Anyone caught covid at the dentist?

[OneSweetTooth]

I went today and it didn't seem as safe as I expected having read the guidance. Dentists only in a surgical mask with no face shield/ eye protection and several people waiting in the waiting room for 20 plus minutes. I also have to go back in a couple of weeks for more work done and I'm already nervous about It.

I was at mine this week and last. Seemed safe with entry only at the allotted time and the staff looked like they were wearing a lot of gear.

My cautionary tale on the risk of delaying treatment is that I got a minor chipped tooth during lockdown which would ordinarily have been quite treatable.

Because treatment was delayed due to dental closure and prioritisation of emergency/trauma cases, I've ended up losing over half the tooth and required root canal treatment and a crown.

Oh that’s not good op
Standard operating procedures very strictly say clinicians must wear gloves a plastic apron a mask and visor - it’s not negotiable
The patient must wear safety glasses while in the chair too
They should have one patient in at a time - wearing a mask at all times until asked to remove it.

everyone else must wait outside the building until called in by the receptionist, unless there’s a seperate waiting room That can facilitate social distancing

I’d be tempted to email the practice manager and ask why the dentist isn’t following the ( legally binding) standard operating procedures

Is that true of Wales @Heatherjayne1972?

I went today to the hygienist:
Glasses, gloves, face mask, apron and cleaned using tools rather than water spay. Chair was cleaned as I left ready for next patient.Practice was also operating a one in, one out procedure in reception and only me in the waiting room.

My friend caught it with her children at the GP from the doctor!

@OneSweetTooth.

Yes it’s standard procedure uk wide

If the correct procedure is followed it’s very very unlikely that you’d catch covid from the dentist

Dentists are following strict protocol. Only let you in at the time of your appointment, take your temperature. Made sure no one else was in the corridor when i moved rooms. Massive cleaning in between patients. I had to use an anti-bacterial mouthwash and they can’t use all the equipment they normally use. Based on my two visits, I’d say it’s probably safer than a trip to Sainsbury’s.

I have been three times recently, in December and January.

I waited outside until the receptionist called me in. Hand gel on entrance. Screens in front of receptionists. Receptionists wore masks.

Leave coat/bag/car keys etc in reception so that nothing needs to be put down on any surface in the treatment room.

Waited in a medium sized waiting room with three socially distanced chairs.

Temperature check before going to treatment room.

Dentist and dental nurse wore masks, safety specs and full face visor, with the normal gloves and plastic apron. For the two visits for fillings, masks were big black serious looking ones, and the dentist has plastic wrap covering his hair as well as the glasses/visor/mask etc. I asked the dental nurse why she didn't have plastic hair covers and she said it is personal preference and she can't work in the plastic hair covers all day without overheating, so she takes the risk 🤷‍♀️

They had an air filter machine running in the room on high all the time.

When I had treatment it looked like the dentist was wearing a high grade mask and not just the paper one. We both had to wear gowns which covered arms and body. The rooms are left for an hour between patients and then deep cleaned.

Reception was good too, temperature check and only two in waiting room.

I felt really reassured by these measures and to be honest the dentist is probably at far more risk from her patients than the other way around.

There was another thread a few days ago asking about the risk at the dentist and the truth is extremely low. There has not been a single documented case of transmission in a dental setting, at least back in November when DH (dentist) had a safety workshop. This was confirmed by another dentist posting in the same thread. There are obviously anecdotal posts on MN from people who claim they got it there, however those must taken with a pinch of salt since going to any appointment involves taking transport, taking a lift, touching door knobs, keys etc which have nothing to do with the dentist.

Interestingly, FIL (also a dentist) said that dental offices are surprisingly safe from all kinds of bugs. After 30+ years of experience he realised that a dentist appointment is something most people love to cancel so they will grab any reasonable excuse. Feeling a bit under the weather is the most common one they get. Nobody who wakes up with a swollen throat and throbbing head will happily put themselves through a dental treatment that same day.

GPs are different since people go there because they are ill. Dentists are usually hated so only those who are perfectly healthy and have no excuse to skip their appointment actually show up.

Also went today for first bit of root canal treatment.

Different procedures depending on whether it's a check up or involves aerosol generating (ie drillling).

Felt very safe. Dentist and assistant all in full PPE - big masks, visors, gowns etc.
Only allowed in for time of appointment - no waiting room.

There's another thread here which may help
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4131904-Any-dentists-or-recent-patients-how-risky-is-the-dentist