Dentist

brook2jack2

Andrea_jardin said:

For whatever reason, the dentist in question isn't helping enough, so the obvious answer here is to try other dentists and/or dental hospital. 

It's not like doctors where you can only be registered at one.

All dentists have to follow the same protocol. In England and Scotland for treatment you can only be treated at Urgent Dental Centres , their referral criteria is very strict and they will only treat where there is absolutely no other option and it is an emergency. The first line of treatment is antibiotics , if the first course doesn't work, then a second course. This is the protocol. 

Andrea_jardin

Thanks for replying. The thing is that that dentist falsely diagnosed her with COVID 19 and doesn't seem to have given adequate explanation about how to deal with the agony. Another dentist will be able to act more correctly within the same national guidelines.    

brook2jack2

Andrea_jardin said:

brook2jack2 said:

Dental treatment is about the highest risk there is because of the proximity to the patient and because of the viral load. 

Thank you for explaining all that. Can you explain more about the viral load if the person is not showing any COVID19 symptoms?  

Some people will have covid 19 but show no, or very mild symptoms , that may be due to a variety of reasons . However they will still shed virus in saliva etc. Someone who is in very close proximity to someone with covid 19 may be then subjected to a high viral load which is associated with a more virulent form of the illness, in other words with a small load the bodies immune system may get a chance to build up, with a large viral load it may quickly become overwhelmed. 

So the risk is not just that people in a dental setting may be exposed to covid 19 , but that they may be exposed to a high viral load. Thats why it is so important that any treatment has to be avoided unless absolutely necessary. 

brook2jack2

Andrea_jardin said:

Thanks for replying. The thing is that that dentist falsely diagnosed her with COVID 19 and doesn't seem to have given adequate explanation about how to deal with the agony. Another dentist will be able to act more correctly within the same national guidelines.    

Or , alternatively, the dentist explained that due to covid 19 they had to follow certain protocols and could not refer them to have the tooth out. This is a third party report of a conversation, the person who actually had the toothache may have misunderstood what the dentist was saying.

Unless the dentist was part of a Urgent Dental Centre then they could not see the patient, they would have to refer , and for most UDC they would turn down the referral as two different antibiotics hadn't been tried. The prescribing of a second antibiotic is standard procedure at the moment for most dental emergencies . As said before the risks are such that the protocols are to try to avoid face to face treatment if at all possible.

Silvertabby

It must depend on the dentist.  I woke up with a loose crown in my mouth so, on the grounds that it wasn't an emergency in Covid-speak, I rang our dentist's emergency/ advice service to ask if they sell the repair kits.  I was told no, as they 'do more harm than good'.  Result is that I went in later that day for them to fix it for me - on the grounds that it's a minor job now or possibly a major trauma (both physically and financially) later if the (natural) post tooth breaks and the root has to be drilled out.

Perhaps this was only possible because the dentist knew he wouldn't need to drill/use the suction thing that sprays water everywhere?

brook2jack2

The criteria are very, very strict. The CQC and other regulatory bodies have said that they will close down dentists and institute proceedings if they do not follow the guidelines . It really , really should not depend on the dentist and those who do not follow the very strict guidelines will be in a great amount of trouble. 

I

welshdent

ripplyuk said:

Thankfully my dentist is seeing people, though you have to pay a £150 fee on top of any treatment costs. It’s interesting that up until this virus, the NHS and many dentists (including on here) were adamant that antibiotics do not help at all with a tooth abscess. So many people were left in pain waiting for their appointment. In my friends case, it was 3 weeks and he was in so much pain he could barely eat. Now, with the lockdown, antibiotics are being handed out straight away for a tooth abscess, which I’m glad to see. Of course, it needs to be the right antibiotic or it won’t work. In my own case, I was given amoxicillin which was useless but Clindamycin worked very well. 

Its not "interesting". Do you really think we WANT to be doing that?? I am primarily and endodontist these days. It goes against every fibre in my being prescribing anti biotics. But let me spell this out. We. Have. No. OTHER. Choice. It has been clearly stated why we are not open for anything more than triage and occasional extractions. It is not a debatable issue. It is is trhe reality of a world wide pandemic. I WANT to be able to see my patients properly and provide the treatment they need. I WANT to not have to worry as my wife goes to work as a nurse every day. I WANT my daughter to see our family and friends. I WANT a lot of things. So antibiotics is basically what you are getting for now. 

welshdent

Andrea_jardin said:

Thanks for replying. The thing is that that dentist falsely diagnosed her with COVID 19 and doesn't seem to have given adequate explanation about how to deal with the agony. Another dentist will be able to act more correctly within the same national guidelines.    

Your friends status with regards to Covid19 is irrelevant. It is national UK wide guidance. We cant see patients unless the previously described criteria are met. Even then you may need to referred to a centre who still may not provide treatment. 

Andrea_jardin

Thank you for posting. It is a privilege for readers of this forum that dentists and other health professionals take the time to post here. 

Spoonie_Turtle

Andrea_jardin said:

Thank you for posting. It is a privilege for readers of this forum that dentists and other health professionals take the time to post here. 

Absolutely agree with this 100% - I have learned so much and it really does help to keep perspective when we understand why things are done the way they are, in normal practice and now in the current situation. Thank you pros!