DENTIST VISIT & COVID PRECAUTIONS

[Jimminey]

When I visited the dentist in 2020 and 2021 the dentist and her assistant were well masked-up with at least FFP3s. But when I visited this year in August both were wearing just the ordinary light blue medical masks (the receptionist and other patients wore no masks at all).

I am on Rituximab (for RA) and so consider myself pretty vulnerable to Covid and, as advised, informed the dentist of my medication.

Does anyone know if there are rules requiring dentists and assistants to wear at least FFP3 masks when treating patients who are vulnerable to Covid?

It seems to me that lying there, mouth wide open, is a pretty vulnerable position to be in if the people treating you very-close-to are not properly masked-up. I’ve searched the web but can find no guidance on what we should expect from dentists in terms of Covid precautions (other than that they wear masks - which they did anyway before Covid).

I would like to speak to the dentist before my appointment to check on their procedures.

Does anyone have any comments, ideas or advice?

[Hidden]

With the caveat that I’m not medically qualified. I spend a lot of time in hospital as an inpatient with my daughter who has a life-limiting respiratory disease. Given that all staff at the UK’s leading respiratory and cardiac specialist hospital are now allowed to just wear normal masks, I’d say that a dentist is also unlikely to be required to wear anything more than the standard. I would have the conversation with the dentist and see what they say, though: they may be willing to wear an ffp3 for your appointment under the circumstances. I don’t know how reassuring you’ll find it, but patient facing NHS staff, which I’m assuming would also include dental surgeries contracted as NHS providers, are still required to LFT test twice a week to try and limit asymptomatic transmission.

[AgedCrone in reply to Hidden]

When we go for our Rtx infusions we have to do a LFT on the morning of the infusion…& the nurses test regularly, so I would imagine that Dentists & their nurses will be testing too.

[Jimminey in reply to AgedCrone]

I've never been asked to test before an infusion. How standards vary.

[AgedCrone in reply to Jimminey]

When you think about it…..every one having any sort of infusion- whether Chemo or Bio, is likely to be particularly liable to infection.

In fact I would be furious if I was contacted & told I had been in contact with somebody with Covid19 at my clinic…I must say I presumed every body would have to test…I wouldn’t even mind buying the tests….after all it would only be every few months wouldn’t it?

[Jimminey in reply to AgedCrone]

Indeed, though I think the NHS should pay!

[AgedCrone in reply to Jimminey]

A couple of pounds every six months is surely not beyond expectations….& more economic than all the beurocracy it would take to get it organised for free…..the NHS is on its knees ……I think buying a test would be simple & make those who still feel vulnerable feel safer. We can always test before infusions anyway…I would not like to test the day after & find I was positive & might have infected someone.

As think I said …I want to get on with a more normal life.

[Jimminey in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Charlie. For staff to test twice a week is of some comfort, though I might have expected daily. I am surprised that staff at the respiratory and cardiac specialist hospital do not wear better than the usual mask - are LFTs and FFP2/3 masks really that expensive? I believe that in Germany FFP2 masks are now mandatory for all people in a medical setting, though perhaps any masks will have less effect with the new highly infectious variants. I will have that conversation with the dentist beforehand - though probably the receptionist.

[Sheila_G]

I Know how you feel. I was at the dentist for preliminary crown work last week and although he was wearing a fabric mask I was concerned because of the close proximity and hands (gloved of course) in my mouth. I have to go for proper crown fitted next friday and will be very relieved when it is done as cases are rising significantly again.

[Jimminey in reply to Sheila_G]

Yes, it is the rising cases that prompted my query.

[Jillyanne]

i am also on Rituximab, went f to f with my GP last week and not one person was wearing a mask , well except me 🤷‍♀️Even the GP didn’t wear one , rules are far too relaxed.

But I will keep wearing my mask 😷

[Jimminey in reply to Jillyanne]

Yes, I had to ask that my GP wore a mask when I last saw her. She was happy to do so mind.

[cathie]

I’m in edinburgh - on rituximab. Went to foot Clinic last week, he was wearing a heavy duty mask and a screen. A few weeks ago at GPS masks still with plenty of hand sanitizer. When I went fir rituximab infusion a month ago all precautions in place. Same at the eye hospital for a check up.

[Jackie1947]

Dentists have guide lines and I cant start seeing myself as 'vunerable' as I have no problems on what she's wearing. They have strict rules to follow.This is 2022 and mask wise things were a lot different back then since the vaccination programme. I was at the dentists a week or so back and I had no worries . I'm not vunerable but immune suppressant. Just have to chill out . My granddaughter is a dental Nurse and confirms that dentists,nurses comply protecting their patients. We have to move on.

[Hidden in reply to Jackie1947]

Appreciate the sentiment, but just want to gently point out that, whilst it’s a minority, not everyone can chill out and move on. Personally, I’m medically unable to be vaccinated. Last jab I had was in Jan, which was only my 3rd when due to my immunosuppression I should be having number 6 now, and it’s the last one I’ll ever be allowed given the life threatening reactions all the available vaccines cause in me. I caught covid for the first time off my daughter at the start of September: my sats dropped to 93% within 3 days of symptoms starting, and even with antivirals on day 4 I was pretty unwell for 3 weeks. I’m still not functioning anything close to normally some 6 weeks down the line, and it feels like being between a rock and a really hard place when I know that the only protection I can achieve for the foreseeable future is going to come from repeat catching it. I’m not necessarily going to ask others to do any different, but would hope people are still keeping in mind that even with vaccines available, there are people around that remain extremely high risk for severe illness.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Hidden]

I’m with you.

