Our dentist apt! Bit shocked.

[KettleWentBang]

Got there. They do temp. Because in the lady's words ' this thermometer is just so temperamental' we're doing wrists.
So myself and 2dcs wrist temp all said below 34! So clearly not that accurate.

The waiting room was full.

One family left a room and within seconds we were called in. My first thought was how have they cleaned etc but then just thought they prob came from a different room.
We all had our turn and as we walked out the dental assistant followed directly and called next person in. So clearly didn't have time to clean in the slightest.

I was lead to believe they would have to deep clean. Have long waiting lists as can only see a few people. The waiting room was so packed there were 2 families standing. The waiting room. Is very small.
It started to rain and get chilly so the receptionist closed all the windows.

Anyone else had similar experience
Fwiw I'm not worried about the virus as such, but I did feel un easy because there were lots of older generation in there too.

It's not just you.
DS's orthodontists are shit at it too. Windows closed, people in the waiting room etc. We've been once and if it's the same again I'll be speaking to them about it.

Their dentist is great though, everyone waits outside and they have gaps inbetween appointments.

The dental hospital has these whizzy virus killing machines that filter the air and are on all the time. Did they have a kind of tardis central-console type device in the room?

Ours are only open for emergencies and orthodontist appointments. They are very cautious. I cannot accompany my DD on her appointments. The surgery is wiped down on between each patient. Only 5 patients allowed in the building at any one time.

My DH had a filling in a tent in the car park. In January.
It was rather chilly apparently!

I can't even get an appointment. My 6 month check up was due last March. Rescheduled September than cancelled. Rescheduled January than cancelled. Now booked April. Over 18 months without a check up.
They fi seem very COVID secure though.

I took DD to the orthodontist on Monday and it was fine. Only 1 adult with 1 child allowed in the waiting area. Temp taken, hand sanitizer squirted in to your hands on way in and out. Masks (obvs). As we were leaving the room the dental nurse was cleaning the chair etc.
It felt very safe.

At DDs emergency appointment you had to arrive no more than 5 mins before your appt, face masks on, hands sanitised and temperature taken. Only 4 seats in the reception area, 1 in each corner. There was a good 10 minute gap between our appt and the previous as we saw them leave whilst sat in the car so plenty of time to clean. The dentist had a very impressive heavy duty mask on, I don't think they could have done more to make it safe.

Did you say something at the time?

This does not sound right at all. Our dentist ask you to phone from the car park and you are met my a dental nurse and taken straight to the room you are being treated. You never get near reception.

This is why I’ve cancelled my dental appointments til this is all over ! It’s not worth the risk specially when the poking about in your mouth 👄 just make sure you keep up dental hygiene at home

My dentist you wait outside. I got there when 2 people were leaving. I waited 10 minutes before being called in. My temperature was taken and given hand sanitizer. The hygienist was waiting for me after I had seen the dentist, so I didn’t have to wait in waiting area, but there are only 4 chairs there. By the time I got my coat on, the hygienist had already put all her tools and instruments in tray for deep clean, cheap plastic disposable goggles were thrown away after. This was a private dentist and cannot fault them.

My dentist is operating as normal just with masks.
Literally 2-3 minutes between patients so the best he can do in that time is give the chair a cursory wipe.

They won't clean between members of same household.

That does not sound good at all. It wasn't my experience, I've been to dentist, hygenist and DSs orthodontist in this lockdown. For all we were not to arrive ahead of appt, wait outside until called. No contact with any other patients, receptionist only seen as leaving and she had a screen. The orthodontist is usually busy but they managed well, they do have large airy rooms though due to it being a Georgian building. My dentist is a sole practitioner so makes it easier to manage the waiting room.
Orthodontist I sat by an open window across the room from DS/orthodontist and wore a mask.
It all felt safe, much more so than my visit to the optician where I was kept waiting around for ages and had to see several members of staff which seemed unnecessary.

