topic Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday in Wellness

Went To Dentist Yesterday

BunSnoop — Sat, 30 May 2020 16:45:10 GMT

New Procedures In Place:

Complete a survey 24 hours before visit confirming you have not been exposed to COVID, have no temperature, no dry cough, etc.

Stay in car, call to let them know you've arrived.

Wear mask.

They come outside to get you.

Come in, have temperature taken.

Wash hands for 30 seconds.

Rinse mouth twice - each time for 30 seconds.

The staff changes their clothes after each patient. The clothes do not go home to be cleaned, they send them out.

The staff wears two masks plus a shield.

The totally disinfect the room after each patient leaves.

There is a machine in the room that will detect issues with air quality.

Don't stop at receptionist desk to pay or schedule next visit. When you come home there is a message to call them to pay (give credit card information over phone) and then also schedule the next appointment.

Very different than the past, but I was very impressed how professionally this is being handled. I felt very confident that they're doing everything they can to keep the patients and their staff safe.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

NicksmomESQ — Sat, 30 May 2020 16:57:40 GMT

That sounds like they're really doing their best to keep everyone safe. That being said DH & I cancelled our 6 month appointments. Unless we have a dental emergency we aren't going to take the chance.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 30 May 2020 17:07:40 GMT

So as I read down the list of all of the preventive measures (which are necessary, I understand) but I can't help but imagine how much additional cost this is going to be.

I wonder who absorbs that additional cost. Just think getting everything cleaned and the masks and so on and so on.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

shoesnbags — Sat, 30 May 2020 17:15:41 GMT

@BunSnoop wrote:
New Procedures In Place:

Complete a survey 24 hours before visit confirming you have not been exposed to COVID, have no temperature, no dry cough, etc.
Stay in car, call to let them know you've arrived.
Wear mask.
They come outside to get you.
Come in, have temperature taken.
Wash hands for 30 seconds.
Rinse mouth twice - each time for 30 seconds.
The staff changes their clothes after each patient. The clothes do not go home to be cleaned, they send them out.
The staff wears two masks plus a shield.
The totally disinfect the room after each patient leaves.
There is a machine in the room that will detect issues with air quality.
Don't stop at receptionist desk to pay or schedule next visit. When you come home there is a message to call them to pay (give credit card information over phone) and then also schedule the next appointment.

Very different than the past, but I was very impressed how professionally this is being handled. I felt very confident that they're doing everything they can to keep the patients and their staff safe.

@BunSnoop

That all sounds very thorough, and I hope that my dentist follows similar practices! There's only one thing that I would have to take issue with - the machine that detects any problems with "air quality." As far as I know, there's been no device developed that can detect virus floating in the air. So that may sound reassuring, but it's not really offering any protection. But all in all, I say bravo to your dentist for trying their best to protect everyone.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

msgb — Sat, 30 May 2020 17:30:51 GMT

There are dentist and other doctors who are adding fifteen to twenty dollar surcharges to the bill because of the EXTRA that they have to do as a result of all of this.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

pdlinda — Sat, 30 May 2020 18:00:36 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 That's a "no brainer." It's almost getting to the point where going to the dentist is in a "luxury" category only able to be afforded by people with enough disposable income (and reserves) to pay the bills that increase at every level or being on Medicaid.

I have an excellent dental insurance plan that assumes some of the costs; however, fewer and fewer dentists are "in network" and the ones I checked into who are do not meet my very high standards for care.

I had a titanium screw fracture on one of my implants and have been in the middle of a dental "crisis" to repair this and replace it for over 6 weeks. I understand that, whether or not it's COVID related, I'm looking at a bill in the "thousands", not "hundreds" when this matter is finally resolved (maybe in 3 weeks).

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

SeaMaiden — Sat, 30 May 2020 19:41:32 GMT

My dentist is also taking every precaution....with all the newest things for cleanliness. I still decided to put off my cleaning that was scheduled for this Monday June 1 until August.

