Has anyone been to the dentist?

[SunshineMoon100]

Hi all, has any of you been to the dentist now that lockdown as eased? Ive been called into go next week, feel
Abit anxious but thinking this is most likely the safest time. Any experiences anyone x

Yes I went last week. Why are you anxious? It's probably the safest place to be, dentists know their PPE!

I have yes . Saw the hygienist hurrah last week and as I felt something crack , although it didn’t hurt , during lockdown made an appointment to see dentist - turns out I had a tooth fracture so they sorted it out with a temporary crown at the 1st appt and put the permanent crown on a week later today . Very pleased with the service - kind of fastest ever and at the end of the day I’m more of a risk to them than vice versa although of course they’ve were PPE’d up for the aerosol generating stuff .
Only downside was the hit to my wallet .

Me! But I haven’t been to a shop yet. My view is that a dentist is safer

My mum has been - and she hadn't been out for three months - she said it was fine! She's been very cautious about mixing with anyone but was quite pleasantly surprised. Dentists are well versed in hygiene and I am sure they also want to protect themselves so I reckon it's as safe as it can be.

Safest place to be - I promise

no, it's expensive and mine still aren't drilling; I need a filling replaced properly so no point in going until they can actually do dentist things.

Was fine went a few weeks ago

Not me, but my DH went the other week - no issues, and like others have said I think it's probably one of the safest places to go, dentists always seem to be one of the most hygienic places to go anyway.

They rang with a questionnaire before they booked him in, then temp taken before entering, full PPE and no aerosol generating procedures at the moment.

I'd be wary if I had to go so understand your feeling anxious, but I trust our dentist practice.

I’ve not been in a shop for 100 days but went to hygienist this week. No issues whatsoever. Clear instructions and all felt very safe.

The old scrape method made my toes curl (the noise there was no pain) and no rinsing after a polish was weird but everything else was all good

As other people have said they are the most clued up people around us protecting themselves and us from these type of things

I need to go - lost a big filling and a bit of the tooth. Ours is not seeing anyone except emergencies and apparently I don't qualify. I ring every week and the message is the same. I have pointed out I will likely end up with an abscess, in a lot of pain and needing the tooth extracted but I will be an emergency then and will be seen!

I went this week and it was absolutely fine- they had a really good one way system set up for moving patients around the building and they took my temperature at the reception. They were in full PPE for my treatment which felt a bit bizarre at first but other than that the treatment went ahead as usual

Yes, the dentist was clad in mask, visor with attached hood and head to toe disposable scrubs. He was doing invasive work so maximum protection including gloves obs.
Assistants wore scrubs, mask, gloves and visor.
Receptionist scrubs and mask.

I had to wash hands as soon as I arrived. My handbag and phone were sealed in a plastic bag. The waiting room had half the usual number of Plaschairs and the fabric sofas had been removed.

Sorry, pressed post too soon... plastic chairs!
I had to keep a mask on until I was in the chair and I had to walk on a sticky blue mat to disinfect my shoes as I entered the “clean zone”.

Dentists are used to protecting themselves from nastiness as they work, so it wasn’t a great leap for them to reach this level.

No but my gums are receding and I am only 29 so I probably should.

Yep, went for a checkup earlier this week. We were supplied with a mask to wear while waiting, asked to sanitise our hands, they were limiting contact at the reception desk so asked that we called to make a future appointment rather than doing it on our way our. Dentist was in full PPE but it was fine. DH needs an extraction and they have a special day set aside for stuff like that apparently when they require additional PPE due to the aerosol (they were specifically not doing anything with aerosol in the standard appointment).

I broke a tooth at the end of May and was seen as an emergency by a dentist in my practice, to be totally honest i felt far safer than i do at the supermarket. I was told i would be the only patient in, the dentist was playing the part of receptionist, dentist and nurse, he wore full PPE and did a temporary fix as he was restricted in what he could do at that time because of what equipment they could use.
Had a nice chat with him on way out about the trials of home education!

I went last week to the hygienist too, - and I have only been to one shop in the 100 days and that was last week as well.

I felt the dentist at the moment, is probably quite safe. I have 'needy' gums and usually go every 3 months so had missed 2 appointments

On making the appointment - I had to answer a whole host of questions

It was similar to other posters, had to wait in the car until texted they were ready, wash hands, asked if any covid symptom questions, temperature check, they were ppe'd up with visors etc as they usually are. I also had to rinse my mouth for 1 min with an anti bac mouthwash.

It was a manual scale and quicko polish

I didn't take a handbag in as it would have been quarantined and I thought I'd save that faff. They did say in their original advice I'd have to wear shoe covers, but that did't happen.

My partner went.. it was fine and he felt very safe.

I went yesterday and my son came at the same time (he's 6). It was absolutely fine. The dentist had staggered appointments so that there wasn't a lot of people in the waiting room.

He wore a mask as did his assistant.

It was totally fine. I'm going to the hygienist next week too. They are not doing ultrasonic clean just hand cleaning.

My dentist has distancing in the waiting room - only space for two upstairs and two down . As you enter sanitise hands have a temperature check and wear plastic overshoes . Only staff wear masks and if it’s an AGP they don full PPE . Felt totally safe , an excellent experience .