Dentists, Orthodontist, Opticians?!!

[worldsworststepfordwife]

How are we meant to carry on any longer without them, Daughters new glasses weren’t ready by lockdown we really need them and she’s had her brace elastics in for months they should have been changed beginning of April arghh!!

[BackforGood]

Bumping for you.
It's a difficult one, as obviously there are sound reasons for the length of time between appointments usually.
OTOH, it isn't a job you can do at a social distance. So, whereas each of us could think it was 'worth the risk', the actual dentists, opticians, and all associated staff are in close contact, all day, every day, which puts them right on the front line for situations that aren't actually life threatening.

Maybe they will do something of a phone triage, like Doctors' Surgeries are doing ?

[pontypridd]

I was wondering about the Osteopath. My daughter's disability means she needs to be seen desperately. Also by the physio, although we're managing OK doing our own stuff at home for now.

I wonder whether therapists will be able to work now?

[Desperateseeking]

My husband is a private dentist and we have our own practice. He is desperate to be able to return to work - both to care for patients and also our fixed overheads continue whilst he earns nothing to help pay for them. Very worried if not allowed to reopen by 1 June that we will not be reopening at all.

[LemonTT]

Dentistry isn’t safe with current PPE issues. But you can get emergency treatment.

I would ring the orthodontist and ask for advice. Ditto the optometrist and ask for the glasses to be posted without a fitting. Or get the prescription and buy some cheap online ones.

[Pickles89]

I'm desperate for a dental hygienist appointment! They've shoved my appointment into July! Pretty sure most of my teeth will have fallen out by then.

[B1rdbra1n]

😮😱😱
The situation is very concerning

[Titsywoo]

The orthodontist situation is driving me mad. Having to cut bits of wire off my sons brace with wire cutters where it has moved out of place. I can't talk to an orthodontist just a receptionist- i don't want advice from a fucking receptionist! I'm calling tomorrow to ask them how i can just remove the whole bloody wire for now as it is getting ridiculous.

[sweetkitty]

I know what you mean OP but I don’t know what the answer is.

DD1 has been wearing a brace for 3 years her teeth weren’t that bad just general overcrowding and wonky. She was due to get it off this Summer, she’s gutted it won’t be happening now plus she’s had to break off one of her wires as it was digging into her gums causing pain.

DD2 was scheduled to have an op to expose a tooth then a brace fitted to pull it down. This has been going on from Summer last year. Finally got an appointment and it was cancelled.

Loads of people in limbo land with snapped off braces.

[SinisterBumFacedCat]

My Dentist is now offering Covid testing for £300. I know he had to keep himself going but I really wish they would open again, it is an essential service.

[changeagainandagain]

I've emailed our orthodontist and he's responded, we sent pictures and a video and he's given us phone advice on my DCs braces.

Also Emergency appointments are available on the NHS you can call and get seen if for example you have an infection of some kind.

The NHS is open and opening up for anything you need, so keep calling and don't worry about nothing anyone, dentists are all desperate to help as they know it's going to be one massive mess in a few months 😬

[Titsywoo]

@sweetkitty did you remove the whole wire? If so how did you do it?

[Chrisinthemorning]

Lots of debate among dentists as to where we go in Boris’ swingometer of Covid. Hopefully it will be clarified soon. We need the Chief Dental Officer to speak in the next few days really.
I can’t go back until schools and holiday clubs do anyway. I’m thinking of a career break for a bit, Dentistry in this does not appeal!

[ToffeeYoghurt]

I noticed a number of the doctors who've died (worldwide) were opthalmologists. The nature of the work, such close up face to face contact puts them at higher risk than some other specialities. We need them alive or we don't get our eye appointments, dentistry, etc.

Emergency appointments are still going ahead in the meantime.

Hopefully the government might finally get hold of more PPE for all our healthcare workers (and other frontline workers). They can't safely operate without.

[FairPoint]

Pickles89
Oh I feel for you, I also am anxious about recent cancelled appointments with dentist and hygienist. Also increased depression and sleeping problems have decreased my motivation for the daily rituals involved.

I can only recommend the cosodyl toothpaste for you. Even if I fall asleep without brushing my teeth and wake up in the middle of the night with very painful teeth, if I then get an interdental brush covered with this toothpaste the relief is amazing and must surely be preventing the growth of the relevant bacteria? Give Corsodyl a go if you haven't already, it tastes foul, but I mix it 50:50 with strong nice toothpaste like oral b fresh mint.