[Jimminey in reply to Hidden]

I am only on vaccination no. 4 due to infusion induced time lags, but at least have no problems with them even if my immune system doesn't respond. I hope you fully recover in due course. Precautions in England are far too lax.

[summer32A]

My dentust wears full gear

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to summer32A]

My dentists no longer wear the ‘all in one suits’ they all wore when they opened up after covid but they wear FFP3 masks, both my dentist and podiatrist (who is now wearing a regular mask) have air filter systems set up in their rooms.

My dentists test themselves regularly and are fully vaccinated so my bottom line is that they must be taking enough precautions to ensure that they don’t catch anything from any of their patients.

Let’s face it - just as we have to trust them they are also vulnerable and they have to trust their patients to be honest and not carry anything in to them.

[Jackie1947]

Then its a conversation you need to have with the dentist. Even after 4 jabs then I caught covid and sats dropped to 92 ,antivirals,good back up from the virtual covid ward and that was me wearing masks! It affected my breathing and took time to recover but I did. I guess if I was in your position I might be scared and I didnt mean to cause offence if I did? Im a person straight to the point with no flowering 😀

[Hidden in reply to Jackie1947]

Assuming this was in reply to me - no, no offence taken, don’t worry! 😊 I appreciate straight talking, generally, and I agree that this is the new normal, so we have to function within it the best we can, but I do feel like it’s important to remind people that a small proportion still have to be more careful than most. The number of people coughing and spluttering everywhere, without an elbow, hand or tissue on sight, on the train back from London on Friday would have been appalling even pre-covid, and my daughter and I were the only ones wearing masks in the full carriage - I didn’t test positive until two days after I started with the cough, so how do otherwise well people in particular know it’s not covid they’re sharing with everyone? 🤔🫣 With regards to the OP, I said the same as you - if increased precautions feels appropriate to an individual, explain the situation to the dentist and see what they say.

[Jimminey in reply to Jackie1947]

Thank you and I'm glad you recovered OK. I will have that conversation.

[Plumcrumble]

Hi recently went to the dentist and both dentist and nurse were wearing mask and visers, (hope spelling is right😁) reception staff were not but nor was i, the only places now that wear masks are the gp's and hospital.best wishes Sarah

[AgedCrone]

Please don’t be too worried….I am  elderly, had  RA for 20+ years  & on Rtx ….but I feel we must welcome   the regulation that now allows hospitals & dentist to make their own  decision.My dentist wears a mask when treating me - as does her nurse, but the reception staff don’t. I am quite accepting of that.I read a report on where “Covid lurks”  & it said that the most likely place to pick up Covid is in crowded supermarkets…& if you look around- supermarket cashiers do seem to choose to wear masks. The majority of my friend unfortunate enough to  have caught Covid have no idea where they picked it up.If my SM looks mega busy….I will put on a mask…but as the virus is airborne…it’s  really pointless…unless you mask up thoroughly every time you leave your house…& I want to get back to a more normal life - I don’t want to live in a mask.

[Jimminey in reply to AgedCrone]

Thank you for your reassurance. I must admit that I still rely on online shopping and only went in a supermarket to get a passport photo!

[AgedCrone]

I couldn’t live like that…I live alone & I like meeting friends to shop, go for a drive & have lunch out.

I think we all have to decide for ourselves how to proceed….personally I can’t lock away for ever….that way looms misery & loneliness as far as I can see.

Unfortunately there are some people. who get very sick with even the common cold, & of course I understand they do have to take particular care…& I do sympathise with them, but for most of us now - who were advised we were vulnerable & should shield ....I think we should decide we are going to find a way to live without thinking wearing a mask is the only way to save us from infection.

I do still keep my distance and & I don’t go to the theatre or cinema…that is too far even for me…& with Winter coming on, I think I my friends will be getting out the recipe books & eating in each other’s houses rather than freezing in restaurant gardens.

[Liberty43]

Same for me, blue paper masks. Going tomorrow and seeing a different dentist but l don’t think there are any guidelines . It is very scary even though l have had 6 COVID vaccines.

[Jimminey in reply to Liberty43]

Good luck for tomorrow!

[Liberty43 in reply to Jimminey]

Thank you, think l am looking at paying a fortune and lucky enough to have a very good NHS dentist.

[lindyloo2018]

Hi. my dentist wears a blue mask for checkups. but still full ppe for fillings etc.

the receptionists don't wear masks but are still behind plastic screens.

you can ask them to wear masks if you are not comfortable.

[katieoxo60]

The last time I went to my dentist in February, they were still using a one way system and full personal protection which my dentist normally does when I see him anyway as he realises the infection risk in my case. They also wipe everything down after use.