I figure two months time will show if the virus is coming back to attack again....let them work out all the quirks.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

wagirl — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 14:53:14 GMT

I expect to pay extra for just about everything preventative for any type of medical thing that we have----

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

PickyCindy — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 17:39:28 GMT

I'm in no hurry to go back to my dentist when he is open again for my annual cleaning. I'll just skip it for as long as I can.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

beckyb1012 — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 19:44:59 GMT

I do not have to go back to mine until Aug. since I had just had a cleaning but that payment option will not be a part of his new procedure. They hate dealing with credit cards and offer a 5% discount if you pay cash or check. Never in the decade I have been seeing him have I ever not got my discount. It does add up over time.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

hick — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 10:30:04 GMT

I went yesterday to my dentist for my 4 month cleaning. As others have posted, every precaution was taken.

I didn't even recognize my hygenist under all the PPE.

I felt safe and was glad they were able to reopen in time for my cleaning.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

SXMGirl — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 11:11:20 GMT

I have an emergency dental last week and I was the only client there. Everyone was wearing a mask, as usual for them, and chairs in the waiting area were blocked. Today, I am seeing an endodontist and I am hoping that we can get everything taken care of today.

I do feel that many of the things that doctor offices are doing today is something that, for the most part, should have been done all along.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

violann — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 12:12:52 GMT

Argh... Finally got there yesterday. Everything was arranged so that my only person to person contact was with the dentist.

I NEVER allow myself to be TOUCHED without being heavily dosed with Novocain, and in the interest of time I BRAVELY PERMITTED MYSELF TO BE DRILLED with NO pain relief WHATSOEVER. Sugar Free Lollipopfor me.

The tooth feels GREAT.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

mousiegirl — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 01:10:36 GMT

@BunSnoop I was told I would be asked to gargle with hydrogen peroxide, I don't want to gargle, but rinse would be okay, is that what you rinsed with?

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

FLGators — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 02:38:12 GMT

I have mine on 22nd & I am planning to put it off as well. After today's news about a spike, I will just floss away. With 100K+ deaths & a grim predicted death rate for round 2 I won't be seeing a dentist/doctor for a non essential visit anytime soon. It's the new reality we have to live with!

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

willdob3 — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 13:18:52 GMT

@BunSnoop That is an impressive list!

My dentist is charging $30 or $35 extra, can’t recall which. I won’t be going unless I have a dental emergency. Luckily, my teeth stay clean so I really don’t need to go for a cleaning.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

Blingqueen023 — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 11:01:05 GMT

You're a brave soul.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

aubnwa01 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 03:33:14 GMT

I had a dental appt. today that was rescheduled from March 25th to today, due to the pandemic. It was with a different hygienist than my normal one, but my next appt in Dec. will be back with my usual one. She asked me a bunch of questions & took my temp & vitals (BP & heart rate), which I've never had done at the dentist before. She did x-rays & cleaned & sanitized the lead coverings afterwards when she hung them back up on their hanger & then she did a manual scaling & said they aren't using something called a Cavitron right now, because it aerosolizes the water, but other than that, it seemed like a fairly normal appt. My dentist came in & did an exam when the hygienist was done with the cleaning & that was it.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

Gayle2 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 15:38:45 GMT

I am going for a routine visit this week. I was almost tempted to cancel it but I have a friend from college that has been a dentist for years. She mentioned to me, that heck if they are following the guidelines it is about the safest place to be. So I will keep the appt. I hope the price doesnt' go up. I don't have dental insurance.

Re: Went To Dentist Yesterday

beckyb1012 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 18:10:38 GMT

For what it is worth on anyone trying to decide to go or not to go, I saw mine early Sunday morning at the Walmart checkout. He was not wearing a mask, nor was I. Told him I would see him in August for my next scheduled cleaning. Made me wonder how many medical providers take precautions outside of work?