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Dental treatment - the Megathread

  • 23-03-2020 06:35PM
    #1
    Tropicalaa
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16 ✭


    I seen that they asked the government for guidance, not exactly sure what they expected the government to do for them.

    Look like they wanted to make the government the fall guy for closing shop or wanted some icing on their cake for staying open during the crisis


«1

Comments

  • #2
    ceadaoin.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,803 ✭✭✭ceadaoin.


    Dental procedures are extremely high risk for spreading infection. They are being responsible by closing.

    I'm sure some will be available for true emergencies but they most they can probably do is a temporary fix. Any tools that use water are not allowed because of the amount of aerosol they produce.


  • #3
    Tropicalaa
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16 ✭Tropicalaa


    ceadaoin. wrote: »
    Dental procedures are extremely high risk for spreading infection. They are being responsible by closing.
    This was my issue

    Are they not able to put a safety plan in place that allows an emergency service to be maintained


  • #4
    harr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,526 ✭✭✭harr


    ceadaoin. wrote: »
    Dental procedures are extremely high risk for spreading infection. They are being responsible by closing.
    Exactly was reading a report today which was saying that the PPE dentists wear was no where near good enough to protect them from picking up the virus especially when using the aerosol on a persons mouth. You can hardly blame them considering the amount of saliva produced.


  • #5
    martingriff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,540 ✭✭✭✭martingriff


    My dentist rand me to cancel my appointment and I say they will be doing again as they gave me April 3rd. She was very apologetic but said if there was an emergency they would be available


  • #6
    Beasty
    Administrators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 78,485 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Beasty


    As I understand it the HSE have told dentists they cannot do most procedures and can only undertake emergency treatment. If they fail to follow HSE instructions I assume their insurance may then be an issue. I don't think the dentists have had much of a say in this


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  • #7
    CIARAN_BOYLE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,595 ✭✭✭✭CIARAN_BOYLE


    Tropicalaa wrote: »
    I seen that they asked the government for guidance, not exactly sure what they expected the government to do for them.

    Look like they wanted to make the government the fall guy for closing shop or wanted some icing on their cake for staying open during the crisis

    I believe they were expecting clear guidance. Specifically a message that they were going to get an allocation of the top ppe available so that they could provide an emergency service or to shut up shop.


  • #8
    Tropicalaa
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16 ✭Tropicalaa


    CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »
    I believe they were expecting clear guidance. Specifically a message that they were going to get an allocation of the top ppe available so that they could provide an emergency service or to shut up shop.

    So what happens now


  • #9
    osarusan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,956 ✭✭✭✭osarusan


    'abandon public'....ludicrous thread title.


  • #10
    ceadaoin.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,803 ✭✭✭ceadaoin.


    harr wrote: »
    Exactly was reading a report today which was saying that the PPE dentists wear was no where near good enough to protect them from picking up the virus especially when using the aerosol on a persons mouth. You can hardly blame them considering the amount of saliva produced.

    Yeah pretty much all the surfaces in the room would be covered with the spray produced. Impossible to maintain proper infection protocol in those circumstances, not just for the dentist but all the following patients too.


  • #11
    CIARAN_BOYLE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,595 ✭✭✭✭CIARAN_BOYLE


    Tropicalaa wrote: »
    So what happens now

    Well the dentist's association seems to be quiet clear.

    They don't have the ppe to keep their clinics working. They have put a suggestion before the HSE which includes dentists working on a voluntary basis if the HSE put facilities in place.

    There has been no public response from the HSE.

    So the nations dental health is put on hold until the national crisis is resolved.


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  • #12
    Beasty
    Administrators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 78,485 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Beasty


    osarusan wrote: »
    'abandon public'....ludicrous thread title.
    It is, and I'm going to change it now


  • #13
    Tropicalaa
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16 ✭Tropicalaa


    CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »
    Well the dentist's association seems to be quiet clear.

    They don't have the ppe to keep their clinics working. They have put a suggestion before the HSE which includes dentists working on a voluntary basis if the HSE put facilities in place.

    There has been no public response from the HSE.

    So the nations dental health is put on hold until the national crisis is resolved.

    Where does everyone go in the meantime that's in pain


  • #14
    Beasty
    Administrators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 78,485 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Beasty


    Tropicalaa wrote: »
    Where does everyone go in the meantime that's in pain
    I've been in a lot of pain all over the weekend. I was advised they would consider emergency treatment. As it is I've now got a prescription for antibiotics and a likely referral to a maxiofacial surgeon because of an underlying issue. Oh and the dentist did all this for me when he was having to self-isolate - communicating via his receptionist and telephone. He did everything he possibly could in the circumstances. I still have a massive swelling in the jaw but I'm entirely happy with the way this has been handled


  • #15
    CIARAN_BOYLE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,595 ✭✭✭✭CIARAN_BOYLE


    Tropicalaa wrote: »
    Where does everyone go in the meantime that's in pain

    I would imagine they consult over the phone and get the pharmaceutical answer to stall the problem and suffer til either the end of the national emergency.


  • #16
    splinter65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    osarusan wrote: »
    'abandon public'....ludicrous thread title.

