Dentistry in the time of Coronavirus - UK

[Judythecat]

I read an alarming article in The Guardian earlier about the NHS hubs in England having very limited capacity to see patients, and only being able to extract teeth. Some people interviewed reported that they had had to make dozens of calls, spend weeks in pain, and were told their tooth could probably be saved with RCT, but it had to be pulled. Dentists interviewed sounded really angry and upset.

I completely understand about risk, PPE, aerosols etc. I just wondered if that was the situation across the board? I am in Scotland - are things any different here?

(This is not intended to be in any way critical of dentists or the NHS. I am just curious. I’m a lecturer and have seen so much in the media this week about lazy teaching staff sitting on their bums, not wanting to work. We ARE working, twice as hard, at home!)

 

[Raku1]

Hi Judythecat. As I understand it, the restrictions are imposed by the General Dental Council which governs the entire UK industry. So I would expect the same to apply in Scotland as well, I'm afraid! If you hear any different, please let us know - I suspect some of us would be hot-footing it north!

 

[Judythecat]

Hi Judythecat. As I understand it, the restrictions are imposed by the General Dental Council which governs the entire UK industry. So I would expect the same to apply in Scotland as well, I'm afraid! If you hear any different, please let us know - I suspect some of us would be hot-footing it north!

Hello, I’m sorry, I think I phrased that post badly. I realise that about the GDC, I just wondered if things were any less chaotic in Scotland in terms of waiting for treatment at the hubs. I’m sure I read somewhere that they were set up more quickly here, but perhaps I am making that up!

 

[MountainMama]

I cannot even imagine what that is like! In the US it has been varied by location...some dentists closed completely but others were still seeing patients, just prioritizing and not seeing for cosmetic reasons or cleanings. A lot depended on how hard the area was hit with covid.

 

[krlovesherkids777]

Here in the US, I've gotten 3 emails the past two days from various dental offices I've been to in the past all saying they were reopening , with new safety protocols but they were all doing restorative dental procedures again. so not just urgent and emergency but sounds they are doing regular care but just very carefully with new ways and less patients over here in MN ..

I hope that it is not as bad as that program sounds and you are able to find some care other than extractions and such over there Judy..

 

[Judythecat]

Here in the US, I've gotten 3 emails the past two days from various dental offices I've been to in the past all saying they were reopening , with new safety protocols but they were all doing restorative dental procedures again. so not just urgent and emergency but sounds they are doing regular care but just very carefully with new ways and less patients over here in MN ..

I hope that it is not as bad as that program sounds and you are able to find some care other than extractions and such over there Judy..

I don’t want to jinx myself, but I am not in need of care right now - although I did miss my checkup at the end of April which is making me anxious. I am just curious. It is good to know dentists in other countries are finding a way back.

 

[tazey]

I want to know if private places are more likely to open first before nhs+hospitals? I had 2 appointments for may (1 at the hospital+1 at the place I may be switching too) both obviously got cancelled. I'm now stuck wanting to get finished but in no hurry to go to the hospital one as they've had cases there (not that I have a clue when that would be yet) I can't leave the hospital tho untill i know if the other place can help finish this mess. ?

 

[Judythecat]

I want to know if private places are more likely to open first before nhs+hospitals? I had 2 appointments for may (1 at the hospital+1 at the place I may be switching too) both obviously got cancelled. I'm now stuck wanting to get finished but in no hurry to go to the hospital one as they've had cases there (not that I have a clue when that would be yet) I can't leave the hospital tho untill i know if the other place can help finish this mess. ?

The UK Government's road map has "personal care" starting from 4 July - maybe dentists will be in with that? I think the government and BDA will basically say "go", and then surgeries can re-open if it's safe in terms of PPE and cleaning. I don't think it will be private then NHS, or vice versa - many surgeries are a mix anyway. But I am not a dentist.

 

[Gordon]

Dentistry in Scotland is a devolved issue so things are much different here from England (and much better in the main!).

There are designated CV19 treatment centres in each Health Board which are fully equipped with PPE and trained staff to use it. A full range of treatment is available, they have the appropriate kit and protocols in place to use it.

If you need treatment then dial 101 or call your dentist and take it from there. From chatting to some of my former staff who're working in these clinics, they aren't that busy

 

[Judythecat]

Dentistry in Scotland is a devolved issue so things are much different here from England (and much better in the main!).

