are dentists open as usual yet

[nitgel]

I've just realised I have a check up tomorrow! am imagining it will still be emergencies only but they haven't emailed me. Obs I will call but does anyone know what's happening regarding dentists yet?

I went 2 weeks ago for an emergency appointment. I'm going tomorrow for the hygienist.

@milklady I can't see how it will be sustainable if you are made to not see private too to boost income. Surely this is going to drive NHS dentists to move to private? Ergo that the NHS dentistry finished bar extractions in a tent in the UK?

@palacegirl private has always subsidised NHS dentistry. We're being asked to not prioritise private over NHS patients and see the same proportion we saw before. Long term no one knows, NHS dentistry has long been the elephant in the NHS room. Thing is everytime they try to cut costs they discover dental practices are running efficiently and anything else costs more. The out of hours services cost them very little compared to the costs since 2006 when they didn't want the service to be via the practices. My best guess core services in the long term everything else private.

I never thought I’d be jealous of other people being able to see a hygienist. Bonkers!

[quote MillyMollyMardy]@palacegirl private has always subsidised NHS dentistry. We're being asked to not prioritise private over NHS patients and see the same proportion we saw before. Long term no one knows, NHS dentistry has long been the elephant in the NHS room. Thing is everytime they try to cut costs they discover dental practices are running efficiently and anything else costs more. The out of hours services cost them very little compared to the costs since 2006 when they didn't want the service to be via the practices. My best guess core services in the long term everything else private.
[/quote]
Yes I think thats going to be the way forward too. I dont know how they can dare insist on limiting private cases. Also though, how would this be monitored? How do they know if youve turned away NHS patients to see private ones? If there arent enough NHS cases are you supposed to just twiddle your thumbs. Many practices will close (along with laboratories which only do NHS crown and bridge - no idea if they will ever pick up again if they favour extractions). Worrying times for everyone in the industry.

@palacegirl77 we can see private patients outside of NHS hours so evenings/weekends. We have to submit forms for every patient spoken to on the phone or who has a face to face appointment with dates/times etc so NHS have a record of what we are doing and how many patients are being seen. Funding will be continued in the short term as long as NHS patients are still being seen. I don’t know how things will work in future, but the system we’ve been working under for the past 14 years has not been particularly well received by dentists and needs an overhaul. I think the NHS capacity can only go down unfortunately as prices/funding are fixed. For private practices, they have the same safety concerns and need to work around these, PPE, fallow time, distancing for patients etc, but some if not all of these costs can/will be passed on to patients.

My dentist is still closed. Voicemail message with a mobile number to phone for antibiotics. Had a broken tooth for 16 weeks.

Mine is open, but only for emergencies/ ongoing treatment. I was the 930 appointment on the first day they shut for a checkup, so I bloody well hope I'm first in when they start doing routine appointments again.

I went to the dentist 17th June for a checkup and hygienist this Monday.

I guess a routine check-up is fairly easy to do, no drilling or aerosol, so maybe they can get through a reasonable number in a day. Nowhere near enough to catch up on the backlog though, unless they stop asking you to go every 6 months and you go once a year (I think it's a year since I last went anyway, although I have been to the hygienist twice since then).

My dentist NHS is open. Working on a one in one out system. Daughter had check up, hand to sanitize hands as we went in and wear masks. All very smoothly done, phoned last week for an appointment that had been cancelled twice due to lockdown and got an appointment for this Monday.

Private here, I've had a lost filling replaced (aerosol generating) and been to the hygenist (hand tools so not aerosol generating). It was amazing. I've had so many problems with my teeth and gums during lockdown. It's been such a relief to have dental care back.

Mine is still not seeing people. I broke my front tooth 2 weeks ago and look bloody ridiculous but they said it’s not an emergency and requires invasive work so I have to wait unfortunately.

I’ve found a dentist who isn’t charging PPE, is down the road to me and can I can see the hygienist as a direct patient without joining the practice. I’m over the moon!!!! Will have to wait until September but I can live with that.

Isn’t charging extra for PPE that should have said. They will be wearing it!

I'm actually thinking I might move DD to another dentist as she's overdue a check up and mine can't give any time frame for when they roughly might be able to do it. There is a dentist further away but still within walking distance which is also a mix of private and NHS that is open basically like normal for everything. As far as I'm aware they are only taking new NHS patients if they're a child so no luck for me and DH but I could probably move DD there temporarily. Shame as happy with our dentist but doesn't look like it will be seeing anything but emergencies for God knows how long.

Mine won't see me for a check up as nhs patient but i can pay £10 more and have a private check up.

I had an nhs checkup today, it all went well.

I broke a filling today and my dentist said they are hoping for the week after next to see patients as normal. Fingers crossed

I had a private appointment today for a scale and polish. They can't (won't?) use machines though - it was scaling by hand with a verrrry quick polish. Nonetheless, I am thrilled to have my teeth spruced! Hair tomorrow...

Dentist had one of those paper surgical masks on when I went in and then added a visor when she started (after we'd gone through all bloody questions about toothbrushes, etc. for 10 minutes in a teeny room). I was surprised by the PPE after the fuss that was made about dentistry.

Other notes - I had to wait outside, had to put my stuff (there wasn't much of it) in a box at reception, I had to sanitise my hands on the way in, receptionist had no mask on, they were disinfecting the toilet before people used it. I know that's not what this thread is about but I'm sure some people are wondering.

Mine rang me today - I am a tooth clencher and need a new mouthguard, and had emailed the surgery during lockdown. I’m going next week for impressions and she’s happy to give my teeth a quick once over at the same time. (Missed my checkup in April)

I’m an NHS patient in a mixed NHS and private surgery. (In Scotland if that makes a difference.)

@JustMeAndMyTins the lack of PPE is because it's not an aresole generating procedure (AGP). If they had used the ultrasonic machine then they would of been fully kitted up but a mask/visor and apron is enough for a non AGP