Ok. I'm a Scottish based dentist. It's a total shambles. Each region of the U.K. has slightly different guidelines, each practice is situated in different areas with different cohorts of patients, and each practice has slightly different policies, and a slightly different interpretation of the rules....
It's impossible to have a "one rule fits all", Pointless sharing stories of "well, my dentist is doing such and such..."
it's a scary, difficult time for all businesses, but dentistry has been hit very hard. We are the most at risk profession in terms of transmission of Covid, as every time we lift a drill or spray air on a tooth ( aerosol generating procedure, or AGP) we could be spreading the disease. We had to shut down for months, with extremely reduced funding, and in many cases, could not claim furlough costs and other grants. A great many practices haven't survived this lockdown.
Those of us still operating are basically fire fighting. In order to do an AGP we have had to purchase our own enhanced PPE- reusable stealth/respirator masks, visors, gloves, disposable full body gowns, hats and foot covers, at a great expense. ( we have had some help from NHS but the masks they offered were ten years out of date). After each procedure we must vacate the room for one hour. We are working in bubbles, and social distancing, so at a significantly reduced capacity. So probably working maybe one third of the amount previously...
our costs have remained the same throughout- insurance, professional fees, indemnity, wages ( albeit some help), materials, software, utility bills, HR/legal support, leasing costs, rent, rates, chair, xrays and equipment examination, testing and maintenance, the list goes on.
It's been really tough. We all have different business models and each practice just wants to survive this, so will make individual decisions based on what will help sustain the business.
Here in Scotland we cannot take on new registered NHS patients. Well. We can, but won't get paid a penny extra, and we already so behind in our dealings with our own registered lot... our NHS payment system ( the SDR) is now zero, meaning that patients are no longer charged for treatments, and we are limited to urgent care only.
We can, I suppose technically do a "check up", but we are forbidden by the SG and chief dental officer for Scotland to use a three in one hand piece, the thing that sprays air, which cleans and dries a tooth. Without that, we will miss decay. I'm certain of it, so your check up won't be complete.
We do not have the same restrictions with private treatment, so as long as we have all the correct enhanced PPE, we can pretty much get on with it, however it's definitely nowhere near normal, especially when you have to leave the room to fallow for an hour after.
Basically this long winded explanation is me trying to say give the dentists a break. Most of the decisions are out of our hands, and we are fighting for our businesses, our staff and our livelihoods just now. Some won't survive this.
We are always portrayed as money grabbing and evil in this these threads. It's really not fair. It's been tough.
I don't suppose we will get much sympathy, but please try and read this and keep yourself informed.
I also know a fair few practices completely disillusioned with the NHS just now, because of how unfairly treated we have been, and they are moving themselves completely towards the private sector. That might be why your practice will not take you back in as NHS in the future.