There are designated CV19 treatment centres in each Health Board which are fully equipped with PPE and trained staff to use it. A full range of treatment is available, they have the appropriate kit and protocols in place to use it.

If you need treatment then dial 101 or call your dentist and take it from there. From chatting to some of my former staff who're working in these clinics, they aren't that busy

Thank you so much, Gordon - this is exactly what I wanted to know! That article really freaked me out, and my anxious brain started to panic that if anything did go wrong (and touch wood, it won't), I would need to wait weeks in pain, and then get a tooth howked out which could be simply treated under normal circumstances. My surgery has actually been great and sending out emails every few weeks, but they are part of a chain (MyDentist) and I think the majority of their clinics are in England.

I'm in Aberdeen/Grampian - are you able to confirm if we have a hub here?

 

[Raku1]

Gordon, when you say "full range of treatment", does that include things like fillings? As you probably know, in England they pretty much only do extractions right now.

 

[Thephilsblogbar]

Even though I go regularly to the dentist I am a nervous person, when it comes to my teeth. I go every three months I went in Janaury 2020, and was due to go in end of April 2020 before the bank holiday/ve day.

I want to go dentist soon, for a checkup and a good clean, I am scared and nervous because I have missed one appointment she will take all my teeth out

 

[Judythecat]

I am in exactly the same position @Thephilsblogbar - I go for a checkup every three months because of atypical facial pain, and my checkup was booked for 29 April. I was also going to have an air-flow polish done then.

I don't think either of us will need all our teeth out! My last check was in January too, and everything was fine then.

 

[Thephilsblogbar]

I am in exactly the same position @Thephilsblogbar - I go for a checkup every three months because of atypical facial pain, and my checkup was booked for 29 April. I was also going to have an air-flow polish done then.

I don't think either of us will need all our teeth out! My last check was in January too, and everything was fine then.

Everything was fine for me as well, mine is an overcrowding problem, I can't carry 32 teeth or 28 teeth. Last time I asked my dentist said I had 27 teeth (not all my wisdom teeth are through yet) I am in my mid 30s, my dentist was talking about crowning one of my teeth, as I have has a root canal re-done on the tooth years ago and it did not need a crown, just needed to be refilled and redone

 

[Raku1]

Judythecat - this sounds encouraging for you! I do hope similar plans are afoot here in England.

Scottish dental practices to reopen under "phased" plan in the future

The National Clinical Director confirmed that a plan is being put together, whilst also reminding the public that emergency dental care is still available

www.edinburghlive.co.uk

 

[Gordon]

Gordon, when you say "full range of treatment", does that include things like fillings? As you probably know, in England they pretty much only do extractions right now.

Yes, including fillings, which is why I said that in the first place

Takes me back to when we used to treat HIV/AIDS patients before there was any treatment. Full protective gear, specially adapted surgeries and a "clean" and "dirty" dental nurse

 

[Raku1]

That's just so impressive Gordon, I bow to Scottish mightiness!
Which raises the question, why can't they do it here - but let's not go there.

 

[geos]

Yes, including fillings, which is why I said that in the first place

Takes me back to when we used to treat HIV/AIDS patients before there was any treatment. Full protective gear, specially adapted surgeries and a "clean" and "dirty" dental nurse

I was reading an article here in Canada and the president and vice-president of a provincial dental board were talking about how they started their careers during the HIV epidemic. The president was saying infection control changed between before and after the HIV epidemic and he expect to see a change with COVID-19.

Interesting to note that it was full protective gear before treatment was available.

 

[Gordon]

It wasn't just the protective gear... the surgery was stripped out before starting treatment, everything that could be moved out, was moved out, then the rest was covered in plastic sheets, including the walls and ceiling.
Then after treatment the whole lot was removed, bagged and sent for incineration. We used disposable instruments, disposable drills, disposable forceps even for extractions... all incinerated after one use.

The the walls, ceiling and all the worktops were washed down with bleach... left for 60 mins and washed down again, totally impractical for seeing more than 1 patient at a time.

General practice can't survive like that.

 

[krlovesherkids777]

Wow.. Gordon that sounds intense ..be put it mildly