Dentists only open for emergencies

[Ouchy]

So I contacted the dentist to arrange my children’s next checkup.

Informed abruptly that only open for emergencies at the moment.

Wow. Children really are the bottom of the pile at the moment aren’t they. Unless it’s covid it’s not important.

Doesn’t society realise that there will be more emergencies anyway if routine checkups and preventative appointments aren’t facilitated? Bloody hell - how backwards are things going to get before people cotton on?

Honestly

Me and my kids had regular check up at our dentist this week. Only difference was manual scaling but still full check up, x-rays, scale and polish. I think it depends on your practice not blanket nationwide policy.

Mine are starting from September.

Both our practices are open as normal for all routine stuff
Nhs practices are largely still doing emergency things only

My private dentist is only available for emergencies, no plans to open for check ups or hygienist any time soon.

My mum's private dentist is open for everything.

My neighbour's NHS dentist is open for everything.

If my dentist doesn't put a plan in place I will have to try and go elsewhere. I don't have the best teeth, so there's no way I want to wait until there's something wrong!

I am also finding this a problem. My dd15 has a hole and growing grey mark on one her front teeth. She

Sweeping generalisation but in my town it seems they have prioritised the private and orthodontic work. No check ups. I rang mine to arrange a filling and he offered to do it privately. And then we agreed nhs. Bit dodgy to be honest.

our dentist doesn’t seem to even be open for emergencies. they are open (supposedly) but aren’t accepting any appointments for routine check ups or emergency appointments. my friend tried to get an appointment last week because of a tooth that needed filling and they told her to melt a babybel shell and stick that over her tooth as a temporary filling

Whoops.
She is becoming more and more self conscious about it and won't show her teeth in a smile. She takes very good care of her teeth but has been waiting since early March for a prescription for a specialist toothpaste and mouthwash for a low floride issue. Finally- after all this time she's had a prescription issued and after a long discussion over the phone with the dentist that had now taken on our care (maternity cover) and arranged for her to have the tooth filled later this month. We've recieved two emails from the practice saying this appointment has been cancelled- as it's emergency's only. I feel so frustrated- the hole is growing, the grey mark is darkening and her anxiety disorder is getting worse as a consequence. But what do we do?

Both me and DH need a filling and have been told they’ll pull the tooth out if it’s really painful but hey aren’t doing fillings at all, even private ones.

Tbh I wasn’t surprised. If the NHS are happy to stop doing smear tests then I wouldn’t have expected teeth to be on their radar either.

We all had our normal checkup. Lots of hand washing/ masks/ Ppe for the dentists.

Well it's not just children is it? All 3 adults in this family have had their check ups cancelled over the last few months (including DHs which was booked in for end of July). DS goes back to his Uni city next month so if he doesn't get seen before then he won't be seen until Christmas at least. I think my nearly 60 year old teeth from the drill and fill era are more likely to have issues brewing than DS's 20 year old teeth though.

There seems to be significant variation . As soon as they opened I had a hygienist appt followed by dental check up and DD had a checkup - all NHS .

i called our dentist earlier this week and was told the same - they have no date in mind to start again. Seems ridiculous and as far as I can tell a practice policy rather than a blanket one. Fortunately I don't have any specific concerns but my kids have lost lots of teeth this year and would appreciate a professional look over.

I'm aware of some family members who had dental appointments remade after coming out of lockdown, now cancelled again.

This is because cases are rising around them (not in the NW area).

If your dentist is shut, it may be that things are not great in your area. Dentistry is high risk for transmission.

Our dentist practice is notorious for cancelling in normal times and cancelled my children’s check-ups in February, and subsequently twice more due to Covid, but now say that they can’t rebook due to circumstances beyond their control. They are NHS but also do private work and it appears from their Facebook page that they’re prioritising adults’ private cosmetic work. I guess that it’s their way of recouping money lost during lockdown and children’s check-ups don’t make much money but it’s now more than a year since their last check-up. Unfortunately, there are no other NHS options available locally, so it looks like we’re going to have to go private, if they’re even taking on new patients.

New Covid cases are very low in our area too - it was included in a list of the 10 lowest places about a week ago!

This isn't about children. Anyone needing to use your dental practice would be the same...unless you have a paediatric dental practice! (I know they used to exist because I attended one but thought they'd all closed by the late 80s).

It all depends on the dentists. Mine is very much open for business - I had a long awaited crown fitted the day they reopened and they are available for check ups etc.

kingofdogshite I had a smear test a month ago...happening at my doctors

My dentist has been fully open for 6 weeks or so. I've had a check up, filling and a hygienist appointment.

I think a lot of places, not just dentists, are having issues with implementing covid safety procedures due to the layout of their buildings.

@DPotter

My dentist has been fully open for 6 weeks or so. I've had a check up, filling and a hygienist appointment. I think a lot of places, not just dentists, are having issues with implementing covid safety procedures due to the layout of their buildings.

Yes this too, not all dentists can manage to make it work.

I had to wait 10 weeks for an emergency appointment! They are still getting through the backlog around here, so routine ones aren't going to restart for a while. Emergency treatment should take priority.

Thanks for your replies all. Good to get a bit of an understanding of what’s going on more widely. I’ll investigate private options. Thanks again!

It's not just children not getting regular appointments, it's everyone!