Are dental appointments still going ahead

[Takemebackto]

I know they can’t do treatment but can they still do check ups?

l had an appointment for a check up yesterday. lt's been cancelled for the foreseeable. They said they're only open for emergencies now.
l had a man at my checkout on Saturday, he said he's closed his dental practice altogether. l think it depends on the surgery.

Indeed usually identifying problems early is paramount however the nhs is currently dealing with a pandemic and dentists and their staff are following nhs guidelines. to protect their patients, their teams and themselves. Please just stay home.

My dentist cancelled my permanent crown fitting appointment on Monday... had a temporary in for over two weeks now, the receptionist said helpfully that if it fell out I need to call 111 to get an Nhs dentist to see me, or just to buy some tooth cement from boots.... (tooth cement?!? What the hell?! What do I even do with that? Not that boots will let anyone in anyway!!! I am literally eating mashed potato and mushy peas until this is over...

"I know it’s not an emergency but problems are surely better off identified at an early stage? If for example I went to my check up and needed a filling in a few months if left for a few months that could lead to root canal and significant amount of pain."

Yes, that sounds like a medical emergency.

They are unreasonable to cancel it.

I've got a tooth abcess and I'm on antibiotics for 5 days from today. Had a further appointment to have tooth removed on Monday which this afternoon they called and cancelled, no fillings or extractions, antibiotics only. This is for the whole of the U.K.

No idea what I'm going to do. Pray antibiotics buy me some time.

Not sure of any info regarding dental hubs, I can't find any information.

My kids appointment in two weeks was cancelled and rebooked for six months hence

I know it’s not an emergency but problems are surely better off identified at an early stage? If for example I went to my check up and needed a filling in a few months if left for a few months that could lead to root canal and significant amount of pain.

In ordinary circumstances, yes. But we are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic and we are trying to stop thousands of people dying by staying home. So no, a check up is not needed.

How are we still having to explain this?

It’s because they use aspiration in the practice which raises the risk of the staff getting infected from your saliva, even if you aren’t showing symptoms.

Absolute emergencies only.

Dentists only got the information today. You think you have an issue with this, what about the dentists - exposed to this without nhs approved protected pp3 masks - no financial help for the downturn in patients - you’ll note they don’t get rates relief that clothing shops do - and now told to shut down as it’s such a great risk (but they were happy for dentists to treat yesterday?)and STILL no financial help. Not even mentioned as a key worker. Will be actively discouraging my kids from following their father’s profession. Disregarded until you have a problem, then suddenly become vital to healthcare

Mine was cancelled earlier this week.

My appointment hasn’t been cancelled. My dental practice often sends out mass emails/text notices, so I thought they would send mass email to keep patients updated. I only need a scale and polish, if that, so luckily it’s not a problem if they cancel it.

The NHS is in a crisis because of the Covid pandemic. Dental services included. Most routine work is cancelled. A routine dental check up whilst advisable normally is not urgent and not a priority at the moment.

More importantly as well, there are risks that examining a throat or mouth of someone with Covid is linked to transmission of the infection with higher viral load which can mean the doctor or dentist who examines the infected patient could become more severely affected - this has been shown in ENT doctors in Italy and some have died and significant numbers have needed ITU. Patients spread Covid before they show symptoms. So asking if patients have symptoms will not protect the dentists. They will only have basic PPE so will not be fully protected. This is why it's so important the majority of dental work stops.

I work in a dental practice and we've shut our doors now. Won't re open anytime soon either. They're thinking June/July