Dentists/orthodontists

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When will they resume service? Is it a lack of PPE that's means they are closed? My daughter's teeth are getting more deformed due to overdue orthodontist appointment (she has springs pushing her teeth out to make room for others and now can't close her mouth properly).
What of someone's appliance breaks?

Im in the same situation, my son has springs on his braces and should have been back in April to start moving forward the other teeth now the gap has been made, his brace broke this week, I called and they had an answer machine saying to email in an emergency. I sent them photos and they replied telling me to basically clip the wire where it was broken to stop it from jagging into his mouth and said they will fix it in June at his rearranged appointment. They agreed it was inevitable that the gap that has been made may now be lost again but they would just need to sort it later. Makes me sad as he was told in February that he would have them off within a year but that wont be possible now I don't think.

Its maybe worth calling your orthodontist as they may have an email address you could contact for advice?

No idea when they will resume service sadly. My son's brace has come out on one side at the top and the wire is loose on the bottom. As far as i can tell the orthodontists are working on the front line of the nhs and if a patient is in pain they will be seen but i think at a centralised dental hub. When I've called about the problems with the brace I've basically been told to deal with it myself using tweezers and scissors. We ended up having to cut off a bit of wire that was digging into my sons mouth. The lady i spoke to (i can only assume she is a receptionist working from home) told me to use scissors but no bloody way were they getting through the wire so we ended up using wirecutters. Was quite terrifying! I know there's nothing to be done but I'm quite pissed off about the whole thing.

Also, ive heard from a dentist friend the reason they are closed isnt PPE, its the risk of using the mouth vacuum as it makes the virus so airborne that the entire room would need a complete deep clean in between patients so they would only see someone in the most urgent cases.

My sons brace broke.. The wire came out then mangled.. I've had to wire cut it off.
He was due an apt next week. Had a call today saying obviously its cancelled they hope to see people in July /Aug and on a waiting list for appointments

@Ali1612 that's shocking as that means no realistic prospect of reopening until a vaccine is found or covid disappears which is unlikely/months away.
I can't believe people are being advised to cut wires and things.

It all sounds pretty barbaric

I've been wondering this, but can't see it happening for quite some time.

My DH had half a tooth come apart and fall out the other week, he called for advice but was just told that there's nothing they can do so just buy some temp filling stuff from boots to put in the hole.

Luckily he's not in pain and it's not causing him bother.

Also been wondering about this. Wonder what other countries are doing?

It’s quite complicated.
According to the Chief Dental Officer we had to close to support social distancing and no non essential travel. We were told we had to close so no dentist has chosen to. We could be struck off if we see patients face to face except in designated hubs. There’s a massive issue with funding for the hubs so some may close soon unless the NHS sorts proper funding out. Sone had to close yesterday actually.
We can do AAA - antibiotics, analgesia, advice- only.
Most dental procedures are aerosol generating procedures -AGPs, so we need a high level of PPE and have to leave the surgery empty afterwards for a period of time so that the aerosol can settle and it can be deep cleaned.
Dentists are businesses and are not government funded. Without the turnover of patients most will not break even, so closing and furloughing staff is more cost effective. We will have to buy our own PPE when we return which is really expensive and at the moment it’s impossible to get hold of.
The CDO suggested it will be July before we are back.
Personally I am uncertain whether to go back at all, I’m considering a career break for a year or so until there’s a vaccine. I think a lot of the profession may do the same if finances and circumstances allow.

@chrisinthemorning thanks for that insight.

I guess it's easy to forget what a massive knock on effect something like this will have on places like dental practices, I think we all probably take our dental check ups for granted but they are so vital. It's a worrying time and can understand why you are considering a career break. I would be concerned to go back into that environment.

@Chrisinthemorning I have partially erupted wisdom teeth and have had one infection since lockdown, was prescribed anti biotics over the phone which thankfully worked after 5 days of awful pain.

I think my dental hygiene is pretty good (brush twice a day with electric toothbrush, mouthwash etc) but I am prone to staining so love my visit to the hygienist. I’m guessing they won’t be going back any time soon. Is it possible to do a home DIY scale and polish type thing? Or any products out there that can help other than a whitening toothpaste?

Was wondering this too. My filling fell out last week taking half my tooth with it. I developed an abcess and am in constant pain, despite antibiotics. Can't imagine putting up with it indefinitely!

Ive had braces put on privately

They cost £200 a month, two appointments have been cancelled but I’m still paying

And obviously even if they open in july there is the threat of another lockdown over the winter as well as the delay as they catch up with appointments

Really torn as to what to do...i really don’t want to pay thousands more to be in braces for extra months and months

Obviously not the orthodontists fault, they and their staff need to stay safe

Yes same here for my DS @RufustheLanglovingreindeer. £4k and I'm snipping wires myself and his teeth are probably starting to move back with the wires not on correctly. I know it is nobodies fault but I'm so pissed off. I wish they had some kind of idea. I mean imagine how many appts they will need to catch up with when they reopen! We could be waiting many more months.

I’m in Ireland and work as a dental nurse. Some local dentists here are still doing emergency treatment and our dental hospitals are triaging over the phone and inviting some patients in for treatment. Just no aerosol generating procedures (essentially anything that requires drilling/scaling).

I don’t see how dentists can offer anything else until there’s a vaccine because the virus would spread like wildfire if they did.

DD2 was due to start treatment on the day of lockdown. She's 11, is in the middle of a growth spurt and her teeth have moved quite a bit in the past few weeks. A couple of the more twisted ones are becoming painful now her last couple of molars have come in where there isn't really enough space.

She starts Y7 in September and was hoping to have got used to braces by then so will be very happy when it's safe for orthodontists to reopen.

I had a full blown argument with my dh a week before they locked us down. My son was supposed to have his braces fitted. I said I didn’t want him to have them if anything went wrong it wouldn’t be fixed. And he said that was wrong and they would and he didn’t want him to wait another few months for them.

Thankfully they phoned and cancelled in the end. I’m so glad that he didn’t have them as we would have had no help if it all went wrong like some people have said on here.

Does anyone have any new info? hopeful or like me have you all just ordered wire cutters off ebay.. ?

The dentistry aspect is so very concerning 😕

Ds was meant to have his NHS braces fitted mid April. The impressions were taken back in February. He was referred quite late by our dentist and is 16 next month, so he was going to have braces through sixth form. I'm not sure if when it's safe for appointments again whether those braces will be okay to fit or if he will have to have the impressions redone. He has ASD and sensory issues so it's a bit stressful for him at the best of times.

Ye s this is bad enough but the dentistry thing is really alarming.

I don't know. But my ds has has fixed braces for just over a year and just before the lockdown at his last appointment, he was given ones he can take in and out to correct his over jet. His next appointment was supposed to be May, but they've written to me to say it's postponed until November! That could easily change too. I expect they'll have a massive backlog. Thankfully his fixed braces haven't broken yet, but I'm really struggling to get him to wear the removable ones, he has Aspergers so finds things like that really difficult, I wanted to chat with them if there are any other options. I suppose in a way, November leaves him more time to get them sorted, but we could be wasting valuable time if there is another solution.

My DD was supposed to have her braces removed two months ago. After two years. We think she will need longer now to correct whatever is happening at the moment.

I am in the same position with my son, no information, but if it's not safe they can't work.

Any updates? Anyone...?