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Original poster

Any dentists or recent patients - how risky is the dentist

76 replies

Bettydot · 10/01/2021 17:10

I’m wondering if anyone who works in a dental surgery or has visited the dentist can tell me if they are aware of many cases of of covid being caught at the dentist? I have an appointment this week to repair a broken tooth and I’m feeling really anxious about it due to the new strain. I know the dentists have lots of procedures in place as I visited recently and it felt very safe but at the same time the idea of spending half an hour in close contact with the dentist and dental nurse with my mouth wide open with cases rocketing and the new strain being so much more transmissible really worries me. The tooth isn’t currently causing me an issue but I know it could start to cause problems and is an infection risk so I’m trying to weigh things up.

Also anyone who works in a dental practice how often are staff currently tested and is it via lateral flow tests or swabs? I’m trying to put my mind at ease a bit. Thank you for everything all of you on the front line are doing.

OP posts:
AvoidingRealHumans · 10/01/2021 17:24

I think you're more of a risk to them.
I had a root canal back in October and they had full ppe on, to the point it seemed excessive (but understandable of course).
Everything in the room was covered and they let the room sit empty for ages between appointments to let the particles (from your mouth) settle and obviously deep clean.
I felt extremely safe and would go again tomorrow should I need to for any reason.

SOLINVICTUS · 10/01/2021 17:25

I imagine they are AT risk and are being very careful.
Mine certainly is.

Original poster
Bettydot · 10/01/2021 17:31

@AvoidingRealHumans thank you, that’s really reassuring I felt less worried last time I went as cases were lower but feel so anxious about it this time. As a family we are lucky that we are able to stay at home so that’s exactly what we’ve been doing, with online deliveries etc. Absolutely it must be a scary time to be a dentist.

OP posts:
FippertyGibbett · 10/01/2021 17:32

I’ve had a crown and it all felt very safe.

Original poster
Bettydot · 10/01/2021 17:53

@FippertyGibbett thanks for your reply. That’s reassuring.

OP posts:
CuteOrangeElephant · 10/01/2021 17:54

I'm having my wisdom teeth out very soon... Checkup felt safe. Needs must Sad

Helenj1977 · 10/01/2021 18:01

I’m not even sure my dentist is open. Haven’t seen them since last January and that’s was With my children as well.

Chel098 · 10/01/2021 18:03

I’m going to the dentist tomorrow (only because DS has an issue). I’ll be glad to be going as teeth are really important.

Spodge · 10/01/2021 18:03

I had a crown in August. It all felt safe. I would certainly go back if I needed something done, but I am presently putting off a routine check-up since we are in the midst of the new variant surge right now.

AuntieMarys · 10/01/2021 18:04

I have been to the hygienist 3 times and dentist once since the last lockdown. Felt very safe.

LickEmbysmiling · 10/01/2021 18:07

My dc went recently and dentist in full ppe, lots of strict measures re wearing fresh clothes, however, not a single window open!..

Even when I had to go to hospital recently, no where was a single window open.

megletthesecond · 10/01/2021 18:10

lick I checked with the dc's dentists about their windows and she said they have two windows open and to layer the kids up to keep warm. I was really pleased she understood the ventilation issue. Some places just don't get it.

middleager · 10/01/2021 18:12

I've been twice in the last 3 weeks and am having a Wisdom tooth out.
The thought of what would happen if I left it further/if dentist closes drives me on. I've read a few tales of patients who couldn't get to a dentist in lockdown and the idea of having to pull out my own tooth scares me more than Covid.

I've seen two different dentists. Did not feel comfortable with the new one, but my regular dentist felt safe.
My only criticism was that I had to wait 20 minutes each end of my appointment in the waiting room (with others, spaced out). The actual appointment was only 10 minutes.

middleager · 10/01/2021 18:13

Thinking about it, there's no window in my dentist's room to even open!

FiveGoMadInDorset · 10/01/2021 18:15

I am in the middle of a root canal, felt very safe on first appointment, next one is in two weeks

Stuffofawesome · 10/01/2021 18:16

Took DD last week they had locked door spaced seats no one else waiting temp checks and hand sanitizer, had on full ppe with proper masks and had a loud extractor fan installed. My turn tomorrow and I'm confident they know what they're doing

NaToth · 10/01/2021 18:18

My dentist treats all patients as if they are HIV positive anyway. because not everyone who is HIV positive thinks to tell her, so I feel very safe.

