My mental health is crumbling due to the appalling lack of dental care in the UK

[opalescent]

Just finding this unbearable now.

I take such good care of my teeth, but unfortunately I grind in the night, and suffer regular aches/pains and issues as a result.
I wear a mouth guard. It doesn't help. In fact it aggravates the issue at times.

I am actually really proud of how I have coped up until now, as being unable to access a dentist is probably my biggest fear (this was an issue for me even before lockdown).

But there doesn't seem to be an end in sight, and the only emerging news about dental services seems to be bad. Day after day. How is this being allowed to happen?

Is anyone able to DM me details of one of the few practices in England that are actually seeing patients? I know a few exist. This would soothe my nerves immensely.

Thanks all

OP, just to reiterate what @UncleFoster has said. Wearing an incorrect guard on your teeth will fuck your bite up, potentially beyond repair. I've seen it with the short term orthodontics that are advertised unethically. Like no orthodontics, fillings or surgery will be able to fix it. Ever.

I used to be a dentist and I grind like fuck. Fortunately I don't have any fillings etc so very unlikely to break my teeth but the jaw pain... debilitating.

@UncleFoster several friends and family members are dentists and from their perspective and in their hospitals and practices it is not lack of PPE preventing them going back to work it is the failure of the chief dental officer (CDO) Sara Hurley to reverse her edict instructing dentists not to work. So they can’t work as their insurers say the CDO needs to reverse her edict as per other countries where the dentists are working again in full PPE.

I appreciate your hospital may not be able to to provide appropriate PPE for you however - in which case you absolutely shouldn’t be near patients!
The problem with the CDO has been covered by the press over the weekend and a number of private dentists have written to Matt Hancock asking for her to be removed from post.

My DH has been this week- dental clinic at hospital. They called him as previous appointment was cancelled.

@KaleJuicer i didnt say it was just lack of PPE. But that is an important factor. As I said the majority of my friends want to pratice again.

I agree the whole situation has been poorly managed. But I dont agree fully that its the failure of the CDO to lift her edict, its not as simple as just 'you can now practice' without any advise or guidance of how to manage this. Its not just the CDO which has advised against practicing. I think its a failure of anyone in power to even consider dentistry.

A private practice which has low patient turnover, ability to buy its own PPE will be much easier to get up and running again than a busy NHS practice. Its going to be challenging for practices that do a lot of nhs work

Just wondering if you are on antidepressants or other medication? As they frequently can cause bruxism/teeth grinding?

BBC are reporting dentists reopening on 8th June. If they are "covid ready"

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52838072

I have just had an e mail from my Dentist confirming that they will open from 8th June and will be seeing urgent cases first then those with cancelled appts from beginning of lockdown. Should think that they will have to work 6 days a week, 12 hours a day to stand any chance of catching up.