to close their practices if they run out.
New Zealand Dental Association chief executive Dr David Crum told Stuff it has between four and six weeks' worth of surgical masks left.
Dentists across the country go through about 20,000 masks every day, with current guidelines dictating masks need to be changed between patients, Crum said.
Masks, glasses and gloves are crucial to protect dentists and dental assistants from droplet spray – how Covid-19 is spread – during surgical procedures and high-speed drilling.