Dentists

Please can dentists be re-opened. It has been very upsetting and traumatic when urgent dental treatment has been all but impossible to get during the lockdown.

Why the contribution is important

At least have a dental surgery open so that dentists can assess patients

by marion59 on May 05, 2020 at 01:35PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.9
Based on: 44 votes

Comments

  • Posted by alogan May 05, 2020 at 14:00

    With suitable PPE, surely emergency dental treatment could be offered at a limited number of practices

  • Posted by sy278 May 05, 2020 at 14:11

    Yes this needs to happen soon. Dental work for repairs etc is a medical requirement just as any other GP ailment may be. Check-ups should still be banned for now.

  • Posted by AMcD May 05, 2020 at 14:15

    Agree - our dential system has been flung back to pre-war levels. Currently the only treatment available for painful toothache / damaged teeth - even at the emergency hubs that have been set up - is extraction as all aerosol generating procedures (drilling etc) are suspended. We're reading stories of people being forced to remove their own teeth, people in chronic pain for weeks already with no treatment. Please prioritise getting full PPE to dentists to let them return to work safely - they could look at centralising work involving aerosol generating procedures to specific practices in an area, triage for patients including temperature checks, or even having to have a test before being treated, with deep cleans. But get this back up and running as a priority, please!

  • Posted by mirjanagn May 05, 2020 at 14:21

    Yes please. I am one of those individuals in need of urgent dental care and my teeth are suffering and becoming worse every day because of it.

  • Posted by shield1960 May 05, 2020 at 14:44

    The efforts we have made so far are a credit to our nation. The time has come however for the Govt to realise that to continue with more Lockdown restrictions people need to have physical and mental health issues tackled as matter of priority. If someone feels well and confident their ability not just to cope with Lockdown but to contribute where they can to supporting the wider community needs in terms of family, friends and neighbours e.g. shopping, picking up medication etc. Dentists need to be given the same support in terms of PPE and possible financial assistance to adapt premises to bring dental treatment back to local communities as quickly as is possible. Clearly there are health and safety issues but dentists are professionals and we need to back their expertise and judgement in assessing what they can deliver possibly on a practice by practice basis. It would seem many other countries do have dental practices open so clearly it is an achievable outcome.

  • Posted by mg68 May 05, 2020 at 14:57

    Get dentists open now with PPE they should be first line - people do have serious problems and discomfort for weeks with no provision - hopsital dentist work also on hold.

  • Posted by Aa May 05, 2020 at 15:21

    Dental services must be resumed as soon as possible.

  • Posted by JohnMorton May 05, 2020 at 15:24

    Agree that dentists should reopen with correct precautions taken. They are still taking their monthly direct debit from patients but not providing a service

  • Posted by Bill May 05, 2020 at 15:43

    Unbelievable rest of the EU allowing dental practices open and here we deciding differently. We are in pain and the only proposal received is either extraction or remain with antibiotics and anti inflammatory...for 5weeks now. Please reopen with appropriate PPE, exactly as happening in rest of the EU. Please do not leave us in pain.

  • Posted by AlexMD May 05, 2020 at 16:18

    It's crazy to keep dental surgeries closed. Sooner or later people will die of sepsis due to tooth abcesses. Dental health is important.

  • Posted by Jane May 05, 2020 at 17:28

    Fully support that necessary dental care should be reinstated. Dental practices need support with PPE as high risk interventions and proximity of working , but they have very high standards already.

  • Posted by Pearl16 May 05, 2020 at 19:18

    Absolutely agree. Access to dental care must be urgently reinstated and, along with other health services, take priority over leisure activities and schools. There has been immense understanding and support for the need to curtail services initially and we understand dentists are carrying out high risk procedures, as are other health professionals, but the current lack of access to care is becoming unacceptable. Dental pain and infection is not insignificant and the current very limited access is leaving very many people in great distress for prolonged periods and at risk of deteriorating health in terms of escalating infection. Please supply adequate PPE to allow practises to open. Those needing dental care could be asked to self isolate for the requisite period of time prior to appointments and so minimise the risk to dentists. In the first instance it would be reasonable to restrict services to those with ongoing/urgent problems.

  • Posted by Pretendiname May 06, 2020 at 23:37

    The risks to dental staff, and the creation of aerosols when drilling, cleaning etc are clearly of concern. The emergence of reliable antibody testing will help increase access to care, but those not yet exposed to COVID-19 also have care needs.

  • Posted by jsbrown May 07, 2020 at 23:01

    Same applies to optometry. People need access to allied healthcare.

  • Posted by Anonymous1 May 08, 2020 at 19:42

    People are suffering and the Government are standing by watching. This is absolutely an essential service.
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