@El Loro posted:

Back from my dental hygienist. Seemed to go OK. I thought I would go into some detail as it could be of interest to you. My dentist is not in the centre of town and doesn't have NS patients so is a less busy practice than many.

 

Going there I wore a face mask.

 

Receptionist came to me as I walked in and took my temperature (just pointed the reader near my forehead) then I did some hand sanitiser. Sat down - I was the only person waiting and only 2 seats available well apart from each other. Still wearing my face mask. Receptionist wearing facemask whenever on reception.

 

Then hygienist came for me and I followed her to the normal room. She wearing surgical gown and gloves and a visor covering her face. Assistant similar other than wearing a face mask. Hygienist asked if I'd had any Covid 19 symptoms in last 48 hours and also updated my medical history in terms of prescriptions. I took off my face mask and hung it on a coat peg.

 

She then did the scaling part of the work. They are not allowed to use anything which would cause a spray (aerosol is the word being used) as that's where there's the risk of covid-19 virus getting into tiny water droplets getting onto people. So they are now using surgical scraping instruments as in the past.

 

They are not permitted to to any polishing at this time re the spreay issue, And at the end, no mouthwash to rinse one's mouth.

 

Said good bye in the room and put my face mask back on, hygienist and assistant stayed in room. They would then be replacing their gloves etc and cleaning instruments and surfaces I touched (not that I had touched much).

 

Back in reception, paid by credit card and booked next appointment. Cost £5 more than the previous time, not surprising as they have to allow time for cleaning between seeing each person.

That’s really interesting El ....thanks for the information  Sounds like you hygienists has covered everything that they can 

@Baz posted:

That’s really interesting El ....thanks for the information  Sounds like you hygienists has covered everything that they can 

Thanks Baz

I may be one of the first people here to have a routine dental visit since their lockdown was lifted so I thought it would give some idea as to what to expect. Had the routine checkup just a week before the lockdown was announced but my dentists was already taking precautions.

@El Loro posted:

Thanks Baz

I may be one of the first people here to have a routine dental visit since their lockdown was lifted so I thought it would give some idea as to what to expect. Had the routine checkup just a week before the lockdown was announced but my dentists was already taking precautions.

Thanks for the info, El. 

@Saint posted:

Reallly Saint??????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had an appointment early February. so next one would be August or September. Dentists aren't open in Scotland for routine appointments, as yet, so not sure when I'll ACTUALLY go. Even if they open tomorrow, not sure when I'll actually go!

I was just wondering about how these appointments would go, the other day. My regular appointment in February got rescheduled to April, and then, of course, canceled. Still waiting to hear from them to reschedule, but not looking forward to the surgical scraping. 

@Lori posted:

I was just wondering about how these appointments would go, the other day. My regular appointment in February got rescheduled to April, and then, of course, canceled. Still waiting to hear from them to reschedule, but not looking forward to the surgical scraping. 

I didn't experience any significant discomfort with the scraping and it's back to the method which was used before the modern ultrasonic tools. Manual scraping isn't so good though for people with weakened teeth or for people with heavily built up plaque. Though not a good idea to avoid appointment as would risk greater long term teeth problems.