[greenlynx]

I absolutely agree. We need to sort out these as soon as possible and mental health services as well. But they all need PPE and this problem is not resolved yet so how can they go back safely? It’s complete madness.
Boris said to go to work if you can’t work from home and do this safely so avoid using public transport. I don’t think it’s enough for my dentist to open safely. She needs PPE and she also has primary school age DC. None of these issues are resolved.

[FairPoint]

Missing point: I am wistful about the days of Close up toothpaste - red or sometimes green or blue varieties were to be found in abundance in my younger days , then it disappeared along with my favourite Camay soap.

I was thrilled to find it for sale in India when I travelled with my long term partner in the late 90s and brought home 10 tubes. Not seen it since .

[ToffeeYoghurt]

Have other countries managed to get PPE for their healthcare workers? Why is it taking us so long? I know our government left it too late and we were back of the queue but it's been months now. We couldn't make our own?

OP. You say her glasses weren't ready by lockdown. Does that mean she'd already had her test? They should still be able to make them during the lockdown for you to collect (or they could post them).

[FairPoint]

Sorry, on a more serious note, I didn't blame my dental practice for shutting up shop, it's hard to imagine a more dangerous job these days.

All those breathy patients with wide open mouths, watery sprays, drilling, blood spitting, plaque/tartar chipping, it is a horrifying thought I am sure.

My daughter also has braces, and I know from previous daughters how often they break. In my day braces were for rich kids. Maybe life with a bit of a wonky teeth problem is not too bad? (not talking about serious cases). I have teeth that are a bit wonky as in my day NHS just pulled out a few teeth to provide extra space. It didn't kill me, but the job of a dental professional might kill them these days, and I think we need to get to grips with some preventative medicine IF possible.

[Pickles89]

@FairPoint Wow, thanks! I didn't know you could get a Corsodyl toothpaste! I've been using the mouthwash though. No pain actually but look away now if squeamish so much blood and bits of mouth going down the sink, like something from a horror film! My appointment was cancelled twice before lockdown so seriously overdue.

I hadn't thought how miserable it must be for those with braces. I had them for 9 years (cowboy orthodontist who ruined my teeth - It's NOT normal to have treatment that long. If more than 2 or 3 years get the hell out of there and find someone else!) so I can really imagine how horrid it must be. Let's hope we get back on track soon.

[0DETTE]

www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/covid-19/20200501--cdo-england---covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=45eb3ba9_6

Advice from the chief dental officer for England .

[NellyTimes]

Titsywoo hi, "fucking receptionist" here, if you remove the elastic bands from his brackets, the wire can be removed to stop it breaking or digging in. They are what holds the wire in place. You can do that by unfurling them with a pair of tweezers. His teeth may well move before he is able to be seen again but once practices are up and running again, they will be able to restart the treatment. It's not ideal of course, but this is out of our hands. I just hope that you are more polite when you are speaking on the phone to members of staff.

[0DETTE]

@NellyTimes fucking receptionist here

[Easilyanxious]

@workdwide have you called opticians my husband glasses broke so I called in off chance and found they were open for new glasses etc and sent them in post

[Desperateseeking]

Dentists were told they had to stop seeing face to face patients - it’s compulsory. But lots do actually have the PPE that the hubs have so it’s not an equipment issue - they were told even if they did have it, they could not see patients if there was a hub available. Dentists are healthcare and key workers so their kids could go to school.

And as for saying the nhs is open - yup dentists can prescribe antibiotics and refer to an urgent care hub. Who have the same PPE that some dentists do. And who can only do limited treatment - mainly extracting teeth. Better hope it’s not a problem with a front tooth then!

It doesn’t really matter anyway - there is no specific financial help for the private part of the sector - with private both subsidising nhs work in mixed practices and purely private alleviating pressure on nhs dentists (I think private makes up half the sector).

Lots of people we know are very worried they will have to shut down permanently - cannot afford to keep going without proper Financial sector specific help. Even being allowed to open for emergencies only will not cover the running costs of the surgery. So there are going to be a lot less dentists available to see anyone in the future anyway.