Dentists

[Orangeblossom7777]

I take it urgent dental care can continue during this new lockdown?

[Rabbitholebonkers]

It continued last time so I don’t see why not.

[Mindymomo]

Dentists closed last time and opened up in July for emergencies only. Sone NHS dentists are still not doing routine visits, but are hopefully staying open through this second lockdown.

[SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun]

what about non urgent dental care?

opticians?

Physiotherapists?

Vets?

None of them have to shut according to the guidelines but will they have their activities restricted? When will we know?

[onemouseplace]

The guidelines say they are encouraging urgent and non-urgent medical care to continue. I assume this includes dentists.

The reason dentists closed down in the last lockdown was that they were at very high risk because of the nature of the work and needed to put PPE and procedures in place. Those are mostly in place now (at least they are at my dentist) so I see no reason they can't continue in the same way.

[Orangeblossom7777]

Yes- I had a chipped tooth repaired last week they wore full PPE
Now this week have a filling come out so need to go back argh!

[Civilhelp]

Does anyone think orthodontic treatment will continue for adults ? I was due a consultation on Thursday .

[Orangeblossom7777]

I noticed a dentist posting that they were continuing to work as normal

[Rowgtfc72]

My dentist still hasn't reopened.
Dd was put on a four year waiting list to have a tooth pulled and braces. She'll be 17 and a half by then. At least when she turns 18 she won't need to see a children's dentist!

[Orangeblossom7777]

So strange, ours saw me in two days when I rang them last week. It was pretty urgent though.

[AintPageantMaterial]

Basically dentists are not doing treatments that require high speed drilling etc on the NHS. They have been offering it privately (at their discretion) since the first lockdown eased. There is even more of a two tier system in operation than usual.
My husband has had a very expensive root canal treatment in October and is due to go for another (expensive) filling on Friday. It isn’t clear whether this will go ahead. There is definitely no mention of dentistry in the government guidelines which were issued yesterday.

[Orangeblossom7777]

Really? Mine did drilling last week. Not NHS though, private - that was why they changed into PPE.

[Orangeblossom7777]

Insurance is helpful, mine covers emergency treatment costs and only ten pounds a month.

[Bickles]

The Dental Minister, Jo Churchill, has confirmed that Dentistry will continue as it is now during the lockdown.

[Heatherjayne1972]

We are open. Working as normal.