I wouldn't delay dental treatment. Hanging on to my remaining teeth is important to me.

Witchend · 10/01/2021 18:23

I've been recently. Follow up appointments next week.

I'd say safe. One person in at a time, checking temperature and hand gelling on door. Space between appointments so you don't mix, and using 2 rooms so they can swap between the two when necessary.

The only thing that worried me is that the dentist looked absolutely exhausted compared to normal. He didn't complain, but he just looked shattered.

Original poster
Bettydot · 10/01/2021 19:37

Thank you everyone for your replies. Those of you who have had treatment did they have heavy duty masks on rather than surgical ones?

My dentist have their window open which I was very relieved about and fortunately everyone has to wait outside and I’ve been able to pay over the phone previously so I can leave straight away. You’ve all helped to reassure me a bit thank you. It just feels nerve wracking at the moment but I guess in
someways it’s probably safer than some other environments and many of you have reminded me of the importance of getting it sorted. It really needs removing but my last wisdom tooth extraction was complicated so they’ve agreed to repair it for the time being and remove it when things are more settled. @middleager I’m so relieved that they are open this lockdown so many horror stories of people not being able to access dental treatment in the first lockdown. I hope your next appointment feels safer, the fact that you mentioned you didn’t feel so happy with the second dentist you visited makes me think I’m much better getting treatment now at my current very small dentist than risking a later trip to an unknown emergency dentist.

OP posts:
Popfan · 10/01/2021 19:57

I chipped a large piece of tooth off and it wasn't something I could leave. I did feel worried but I was so impressed with the safety measures. The dentist:

  • changed rooms between each patient so everything could be cleaned.
  • had a air machine thing which took out the stale air and pumped in new.
  • full PPE , gown, goggles, mask, visor
  • when using drill changed into new PPE kit (as did the nurse) with full overall and a contraption that went over her head with it's own air supply. The nurse also used a different heavy duty type mask (never seen one before)
  • I was thr only patient in the whole place, straight I and out, I paid over the phone later.

Felt very safe indeed!

lljkk · 10/01/2021 20:23

My dad had 2 root canals, I had a filling, I'm getting another filling this week. Nobody got sick. Protecting my teeth is rather more important to me than the damn virus worries, though.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 10/01/2021 20:30

I'm reading this with interest as I'm supposed to be having either two large fillings or a large filling and a root canal. The teeth aren't causing me any problems so I'm not sure what to do.

bumblingbovine49 · 10/01/2021 20:44

I went in December because I had a very painfully tooth. They had a lot of measures in place but no airing of room between the patients which made me a bit worried . My second appointment involved 2 hours of root canal work during which the dentist and assistant wore full breathing mask PPE .
For the initial checkup they wore a surgical mask only but root canal work involves a lot of drilling and aerosol production
I did think that had I been Covid positive anyone using the room after me might have been exposed just because of the amount of aerosol generating procedure unless they opened the window to air the room for a good length of time after me
They did clean surfaces between patients but the lack of window opening did concern me

The other thing to be aware of is the full PP3 masks that the dentist wears , quite rightly, to protect themselves when drilling etc, do not protect the patient even as well as the dentist wearing a surgical mask would. So if the dentist happens to be Covid positive ( hopefully not but it is possible) , the patient will be even more exposed if the dentist wears a pp3 mask than if the dentist wears a surgical mask.

i went because I was in agony and it was ok but I do have to have a crown fitted over the work and I am puttting it off for a.while as I do think the dentist is pretty risky

FippertyGibbett · 10/01/2021 20:55

The assistant had a surgical type mask on. The dentist did initially too, but when he was starting the treatment he put something on resembling Darth Vader !!!

twinklespells · 10/01/2021 20:57

I had a composite filling done this week as I chipped a chunk off a tooth and it was sharp and very sensitive. Felt very safe. Mask gear so good the dentist had to repeat herself a few times.