Are any dentists doing fillings?

[goldenwarbler]

Just that really - does anyone have direct knowledge of whether any dentists are doing fillings again yet? All the ones near me aren't and also aren't able to give a timeframe on when they might be; however, one of my colleagues (from the other end of the country) said on a call that she has an appointment for rebuilding a tooth...

Sorry to hijack, but it totally baffles and angers me that pubs and hairdressers are opening and you can fly to Spain, but you still can't get a filling at your dentist!!

I really don't understand this Government's logic!

I’ve got a tooth on one side that was filled last year and is now compromised. Last week, the front fell off a tooth on the other side. Just have to put up with it I guess, but it makes it really difficult to eat anything except soft food.

Our dentist is open and doing all normal services and treatments they reopened a few weeks ago with very strict rules

I've had extensive dental work done over the last 3 weeks after I smashed 3 teeth out.

I've had one extraction, two root canals and an implant.

They are wearing masks and visors.

My usual NHS dentist is currently only doing extractions.

@Borisplums whereabouts in the country are you?

I understand it would be difficult to reopen for all treatments if there is a lack of PPE etc but it just seems that some dentists are offering fillings and a normal range of treatments - I'd be happy to travel and pay privately if I could get the filling done and eat properly again!!

Devon

@Borisplums ah thanks! Devon is heaven

Some are, if they've got all the PPE and the working environment is conducive to aerosol generating procedures.

The problem with fillings is that the tools required generate a fine aerosol spray - of your potentially covid infected saliva - into the air and all over the room surfaces.
Dentists need to have installed expensive specialist equipment, such as air filtration systems, and also have to fully disinfect the whole room before the next patient, which takes a minimum of 15 minutes and max of an hour, depending on the sophistication of the system installed. For many this is not financially viable, as they can only treat a tiny number of patients a day.
You can see that it is too risky without precautions and too expensive with.

One week into lockdown my tooth broke and filling partially came out. No one would see me. The pain became unbearable and after 10 weeks of agony and a liquid diet I managed to get in touch with an emergent dental hub (south east) but they would only prescribe antibiotics and wouldn't see me.
They didn't work and infection moved into my jaw. Managed to get referred by hub to another emergency hub where they injected antibiotics and did a temp filling. They wouldn't do any procedure that required the use of water.
That also didn't work and had to get re referred back to them for an extraction which happened 3 weeks ago. That also didn't get rid of the infection and it became really awful. GP said see dentist, dentist said they won't see me and to talk to GP. I've been passed off by everyone.
I'm now on my 5th course of antibiotics and have somehow managed to get another hub to see me tomorrow as it's still not getting better despite all the antibiotics. I've needed help for weeks and weeks I've been in agony and on a liquid diet.
I just don't see how everything else like cinemas can open but people who need genuine medical help can be ignored like this.
Sorry for ranting, feels good to get it all out though!

No aerosol generating treatments here. I managed to repair my damaged filling with one of those temporary repair kits thankfully so as long as it holds I'm good to wait a while. It's frustrating but it's pretty clear why they can't just open as normal - they'd be in a hugely risky environment.