To tell you all to take care over your dental hygiene!

[Cheapprimarkbra]

Folks... Please look after your teeth extra carefully over the next few months! Part of my molar randomly fell off this afternoon. Rang Dentaline (out of hours dentist) and no dentists are able to work in the lockdown, even for emergency treatment for the most severe pain! Totally understandable of course, but scary nonetheless. The lady on the phone literally quoted this: "You are either critically ill on a ventilator or you won't be seen". Very sobering and brings home again how much we take for granted. 🙏

Most of us are to be deployed over the next few weeks. Although it is on a voluntary basis the only way will will be payed is to “volunteer”.

^
Some of us work for NHS trusts and will be "ordered" to redeploy; nothing voluntary about it for us.

pleaseplease that was last week and not the case now.
I think there are several dentists on this thread including me who know more than you do.

1976 I’m a self employed dentist but if our practice is to receive NHS contract money to pay the staff I have to “volunteer”. I need a job to go back to after all this.

Yes, I find the whole 'volunteering' situation very misleading.

@bobstersmum
This sounds unlikely regarding
the ventilator, maybe the OP misinterpreted this in shock (?) , but it doesn't matter, the end result is the same, there isn't any tangible emergency dentistry available until the urgent care hubs are up & running.

@Cheapprimarkbra OP thank you for highlighting this issue and yes, dentistry is extremely important.

Cheapprimarkbra Your post has shamed me

I've been cleaning but not flossing or sonicaring as much as I normally would with not having to leave the house

Tooth issues of any kind would not be good at this moment in time

@oralengineer could I be cheeky and ask a question? Don't answer if you'd rather not, feel free to ignore.

I have a fixed wire retainer on the back of my bottom front teeth. I was booked in to see a hygienist next week which has obviously now been cancelled. I cannot floss these teeth due to the wire and composite. (I religiously floss all other teeth every night)

I have had slight bleeding of my gum in this area where the wire is and am terrified gums and teeth will be affected. I appreciate I can't be sen for this as not urgent, but do you have any advice? Thank you

• seen

Like everything you don't miss it until it is gone. I hope you mouth is feeling better, I'm waiting 6 months to have a wisdom tooth removed in the dental hospital. I wasn't in pain until all appointments were postponed. I'm willing the pain to stay on a manageable level. It'll be a long time for any medical treatment after the virus clears off.

You need to buy some small TePe interproximal brushes either pink or orange and then google video on how to use them.
Alternatively try supafloss which has a stiffened end to allow you to thread it through the gaps.
Another product is Wisdom in between brushes.
I am a little surprised your hygienist hasn’t demonstrated these products though.

I've lost a crown. I look mad. But I have been taking extra care over brushing and brushing more often.

@RestYourHead
Sorry not oralengineer but I can help you with that. Get some TePe brushes ( only that brand) and clean underneath the wire. Google the TePe method. Pink/ Reds are the smallest sizes.

So no different to an out of hours service then OP
FFS get a grip. 😠

@oralengineer thanks. My retainers are fairly new so cleaning has not been explained to me other than brush as usual with electric toothbrush. I can't get between the teeth at all, there are no gaps as the composite covers the wire at the back. I'll have a look anyway and see if I can try. Thanks for replying.

@1976Bo thank you

My problem is that DS is midway through ortho treatment. Fortunately his orthodontist is a friend and I can contact him directly if I need to but DS isn’t overthrilled about having to have braces in for 6mnths longer than anticipated. Neither am I.

@FortunesFave
You may be able to recement that (temporarily) yourself with the OTC temp filling kits Pharmacies sell.
I wouldn't advise you to temporarily recement a post crown though; you need to get the post hole really clean and dry for that -best left to a dentist.

@RestYourHead you should be able to thread the super floss or push the very small TePe brush through just above the gum. There should be a small gap between that and the wire/ composite.

Stop lying and scaremongering OP!

Those TePe brushes are great. The DC love the novelty using them too.

Stop lying and scaremongering OP!
It has been clarified be Dentists on the thread OP is neither lying nor scaremongering.

@TeaAndBisquits ok thanks I'll definitely give it a go

@Monty27
Completely different to an out of hours service. No need to be handing out grips
Have a good read of the contributions from the dentists on this thread, that should help you 👍

Apologies - really didn't want/mean to scaremonger

Yes but you did scaremonger

Please be more thoughtful. We are all trying to manage our stress and mental health during this time and posts like this are unhelpful.

@@Patsypie
*

Stop lying and scaremongering OP!*

The OP is doing nothing of the sort.
Read this thread properly and inform yourself.