Dental practices in England will be allowed to reopen in less than two weeks' time, the chief dental officer has said.

In a letter to all dental practices in England, Sara Hurley said on Thursday that face-to-face care in practices can resume from June 8.

It came as figures revealed thousands of callers to NHS 111 in South and Mid Essex required dental treatment last month, as dentists remain closed from the coronavirus lockdown.

NHS England data shows 2,264 callers in April were recommended to seek help at one of these hubs by South and Mid Essex 111 service.

In relation to the re-opening of dentists, Ms Hurley added practices will need to have the necessary infection prevention and control requirements in place, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE).

Individual practices will decide when to open and will risk manage the steps to resume full service, Ms Hurley added.

In the joint letter with Matt Neligan, NHS England director of primary care and system transformation, the chief dental officer wrote: "We support the full resumption of routine dental care, in a way that is safe, operationally deliverable and allows dental practices flexibility to do what is best for patients and their teams."

The chief dental officer said there would be a phased return to pre-pandemic patient numbers due to infection control requirements and patient behaviour.

Dentists will be keen to start providing care as soon as safely possible, but we will need everyone to be patient as practices get up and running.

Dental practices are advised to prioritise patients both with urgent need and from vulnerable groups when resuming services.

The plans were developed in consultation with groups including the British Dental Association (BDA).

The BDA has welcomed the plans, but warned that expectations need to be managed adding that infection control and social distancing could reduce capacity by up to two thirds.

The dental trade union added that the availability of PPE may limit the speed that dental care is restored, with different practices likely to vary.

The BDA has called for the Government to include dentistry in its wider PPE strategy to help a universal return to full dental care, as well as financial support including a business rates holiday.

BDA chair Mick Armstrong said: "A return of high street dentistry we will be welcome news to millions of patients left with few options during lockdown, but key questions remain.

"It is right to allow practices to decide themselves when they are ready to open.

"Dentists will be keen to start providing care as soon as safely possible, but we will need everyone to be patient as practices get up and running.

"Dentist can open their doors but won't be able to provide a full range of care without the necessary kit.

"Longer term, practices can only stay afloat with ongoing support, while social distancing continues and the costs of providing care are sky-high.

"Opening the floodgates risks raising false expectations, unless Government is willing to step up and help."