Dentist

[gamma]

What are your thoughts on going for a routine exam and cleaning? I’m in NJ, where the numbers are low right now. I have not been in one store yet and have just visited my DC and DGC outside. I just worry that this may be my golden opportunity to go before numbers spike again. The office seems to be taking all the necessary precautions.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Just took ds2 today. Ds1 went last week to get a filling (cavity discovered during his cleaning in March). I felt comfortable at both practices and would go if you’re due.


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[lizzywednesday]

What are your thoughts on going for a routine exam and cleaning? I’m in NJ, where the numbers are low right now. I have not been in one store yet and have just visited my DC and DGC outside. I just worry that this may be my golden opportunity to go before numbers spike again. The office seems to be taking all the necessary precautions.

We're not taking DD until September; she had one scheduled for this past Monday. We're in central - live in Mercer County, but her dentist is in Middlesex County - so our curve looked flattened a lot sooner than up by my brother (Bergen County) and sister (Passaic/Morris County)

[twowhat?]

I went last week but only after checking with my dentist's procedures. They were being extremely careful (everyone double masked with an N95 on the inside, disinfecting everything, even pens, after each client, only one at the time in the waiting room, requiring masks on clients at all times other than when they are getting teeth actually cleaned, etc) so I felt OK with it. Same with kids - I asked their dentist about their procedures and they're being similarly careful so I think I will go ahead and take them for their cleanings because here, I believe it's just gonna get worse. :(

[NCGrandma]

I have barely left my apt since the beginning of March, and have only left my CCRC campus twice, both times for medical appointments. The second one, a couple of days ago, was for a dental cleaning and checkup, and I was impressed with how thorough their precautions were. I felt very comfortable and literally did not see another patient anywhere because of how they are juggling schedules. (My other appointment was last month when the university Eye Center had just reopened, and they too were taking very thorough precautions.)


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[ang79]

The girls and I have appointments in July for regular cleanings. I am planning on keeping them, as long as I feel the office is taking good precautions (They usually call a week or two before the appointment to remind us, so I will ask then). We have been to the ortho for one visit and all the staff wore masks and gloves, and they spaced out appointments so that we didn't see many other people and that felt OK.

[zukeypur]

Due to a dental insurance issue, I haven't had a cleaning in 2 years. I took a chance a couple of weeks ago and went in, and they were all double masked. They did not allow patients to wait in the waiting room, and I only saw one other patient while I was there. We are also taking both kids to the orthodontist during this time. We wait in the car, text when we arrive, and I only go in with DD's for the lengthy appts. Again, everyone is wearing masks. Of course I would rather not go right now, but I really couldn't put it off any longer. I did just cancel my mammogram, and I don't know when I will reschedule. I think I will try to get one of the first morning appointments.

[wencit]

Both kids have a regular dental cleaning scheduled for next week. DH is high risk, so we have been VERY careful, but I can't put off cleanings indefinitely. I also think that as the fall approaches, things are only going to get worse. I looked online at the precautions their dentist is taking, and I feel comfortable with them. I think dentists are just as afraid of catching Covid from their patients as we are about catching Covid from dentists.

Fortunately, we are scheduled at 8am, right when the office opens. I think when scheduling in the future, I am going to wait until we can get the first appointment of the day. I feel like things will be cleaner and there may be less chance of aerosols hanging in the air.

[Kindra178]

We are on waitlist, call whenever there’s an opening. I have no issues with regular medical or dental care right now. My kids have already had ortho visits.


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[JElaineB]

My husband went this week and DS and I are going next week. DS is also getting his braces off next week. They are taking precautions. DH's dentist did a "low speed" polish but mine and DS's says they will only do scraping and no polish.

[Liziz]

I went last week and my kids went the week before (it's suuuuper hard to get in at my kids' dentist so I didn't want to waste the chance). We're in this for the long haul so unless your area is a hot spot, I'd go. I figured like you said -- right now my area isn't particularly high, and I'm not willing to put it off indefinitely, so might as well go now when everyone is at the top of their game in terms of precautions.

[bisous]

My husband went this week and DS and I are going next week. DS is also getting his braces off next week. They are taking precautions. DH's dentist did a "low speed" polish but mine and DS's says they will only do scraping and no polish.

I have heard that polishing is not a safe practice and I mentioned this to DH but he saw that the team was wearing protective gear so he "figured he was safe". However, the problem with polishing is that the germs are aerated and remain present in the environment from the prior patients.

I'd be ok with visiting the dentist but not getting a polish.

[HannaAddict]

Dentists here have adjusted their cleaning practices based on friends who have gone. As in not doing the super aerating part and changing how they rinse too. Even with full
PPE including shields. I’m sure it won’t be business as usual if you have a good dentist. At least our city takes this seriously and lots of adjustments. We have had to do an ortho appt and a kid dentist appt because of problem after ortho appt and they adjusted their teeth cleaning protocols too.


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[AustenFan]

I went last week but only after checking with my dentist's procedures. They were being extremely careful (everyone double masked with an N95 on the inside, disinfecting everything, even pens, after each client, only one at the time in the waiting room, requiring masks on clients at all times other than when they are getting teeth actually cleaned, etc) so I felt OK with it. Same with kids - I asked their dentist about their procedures and they're being similarly careful so I think I will go ahead and take them for their cleanings because here, I believe it's just gonna get worse. :(

This was our experience, too. The kids' dentists and hygienists had N-95s, surgical masks, and plastic shields. Only one family in the office at a time. They took temperatures before bringing us in. We exited out of a separate door. Since I brought in five kids at once, they took down the plastic sheets between the chairs, but they normally have those up, as well. We didn't do anything that aerated. Wiping down everything before and after anyone touches it. By contrast, I have been at Children's Hospital LA three times in the past week due to needing to see all our specialists before we move, and other than temperatures/handing out masks at the entrance, it doesn't seem that different than before since they already had a lot of precautions in place. (I felt safe at CHLA, but I felt even safer at the dentist.)

And a side note, two of our routine check-ups last week revealed that two of my kids need surgery this summer/fall (one for an ear tumor that was discovered via a well child check three years ago, requiring immediate surgery, and it's apparently back, and the other for an eye condition they've been watching since birth and now need to act on). My pediatrician said that none of the patients in her practice have been hospitalized with covid, but they've had several kids who have been hospitalized with things like pneumonia that weren't caught early enough because everyone is holding off on going to the dr. So I know that an untreated cavity or something isn't going to be as potentially dangerous, and maybe it's not as big a deal to postpone on dental care, but I am certainly grateful that I chose not to hold off on regularly scheduled appointments for my crew!