Dental appointment in covid times

[jp1]

Today I got a text from my dentist reminding me of my mid-July dental appointment. Now I need to decide if I’m comfortable going.

On the plus side my dentist gives me confidence that she is taking this super seriously and is doing absolutely everything that can be done to keep herself and her staff and her patients safe. She has always come across as someone very focused on Doing Things the Right Way. They even put out a YouTube video a month or so ago showing many of the precautions they are taking for covid.

All that said, the thought of sitting there for an hour with my mouth wide open is at least slightly concerning.

It’s just a routine cleaning and checkup So I don’t NEED to go. I’m inclined towards going but was curious what other people thought.

[Alan]

I visited my dentist the first week of our Phase 1 reopening on May 6th to have my permanent bridge installed. It was a simple 10 minute procedure but I was very impressed with the precautions taken for their sake and mine. Judging by that experience I wouldn't be concerned with a cleaning and checkup.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I don't stress if I miss the dentist either though I have to say, I have not seen the dentist for a year or two at times, I seldom have cavities (did when I was young but not now) and didn't then, but yea there was more plaque when I went back so a long tough cleaning was my punishment for staying away a couple years I think.

[SteveinMN]

DW went to the dentist last week for some work she needs done before other work and before we (likely) lose better dental insurance this autumn. She was impressed with the care they took. She was the only patient in the office, she was screened for fever and symptoms when she arrivd, she was asked to wash up (including her face), the staff wore N95s and face shields, ... She felt at ease with it all.

[early morning]

I cancelled my routine semi-annual cleaning/checkup scheduled for this week. They are great people and I am sure they are doing everything they can to protect staff and patients. However, I'm not really comfortable with it, so I rescheduled. There are things I HAVE to go out for, and things I WANT to go out for (but often still don't). This is neither.

[Simplemind]

We have decided to wait and see as far as the regular dental cleaning. We did just have to ditch our eye doctor who is not using masks or shields and doesn't require patients to. Still scratching my head over that one. We both have hair appointments for the end of July which gives me time to wait and see how that goes. We aren't in dire need of anything at the moment. I would rather play it safe.

[rosarugosa]

I have a cleaning scheduled for next week and I intend to keep the appointment. I do have confidence that my dental practice will take all necessary precautions.

[nswef]

We too had to skip the routine 6 month cleaning, now they are open but I'm still wary of going. When I broke my hip, I missed the regular appointment and did it 2 months after the scheduled appt. and didn't seem to have suffered...but I'm now taking Boniva for osteoperosis and the warnings say to be sure to keep dental health in mind. So, a dilemma.

[jp1]

Well, because my appointment had been made pre-covid (and they were presumably fully booked at pre-covid levels) my dentist just emailed that they have to cancel my appointment. They were apologetic and admitted that they are still working out the bugs in their notification system.

[iris lilies]

I’m going for a routine teeth cleaning in a couple of weeks.

[iris lilies]

I’m going for a routine teeth cleaning in a couple of weeks.

[sweetana3]

We had a report on our dental office since I have a visit in two days. They use a disposable one time sheet over the chair. All PPEs including face shield. I feel comfortable in our area (maybe not if I lived in TX or FL).

[rosarugosa]

I did go for my cleaning last week and it seemed like they were doing a good job with their measures and precautions.

[jp1]

I guess my dentist wasn’t kidding about still needing to tweak their automatic notification system. I just got an email from them expressing worry that I hadn’t been there for a cleaning in 18 months when I was actually last there in January.

[iris lilies]

My dentist: we’ve been going to him for almost 30 years. He is one of those super achievers who makes me tired just to talk to him, but I love him. And he’s dying at a young age. He has ALS and he’s in the last stage of it, he retired from dental practice several months ago.


Here’s everything this guy does: he’s an MD in dentistry. He teaches at dentistry college. He’s ex-Navy officer. He’s an arms and weaponry teacher and is certified in such. He scuba dives. He flies airplanes. He rides with a motorcycle club. And oh yeah get this— he is an active duty police officer, working several shifts a month. This —all in addition to a thriving dental practice where he was the leader in this region of developing HIV protocols, so that’s why I’m not worried at all about his office and their response to Covid because they’ve seen this stuff before.

He has inherited ALS which apparently is not well known. His symptoms actually started decades ago and he now relates his symptoms to symptoms his father had, but his father died young of heart disease so never grew into full-blown ALS disease.

Our dentist is famous for an incident in our neighborhood decades ago: there was a domestic dispute in the middle of the street near his office. The male perp had a gun and was shooting it in the air to scare is girlfriend. Our dentist went outside and dealt with that situation, chasing down the perp and holding him until law enforcement could take him away.

It was just another day of service to my neighborhood by Denzel Jines, MD. Dentistry or crime prevention, you choose, he will provide it!

[Teacher Terry]

IL, your dentist sounds amazing. How sad for him.

[gimmethesimplelife]

This is something that concerns me as I've sunk money into my teeth in Mexico and now who knows what the future of affordable dentistry in Mexico is? And who know if dental schools will be doing cut rate cleanings in the future in the US? I see a lot of people forced to do without dentistry in the future. Salt water rinses are what I suggest - known to prevent decay and lowering gum lines. And salt remains affordable. Rob

[Teacher Terry]

I am sure dental schools will still need patients to train on so I don’t see that as a concern. Travel to Mexico will depend on our virus numbers.

[ZanaHart]

I had a crown fall out and I went to a new dentist who had been recommended. She and her staff were so thorough and careful that I felt fine. I will go back there when I need to.

[beckyliz]

I alternate every four months between my dentist and my periodontist. I skipped my April perio appointment, but went to my dentist in August. I felt very safe. They hygienist and the dentist both wore masks and shields. I was probably more of a threat to them than them to me.