ASX-listed dentistry group 1300 Smiles Ltd has temporarily shut half its practices and stood down 400 staff and managing director Daryl Holmes says fresh clarity from the federal government over commercial rent relief would mean negotiations with landlords would be less of a boxing match.

Dr Holmes, who oversees a company with 34 dental practices across Queensland, Sydney and Adelaide, said the announcements by the federal government on Tuesday afternoon were ''promising''. This followed the ''give and take'' that Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged all parties to have last Friday.