Dentists

Don't think so. Mine did an extraction that was cancelled last year, but didn't even want to book a six month check-up after that was done.

I'd say you should get it without going private, my extraction was at NHS prices.

Mine's aware I want to go ahead with some private crowns and fillings, he gave me a copy of the quote which I'd lost, but still no news on when.

The new ways of working must really knock their productivity.

non essential things??????

I had some stuff done last July but that was work that had been started and not completed last January. And it was the quiet period of this covid business.

I've only ever had private dentistry, both when overseas for 25 years and in the 25 years since returning. People talk about NHS dentistry but I've never come across it, all I've heard is tales of people saying that dentists' lists are full and you can't find it.

You need to phone and tell them about the broken tooth, and say that you are worried about it degenerating: would they have a look at it please?

They may put you on the waiting list -- in which case you ring back in 3 or 4 weeks and remind them that you exist, with this problem. Or they will give you an appointment right away: they really don't like people to suffer. (no irony intended)

I'm going on my own experience in (?) last September - broken filling repaired (on NHS).

It was all a bit farcical: I couldn't tell what any of them were saying, behind the extreme PPE they were all wearing; and it was one-out, one-in (to the _building_) -- I had to be there on the pavement at the exact time of my appointment.

Good luck!

John

Just had my routine six monthly check scale and polish, although it was delayed about 3 months. And wife has just had a non-emergency extraction. This is a very long-established family practice that "went private" after one too many bits of NHS bureaucracy about 30 years ago but seems to be broadly competitive with NHS charges and is widely used by "ordinary" people. AFAIK the NHS surgery at the other side of town is still operating too.

With mine, you arrived in the car park 15 minutes before, let them know you were there and they called you back to come-in, emptied your pockets into a plastic box, took your temperature with an ir thermometer and straight in for treatment.

I had a broken tooth last week. I had it fixed within 90 minutes of realising it had happened, standard NHS. No temperature, or waiting.

What did surprise me is no drill, prior to filling, do they have some new tool that replaces drills?

Jimmy,

Similar situation. Broke a tooth just before Christmas. Was a bit sharp, so they put a temprary filling on. Went back last week and had it extracted it and made be a new denture. Round about £60 so NHS price.

If you have a broken tooth it does need attention. Give them a ring.

Dave

IIRC, they're not doing anything involving drilling a tooth, as that sprays possibly infected aerosol round the room. So likely a temporary filling.

I removed a wisdom tooth recently, worked on it for a while until very loose.

I have the DIY Dentistry book you can have....

I have a friend who was, after NHS treatment, orderd to present herself at a not very local hospital so that the dentist's work could be checked. It's on the form you sign, but nobody looks at the small print.

My implant, due to be done last April, involved drilling into my jaw. Done in November. I return on Friday to have the biting bit added. They do drill, but try to avoid it as the room need to be completely sanitised afterwards. The good thing was that the 'scale and polish' was done entuirely by hand.

Mine was one of the emergency centres, so has a lot of experience now. A week or so ago had an e-mail saying that the hygenist was now working and could offer the full range including Airflow - that's a good way of generating a long-range mist. I've an appointment in April. Second jab due at about the same time, so might change appointment to about a month later.

on pain of what happening if they didn't do it?

Depends on the type of filling material.

Amalgam doesn't stick to teeth, so has to be undercut like a dovetail mortice.

The newer composite stuff does stick, so can just be squidged on and cured, sometimes with UV light.

Owain

Seems very much to depend on what the dentist thinks is serious. If its a potentially worsening condition then most would rather fix it now than have to extract a tooth later to the disgruntlement of the patient. Brian

Actually, its a bit of a mixed bag at the moment it seems. Obviously, nobody wants to get covid or spread it, but really common sense hygiene should always be the goal in any medical situation. Brian

Dental work involving drilling creates a lot of aerosols. If the patient was an asymptomatic carrier then the dentist and his assistant are at risk so a deep clean would be needed after every patient just to be sure to be sure.

Also,what if the dentist is an asymptomatic carrier ?. Almost impossible to protect the patient.

Andrew