Dentist

[Yasyass]

Just wondering has anyone been dentist and worry after they went if catch the virus thanks

[Silverfox2]

Well me for a start. Mid way though this 'lockdown' an infection beneath one of my back molars finally went ballistic and so I had to source a dentist who would be willing to extract it. I tried ringing 111 but the hubs they wanted to send me to was miles way and I had no transport of my own, and using buss's etc was far too dangerous. In the end had to borrow money from my friends to go to a private Dentist that I felt had the appropriate PPE.

I also hired a London black cab as they have a dividing screen between you and the driver to get there as I have no access to my own transport and no family that could drive me sadly. I also had both windows open to create a through draft and I wore a proper FFP3 mask and gloves.

Of course I was terrified of catching this virus, but after a much longer then anticipated piece of surgery (one and a half hours in the end) I managed to get out the other side without bringing any 'invisible little friends' home with me thank god. Sadly as I've been experiencing post operative complications and so I may have to go back, but this time around I will feel a tiny bit more confident about it all.

[Yasyass in reply to Silverfox2]

I feel sorry for wh u went thru and hope everything will be ok in the end

[Speakeazi]

We are back at work. I run my husband’s practice.

We have taken many many precautions to try and keep everyone safe.

If you do need to go to the dentist, ask what they are doing differently and what PPE they are using.

If it’s a private practice you may be asked to pay a PPE surcharge. We have different levels depending on the procedure. Right now we cannot afford to absorb these costs. Eg the simple fluid resistant masks for a box of 50 used to cost £3.00 now the cheapest ones from a reliable source we can find are £25.00.

Please don’t stay away if you need us.

[Pop007]

Well my dentist called yesterday and I’m booked in for next week. Long awaited filling that will now cost me £250 ... ( should be £100 under normal situations) ... I have no choice.

[Speakeazi in reply to Pop007]

Wow. That is a huge lift in cost. The problem is having to leave the surgeries fallow for an hour after a procedure that uses the drill.

The cost of working is much higher and some practices won’t have a choice but to charge more in order to keep their practice afloat. If they’ve taken out loans etc they have to be able to service debt as well as the cost of doing business.

Hopefully when this passes they will reduce their fees.