Dentists/orthodontists

[flashbac]

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?

Don't know if this will be of any help to anyone....

I needed root canal on two teeth before lockdown, my app was cancelled the day after lockdown started.

I was prescribed two lots of antibiotics, they did nothing. For weeks and weeks, i literally took all the pain killers i could, without overdosing to manage the pain.

I rang the dentist many times to be told i cannot be triaged for an emergency app as it doesn't sound like my teeth are infected.

The pain was getting worse, finally managed to speak to a different dentist and he referred me straight away to have treatment.

The next day i was seen by an emergency dentist, all very good with social distancing, hand washing and they took my temp etc and was all wearing the protective gear.

He gave me an xray and said, wow i cannot believe your not rolling around the floor in agony.... You have a large infection, you have two nerves on show and you are in alot of pain! i was like FINALLY!!

SO after nearly 7 weeks of been in pain, he used the "older style" tools so that he didnt use the newer ones which are not allowed atm, something to do with covid 19 but i cant remember what he said exactly. But he temporarily fixed the issues and gave me new stronger antibiotics, fingers crossed the pain is now 1/10 instead of 8/10 and i can carry on until i am able to get root canal hopefully soon!

Emergency treatment is available in dental hubs all over the country for genuine dental emergencies like severe toothache, facial swelling, abscesses, suspect oral lesions, and uncontrolled bleeding.

Professions within Dentistry are among the most dangerous for passing on COVID-19 given the aerosol generating procedures routinely involved, the number of patients being seen by a clinician and the close working proximity of dentist to patient.

The level of PPE that would be required for safe routine dentistry/ortho is similar to that needed by front line hospital NHS workers on high risk wards so obviously and quite rightly that is priority... There would also need to be extensive cleaning between patients limiting numbers.

It's frustrating for patients and dentists likewise. Hopefully there will be some kind of solution for routine ortho and dentistry in the near future but it's a really difficult and risky one.

Are these emergency hubs actually open and functional?
It’s a difficult one because of the very high risk to the profession and patients.
At the same time oral health is very, very important. I can’t remember why but gums health is somehow related to heart health.
As for braces in young children, as if they haven’t had enough to deal with... However, I can see braces adjustments wouldn’t be a priority when places re-open.
A friend of mine said in their country they will attempt to open dentists but I’m not sure when and how (soon). They’d need a minimum 2h between patients to deep clean and face shields etc.
So potentially a dental practice needs to invest heavily on protection equipment for all their staff and employ a very rigorous and expensive regular decontamination programme.
They definitely need a heavy subsidy from the government and I hope they get it.

Hopefully some form of reliable instant testing will be invented. That would help a lot.

Are these emergency hubs actually open and functional?

In Scotland they certainly are and busy.

DD's orthodontist rang me a couple of weeks ago to rearrange her early May appointment for 29th July - optimistic of them to assume they could offer that, but they seem organised in that they are rescheduling everyone now, I hope they don't have to reschedule all over again.

When dentists are able to work again they should prioritise appointments for people with issues that need fixing immediately, rather than routine checkups for those without any problems. If I don't need my next checkup I'll delay it by a few months to free up the appointment for others who need it more.

DD managed to break her front tooth in an accident during lockdown. It was a total nightmare trying to get through to anyone. I tried our own dentist, 111, an emergency hub and was finally referred to a hospital dentist but because they can't use drills to fix it properly (she needs a crown) the temporary repair fell off after 2 days. Nonetheless I felt better that she was seen and properly assessed including an Xray and we'll just have to wait for a proper repair.

The first few days were really bad and she was distraught that she might lose the tooth, in pain, bleeding, not able to eat and it was horrible not to be able to get her any help. However I do understand any drilling would be very risky and would need top grade PPE that only ICUs have.

It was a hub DD was seen at but they said they are only doing extreme emergencies and even then can't always offer the best treatment.

There are supposed to be many tests for the virus done.
Why can't a patient have the test and if it is negative then have a dental treatment? No risk to a dentist then.
Where is sensible and humane thinking?
People will lose many teeths unnecessary and are suffering.
My friend's husband is working in one of the hubs for emergency cases. He said 90 dentists are opened for 60+ millions people. He is only allowed to treat old and vulnerable patients and he is very busy.

My OH is a dentist and he and his boss have been in discussions over the past couple of days about what changes to make so they can open up asap. Things such as designating one surgery only for aerosol procedures to enable a deep clean after every patient - set patients at 45 minute intervals to do this instead of the usual 15 minutes. Temperature checks for patients on arrival, perspex screen up in front of receptionist, using ipads instead of pens for consent forms, quizzing all patients before they are treated about where they've been, have they had symptoms etc.

It will be a minefield and they can't do anything until they get the go ahead from BDA and will mean them working much longer hours plus weekends to even get through half of their normal level of patients.