I went last week (not normal dentist as was referred for wisdom tooth extraction). You had to knock to get in, clean hands and then wait in a waiting room. The chairs were well spread out and window open but there were 5 of us in there. My normal dentist currently makes everyone wait outside till their appointment which I liked better but get this practice is much bigger so might not work. No temp taken and I did feel a little anxious having been away from people for so long but after 7 months of pain I was desperate to get the thing out so it was a calculated risk. We live in part of the country that has always had the lowest number of cases so the chance was pretty low but still a risk. I suppose it comes down to how much you need to see someone.

A normal clean is sufficient if a non aerosol procedure.

My dentist is similar OP.
People in the waiting room, no gaps between appointments.

But I have to go for a filling. I'd rather not go with so few mitigations, but I can't afford for the cavity to get any bigger and lose a tooth, so have no choice.

Mine is operating as normal with all staff in full hazmat and thermal scanner wotsit before you get in the door. Plastic overshoes, surgical masks or FFP2 only and only the patient allowed in if over 16 and not needing accompanying.
I was very impressed. My optician was the same.

Ds's orthodontist won't let anyone inside until their appointment. You have to wait on the pavement outside (rain or shine). Once you go in it's temperature, hand gel and escorted up the stairs to your appointment.

I managed to see my NHS dentist in September

They asked everyone to sign documents via email, like a COVID questionnaire and the usual contact/medical details update. Also attached a leaflet of all their changes.

They didn’t allow entry inside until your appointment time, but other than that it was pretty much business as usual. Hand sanitiser mandatory but not face coverings. My scale and polish was manual of course - which is probably why a deep clean isn’t necessary between patients. It’s the drill tools etc they use which create droplets/spray and require a deep clean afterwards - hence why it wasn’t used

Yeah, my dentist is nothing like that. You have to fill out a pre appointment form to assess covid risk before you go, hand gel as you go in, there was only me and one other person in the waiting room, admin and receptionists behind a bloody huge screen and a ultra-violet, virus-killing gadget humming away in the corner.

We have all been in for check ups last month.
Dentist contacted me to organise appointments as they are working through their backlog. Told to arrive at the exact time. Masks and sanitiser available. Didn't see any other people waiting.
In the dentists room there was clear evidence of cleaning between patients.
It felt very safe and well organised.
My dd had been referred to an orthodontist early last year, we got the appointment end of last month.
Only 4 people allowed in the waiting room, cleaning between patients. This was a very busy clinic as people waiting distanced outside too but rules being stuck to.
She has been referred to the hospital for treatment. Surprisingly this appointment is for later on this month so quicker than we were expecting.

@KettleWentBang

The sad thing is that so many staff just take the temperature without understanding. I was in hospital one afternoon for tests and just sitting about. The HCA came round and took my temperature at 31C [!]. I pointed out that if it were that I would have been dead for some days. The HCA just said "that's what it says" and moved on without further comment or investigation!

My DC had to have a Covid test - Scheduled for her at the hospital - then isolate for 3 days before her dentist appointment!

I had a checkup in January (NHS) and was also in over summer to get impressions/fit for a new night guard. My experience was so different!

Day before - COVID pre-screening call
Arrived at surgery - waited outside until a dental nurse took me in, had to keep mask on and sanitise hands, temperature taken
Sat in waiting room with only one other person
My dentist (in full PPE) took me through to her surgery
Checkup and scale and polish done - manual S&P with no aerosols
Paid at reception which had a perspex screen, card only - had to follow a one-way system
Dentist let me out of the main building

The treatment rooms had signs on them saying when they could next be entered as any room which had drilling/aerosols needs "fallow time" to be cleaned and aired between patients. I think if a patient like me had been in - with just a poke about - then everything would be wiped down rather than the room have to be left empty. (But not sure.)

Same in our hospital's out patients. Revolving door of people going into the blood test room, revolving door of people going into consulting rooms. No time whatsoever for them to be cleaning/wiping the chairs between patients. Not only that, we were sat in sight of the blood test room (they leave the door open), and the nurse taking the bloods wasn't even changing her gloves between patients. Not to mention the cramped waiting room which was literally full of patients. They'd moved the chairs further apart and taken some out, but there weren't enough for those waiting, so people were having to stand in the spaces between the chairs. The worst thing is that we were seeing the oncologist, so they had cancer patients waiting in that cramped environment - people who have weakened immune systems. They NHS management havn't a clue.