Anyone visited a dentist visit during social distancing?

[Vlcos157]

Me and my son who is 5 are due to go on Monday we both have had some dental problems during lockdown and my dentist is ready to just have a look he can't do much treatment at the moment but he wishes to see if things look OK and can wait till he's fully up and running.

We are the only patient due in when it's our time and everything is cleaned during patients. I am slightly anxious more for my 5 year old. Anyone visited a dentist during this time who can tell me what it's like?

I have. What can I tell you that would help?

I’m going tomorrow. I will report back.

@sunshinepasta Hi is it any different from normal apart from, less people In the practice. Did they wear more PPE? Want to prepare my son but not scare him. They did say once we come into the dentist the door will be locked so no one else can come in until its cleaned. I know my dentist is very prepares and he's probably more at risk than me and my son!

@CrusoePoll that would be great! Thank you

It will be different from your normal visit and a lot of practices have made patient journey videos to help prepare them. Here is a link to an example. www.portmandentalcare.com/dental-articles/new-patient-journey-video
I think there’s also a kids version in their website

I brought my 9 year old last week. Dentist had a mask on but he always did before anyway! We were collected at the front door and there was no one else there while we were there. I had to wear a mask too. It was all fine! I’m in Ireland but guess it will be similar for u

@powerfulpam thank you

@Eloisedublin123 thank you out dentist wears a mask to but not all the time. I guess now it will be all the time

It will also very much depend on which country you are in as all countries in the UK have very different guidelines at the moment. Republic of Ireland is different again - they have far fewer restrictions. I work in England and the above video relates to our guidance.

I went yesterday. I had to answer questions on the phone before I went and fill in consent forms and email them. I had to phone when I was outside. I wore a mask. I was then let in and warned not to touch anything - I put my hands behind my back so I didn’t do it accidentally. I then had to stand on a circle and was approached by a nurse wearing a gloves, mask, apron etc. She took my temperature and then escorted me to the dentist room - the dentist and her nurse were similarly attired, with the dentist wearing a visor. She examined my broken tooth, cleaned it and put a temporary filling/dressing on it. I was then escorted out the back door and they phoned me later to take payment.

@Powerfulpam we are in the UK.

@hellsbells99 thank you. We had to answer questions today and will answer questions on day of visit. Its a private dentist and I usually have to sign something for my son so I have been told to bring my own pen. I expect it to be similar my dentist said all he can do is temporary fillings, no drilling etc. He is usually a very confident dentist but on the phone even he sounded anxious, that's what got me a bit worried. I am not in actually pain.. Yet so wondered if I could put it of but he suggested all he does is look for now to check for serious problems I can't see

I have literally just come out of my appointment, I said I would report back...
I had to ring from the car park. The receptionist asked me to wait outside until the dentist was ready for me.
He came out a few minutes later to greet me just wearing his normal dental mask.
I had to sanitise my hands and have my temperature taken.
I was taken into a different treatment room to my normal one. The dental nurse was there in full PPE. The dentist came back a few minutes later also in full PPE.
From then on everything was pretty normal. It was harder to understand what was being said because of the different masks and face shields but other than that fine.
I had to hand sanitize again on the way out. There was of course a new perspex shield at the reception desk and they asked for contactless payment. I had to wait for the door to be unlocked and shown out when I left.
It was fine. I had a temporary replacement filling and I’m booked in for 2 hr root canal in a few weeks.
I’m sure it will be fine for you and your son as well.
I was well looked after this morning.

@CrusoePoll thanks for reporting back. Ah sounds very well organised! Not so anxious about the whole thing now

I’m jealous that some of you are able to see a dentist. Both of my practices (in England) have said that it’s currently emergency treatment for those that are in excruciating pain only.

@Mnthrowaway20202 my dentist did say he can't do much apart from maybe a temp filling. He's still awaiting specialist PPE. He literally just wants to have a look

I've been 3 times. Each time the dental nurse meets you at the side door. They gave me a mask to put on and sprayed my hands with antibiotic gel. They advise you not to touch anything.

The dentist and nurse were dressed the same bar having the visor.

Ive been unlucky that i have never snapped a tooth before. And i have snapped 3 in lockdown. 2 teeth are salvagable. However i had horrendous infections in 2 other teeth that were pulled.

I was annoyed with my own dentist as i had a course of 2 antibiotics. That gave me a weeks relief of pain. However when the pain started and it was worse, they said I'd need two more courses of antibiotics. So i went behind their back and referred myself to the dental hub.

I now need a new dentist after my own dentist's treatment. No idea how to pick. Sadly the emergency dentist worked out of town.