Dentists, Orthodontist, Opticians?!!

[worldsworststepfordwife]

How are we meant to carry on any longer without them, Daughters new glasses weren’t ready by lockdown we really need them and she’s had her brace elastics in for months they should have been changed beginning of April arghh!!

I know I’m a key worker but my priority is DS, at this stage of my career teeth aren’t. I can afford not to work for a while luckily.
I’ll keep up to date and look to re start my career once there’s a vaccine I think.

Do understand Chrisinthemorning.

I really hope by the time you come back there will be associate positions available - or you can afford to set up your own practice.

With the anticipated required downtime in surgeries to allow aerosols to settle I expect lots of principals will be keeping the work themselves and terminating associate contracts.

It’s a scary place to be for practice owners currently. But provided they can keep going, I think it may be scarier for associates in the next 12 months.

Dental nurse here and were looking at going back in July.
Dentists are still open for emergencies but I don't agree it's an essential service if you're not in pain.

Fairpoint I have Close up purchased in Nepal. On my last tube. Then what?
Best ever

Well since the UDCs are rejecting a significant number of those who meet the fairly strict requirements to be seen, and there are countless who don’t meet the requirements - there are people in pain not being seen. So def essential for them. And current system not working for them.

SpilltheTeaa - are you furloughed? I suspect dentist and staff May have different levels of keenness to go back - as dentists are not furloughed and are facing financial difficulties . (As are staff Likely to be when practice shut but at end of furlough scheme).

@Titsywoo I don’t know what she actually did bent it or broke it, I had to order the wax stuff off Amazon for her and the orthodontist posted out bands which she now has to only wear at night.

My friend is a dentist and reckons a year away. Plus the backlog so maybe 18 months until you are actually seen?

IF there’s any dentists left that is to re-open. The government don’t care, only Covid19 matters.

My DH has had a crown fall off, it was over a root canal. It’s not causing him any pain at this point, but can anyone tell me if there’s a chance of infection now? I really hope it’s going to be ok, he’s had a lot of trouble with his teeth over the years.

It’s one of my big worries, all of our teeth! I’m dreading getting some issue and struggling to get seen 😬

I do understand the safety worries of course, I just hope there is a solution soon!

The government don't care
but the government have teeth, surely anyone with teeth has an interest in the continuance of dentistry!
modern life is not possible without dentistry!

my tooth broke 2 weeks ago so i tried to get an emergency appointment but was told no because it wasn't painful. I was told that even emergency appointments are merely telephone consultations for infections for which they just prescribe antibiotics over the phone. No actual appointments available.
I can't wait for them to open again!

Wow a year. Ds was meant to have his braces fitted last month. He's 16 in June so they were late going on anyway. I know in the grand scheme of things they are not important and absolutely safety first but it's still disappointing. He had his impressions done in February. Does anyone know if they will have to be redone if the wait is too long?

Pickles89 my dentist once recommended rubbing Corsodyl toothpaste onto the gums where it meets the teeth. That helped me with short term bleeding. Maybe worth a try until you can get back to the dentist?

OwlsFlyByNight as long as the root canal isn't uncovered- it normally looks like a spot of pink (occasionally white) the root canal treatment is still sealed.
If there is enough of the tooth left and he can slot the crown back on I'd recommend getting temporary crown cement from the chemist or internet and popping it back for now as it'll protect the tooth and also stop any tooth movement (sometimes if a crown is off for a while they don't fit back as the teeth shift) and we really don't know when Dentists are going to open again at the moment.
If its a post crown (there is a long rod pointing out of the crown) seal the hole with temporary filling to protect the root canals treatment and keep gunk out of the hole.

Punxsutawney, Orthodontists may be back sooner than general dentists as they can work with less aerosol but I'm guessing at this based on colleagues comments.They may have a bit of a back log as there are lots of broken braces out there.
Your son shouldn't need new impresssions if they were for records but if they were making an appliance it might not fit now.

Applying neat remineralising toothpaste (EG sensodyne) to sensitive teeth areas can be helpful, I can also recommend the waterpik appliances, use with salty water for maximum kindness to gums

@NellyTimes - of course i am polite. Im just pretty sure that receptionists aren't actually qualified orthodontists. The one i spoke to told me to cut the wire on my sons brace with scissors (actually first she said "just use pliers... erm hang on no actually don't do that use scissors"). Scissors do not cut through the wire so we ended up using wire cutters so my son could eat without being in pain. Wire cutters are pretty chunky and my son was pretty terrified and I'm surprised we didn't accidentally cut his gum or tongue. He has special needs so isn't great at dealing with a lot of this stuff (sensory issues) and now won't let us cut the wire again (it has slipped around further so is digging into the back of his cheek yet again). I wasn't insulting you personally im just pissed off that my son is in discomfort and apparently noone cares so we are left to our own devices.

Milly thanks, that's hopeful about orthodontists. The impressions were to make the brace that would have been fitted in April so they may need to be redone. He has sensory issues (ASD) so it's an experience he struggled with but it I guess it may be necessary to repeat it.

All of this is quite concerning for those that work in dentistry and for patients too.

Titsywoo if he has tiny elastics holding the wire into the brackets if you can get hold of them and pull them off (they circle the bracket) if you can remove enough of them the wire will slide out. Obviously his sensory issues make make him reluctant to let you but it may be worth having a chat to see if he wants to try that if he doesn't want you anywhere near him with the wire cutters ( I'm not sure I'd be confident with someone wielding them near me either) and I don't have SNs.

Titsywoo if the brackets don't have elastics the brackets hinge and they are fiddlier so maybe try to encourage him to let you cut the wire again or try sliding it with a pair of pliers as if it's slipping it's able to move.

I can't believe as a profession we are reduced to asking people to use pliers, wire cutters and generally DIY

Thanks Milly. His braces are ceramic and appear to have little yellow bands so i will have a go! I assume with the brace partially out on one side it won't be doing anything anyway?

It won't be working as effectively anymore and the end bit of wire digging in his cheek is not going to go without either the wire being cut, the wire being removed or seeing an orthodontist (so options 1+2 apply)

Surely there must be clarification about dentistry to come?

Yes we’re waiting for the Chief Dental Officer.
Judging by her previous performance we could be waiting a while! She’s not very good at her job...