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Original poster

What are dentists doing exactly?

171 replies

musicalfrog · 29/09/2020 22:45

Genuine question as I don't think non urgent dental care is available (still). Nobody can get check ups which surely is bread and butter work for dentists. What are they doing with their time, and aren't they worried about losing their regular income?

I have no idea how the system works but there must be an imbalance of some sort at play here.

OP posts:
Pomegranatepompom · 29/09/2020 23:08

I’ve seen my dentist - he’s working as normal but with fewer patients to enable cleaning.

NationMcKinley · 29/09/2020 23:11

My eldest has braces so has been seen by the orthodontist twice in the last 2 months but prior to that hadn’t been seen since Feb. My younger 2 haven’t been seen since October last year. They had 2cancelled appts due staff sickness then nothing....... when I last rang I was told rather patronisingly that wasn’t I aware of a pandemic?? I said yes I very much was an an ICU nurse and wasn’t it a good job I’d carried on working? We’ve got an appt now in Dec but I’m not hopeful it’ll happen. Annoying at the massive disparity in treatment.

Tinty · 29/09/2020 23:12

Mine and DDs routine check ups were cancelled on Friday for today. I had a letter saying call in February! When I do they will say there are no appointments until July Grin I expect.

DD has braces top and bottom and had to go 5 months until she had them adjusted. She hasn’t had her teeth checked by a dentist since last October (March appt was cancelled), which is pretty bad, as we now have to wait until February to call the Dentist. I think she should be seen as she has braces. The Orthodontist doesn’t check the teeth are ok, he just adjusts the braces.

I expect if we were private instead of NHS we would have had an appointment by now.

MrsTravers · 29/09/2020 23:15

I had to see NHS dentist in July for a cracked tooth - got a temporary patch up (no drilling) which thankfully has held.. I was told no check ups until the alert level changed and it still hasn't.

Two DC were due a check up in April, the others around now. Doesn't bode well for long term dental health, does it?

Original poster
musicalfrog · 29/09/2020 23:17

A bit hit and miss then. Probably driven by financial reasons?? Seems like an area that's been forgotten in everything. My kids are very young and I wanted to get them into good habits early. Hoping things return to 'normal' soon.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 29/09/2020 23:19

Probably driven by financial reasons?

Absolutely not. Dentists want to work.

This is driven by the need to be safe because a lot of dentistry is massively high risk.

Juliecloud · 29/09/2020 23:20

I got an email from my dentist today saying they can only treat one patient per hour at the moment so only book appointments if it’s an emergency.

Eaumyword · 29/09/2020 23:27

We had check ups last month (private) and I'm going this week for an aerosol based appt to fix a broken tooth and a filling. It is eye wateringly expensive at £40 PPE charge plus expensive cost of treatment, but I am very relieved to have it seen to.
There does seem to be disparity between what dentists nationally are saying they can and can't do and different PPE charges/safety protocols.
I'm not criticising, I do appreciate fewer patients with more cleaning/settling time required = less revenue and they are making some money back via additional patient charges. It just doesn't seem consistent if NHS are saying they can't perform certain procedures and private dentists can? Is it government inconsistency with guidelines?

Original poster
musicalfrog · 29/09/2020 23:28

@PurpleDaisies

Probably driven by financial reasons?

Absolutely not. Dentists want to work.

This is driven by the need to be safe because a lot of dentistry is massively high risk.

I kind of meant if they have enough emergency work to allow them to not work overtime then they would choose not to?

Are dentists working extra hours to fit in check ups? I have no idea what's happening.

OP posts:
TracyMosby · 29/09/2020 23:29

@PurpleDaisies

Probably driven by financial reasons?

Absolutely not. Dentists want to work.

This is driven by the need to be safe because a lot of dentistry is massively high risk.

Then why such a difference in nhs and private practices?
Bupkis · 29/09/2020 23:30

@PurpleDaisies

I’ve had a crown done. My dentist has postponed some routine check ups to catch up with urgent stuff from over lockdown. I feel like there’s a lot of unwarranted nastiness towards dentists on mumsnet.
I hope my post didn't come across as nasty towards dentists. I'm just very worried!
Frappuccinofan · 29/09/2020 23:30

I’m in England and had a routine check up recently! Was fine tbh, the scale and polish wasn’t as thorough as usual (just a manual scale) but better than nothing

Singinginshower · 29/09/2020 23:32

But how are dentist living?

Their income won't be completely replaced by government funding will it? I hope they have some kind of income protection insurance

PurpleDaisies · 29/09/2020 23:32

The problem is the guidelines around aerosol generating procedures means only a limited number of patients who need those (basically anything with a drill!) can be fitted in each day. My dentist is tiny so they can only do one.

It’s really tough for dentists at the moment. Check ups aren’t the priority. There’s a huge backlog from lockdown and everything is taking longer because of the new hygiene rules.

Alongcameacat · 29/09/2020 23:35

We have all had routine checks ups (private). I felt very safe there.

Two months later and I am still waiting to see the hygienist though, who seems to only be working three days a week now which isn't helping with the backlog.

HarrassedMumof3 · 29/09/2020 23:35

I broke a tooth at the start of lockdown and my dentist is still not open. I got it treated privately last month and have since had a replacement filling and a hygienist appointment. Also took my kids for check ups as they won't be getting one on the NHS any time soon. Dentist said lots of the NHS practices need PPE and are expecting the government to provide it, so are in a kind of stand off. So currently dental treatment seems to be a privilege not a right.

milveycrohn · 29/09/2020 23:39

My DS saw a dental hygienist recently for a teeth clean.
They charged the same , but could not do any of the aerosol treatment, and in his view a waste of time and money.
he won't go again, until they are back to normal (unless an emergency of course).
Based on his experience (we use the same dentist), I have not been.

Riv12345 · 29/09/2020 23:46

I had a routine check up booked for 3 weeks ago (which was booked before Covid)

They phoned me and said it's put back till next March!!!!

AhGoGo · 29/09/2020 23:46

Dealing with a massive backlog/not a lot in Scotland.
Child’s 6 monthly check up was due last week of March. It got rescheduled to the end of October and because of ongoing restrictions has been rescheduled for the end of August.
I’ve had a broken tooth with a temp filling since April. Still no hints when aerosol generating procedures will ever be allowed again (then goodness knows how they’re ever going to catch up with the waiting lists) so I’ve gone private and even then it was a 3 week wait.

Another thing that’s a growing mess.

AhGoGo · 29/09/2020 23:48

*rescheduled to the end of April (won’t be surprised if it ends up at August at this rate Grin)

ZaraCarmichaelshighheels · 30/09/2020 00:06

I pay monthly on Denplan and I’ve had all check up and hygienist appointments cancelled, it’s frustrating to be paying monthly for something you aren’t receiving.

NanooCov · 30/09/2020 00:09

I've had a routine check up, scale and polish in the last month. I'm not an nhs patient though. My kids both saw the dentist for routine checks in the last 2 weeks. They are nhs patients. Think it depends on the practice.

Bowerbird5 · 30/09/2020 00:10

Mine was cancelled during lockdown but I had a letter yesterday saying I could book one now.

RiojaWeatherIsHere · 30/09/2020 05:49

I posted a couple of days ago.
I lost a filling & broke a tooth on the first weekend of lockdown.
I was delighted to get an appointment (NHS) a couple of weeks ago.
Less than 2 weeks after the filling was replaced it fell out.
I phoned to make an appointment only to be told that ‘because of the new regulations ‘ they were now only seeing trauma patients.
I said ‘sorry I must have missed the announcement what new regulations?’’
There are no new regulations but they are overwhelmed so have stopped taking appointments.
I asked what about my tooth that they had filled & was now shredding my gum ? A nail file - that was their solution- file my own tooth with a nail file !
So back to 21st March - can’t eat properly & feel like shit

DoubleGloucester · 30/09/2020 06:19

I had 5 courses of antibiotics over lockdown prescribed over the phone with wisdom tooth pain on both sides. Eventually got one wisdom tooth removed in August. The other one needs to be removed in hospital and there is a year long wait. Dd's check up last week was cancelled 10 mins before we were due to attend and told check ups cancelled until Jan. She has lost 5 baby teeth and hasn't seen a dentist since last Sept so not hugely thrilled. Apparently the hygienist is still working though, presumably because they bring in more money to the practice at £50 a go.