    IM not getting a service I WANT and I don’t want to hear any excuses!!!!!


  • #17
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,768 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Tropicalaa wrote: »
    I seen that they asked the government for guidance, not exactly sure what they expected the government to do for them.

    Look like they wanted to make the government the fall guy for closing shop or wanted some icing on their cake for staying open during the crisis

    Unfortunately this is what happens when ill informed people make wild assumptions.

    As a poster quite rightly posted, the risk to Dentists and staff is much higher than other professions. We have to find a balance between concern for the public over the spread of the virus, concern for our staff and ourselves, and our obligation and responsibility to treat those in pain. The easiest thing for us to do would be to lay off all staff and close down completely, limiting exposure and costs. But that is not what we are doing, in most cases Clinics are staying open, at their risk, to treat people like you.

    In relation to your comment about looking for a “fall guy”, we were in the unusual situation last week where the Givernments Chief Dental Officer and the HSE were giving conflicting advice, one was saying carry on as normal, the other saying reduce service to emergencies only, so please, don’t criticise for Dentists asking for consistent advice from both.

    In relation to cross infection, Dentists have extremely high levels of cross infection preventation protocols. We have done since HIV was identified in the 80s, these have been strengthened over the years, failure to adhere to them carries huge penalties. What makes this different is that it is so virulent, no one has seen anything like this before. So right now we are having to use different barrier protections against infection, not more, different masks, different gowns etc. The risk is ours, not yours.


  • #18
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,060 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Tropicalaa wrote: »
    Where does everyone go in the meantime that's in pain
    Check local dentists or ask in your regional forum.
    Galway has a dentists thread

    For instance Smiles will accommodate you if it's an emergency https://www.smiles.ie/covid-19-notice/
    but also warns:
    Please do not visit the practices if:
    • You’re self-isolating or in self-quarantine as per the Government guidelines
    • You have any of these symptoms: cough, fever or shortness of breath – even if they are mild
    • You fall into the ‘at risk’ group as defined by the Government

    Ring first!


  • #19
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,768 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    biko wrote: »
    Check local dentists or ask in your regional forum.
    Galway has a dentists thread

    For instance Smiles will accommodate you if it's an emergency https://www.smiles.ie/covid-19-notice/
    but also warns:


    Ring first!

    And please, do not bring anyone with you, they will not be allowed inside the Clinic. We want to apply safe distancing in the waiting rooms, only those who have emergency appointments will be allowed to be seated there. As the poster above said, phone first. We have giving appointments 30 mins apart so that each patient does not have to sit in a room with others, we are not accepting walk ins, there has to be planned treatments.


  • #20
    sonofenoch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,610 ✭✭✭sonofenoch


    I'm loathe to see a dentist at the best of times but think I now need treatment for an abscess :confused: ....dreading it, what a time


  • #21
    Away With The Fairies
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,077 ✭✭✭Away With The Fairies


    Use some clove oil if you're in pain until you see a dentist


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  • #22
    Polar101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,119 ✭✭✭Polar101


    They should be open for emergencies at least, check with your local dentists. If nothing else, maybe they can prescribe antibiotics which would help with the pain (at least it has in my experience) until they can see you.


  • #23
    ebbsy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,306 ✭✭✭ebbsy


    Docklands Dental in the IFSC are doing emergencies.


  • #24
    sonofenoch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,610 ✭✭✭sonofenoch


    No real tooth pain now, did have a couple weeks ago ....but I've noticed some swelling in my cheek that's tender to touch and can feel it pressure into the same area where I did have tooth ache .....will have to get it checked


  • #25
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 9,106 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Check with your regular dentist, assuming you have one. Mine does emergency only but some don’t do that- a friend of mine had to visit over last few weeks- she eventually found someone- if you have VHI they’ll probably guide you also


  • #26
    Beasty
    Administrators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 78,485 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Beasty


    Threads merged


  • #27
    ebbsy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,306 ✭✭✭ebbsy


    sonofenoch wrote: »
    No real tooth pain now, did have a couple weeks ago ....but I've noticed some swelling in my cheek that's tender to touch and can feel it pressure into the same area where I did have tooth ache .....will have to get it checked

    Infected I would say with possible underlying cause.

    Had it a while back, Wisdom tooth issues.


  • #28
    ismat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 168 ✭✭ismat


    I was listening to the rep from the dental association on newstalk earlier today. He had an issue with PPE for dentists being too expensive rather than not being available and seemed to want the HSE to pay for whatever PPE is required. Is it possible for dentists to work if they can get the appropriate PPE ? I wouldn’t mind paying extra if necessary to cover the cost of same


  • #29
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,768 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    ismat wrote: »
    I was listening to the rep from the dental association on newstalk earlier today. He had an issue with PPE for dentists being too expensive rather than not being available and seemed to want the HSE to pay for whatever PPE is required. Is it possible for dentists to work if they can get the appropriate PPE ? I wouldn’t mind paying extra if necessary to cover the cost of same

    Actually getting the PPE is difficult, not just expensive. The Hospitals/GPs get it from the HSE, but that is not an option for Dentists. We have to buy from private supply companies who have limited stock and charge a lot more. Also, as sole traders, we would be liable for staff H&S unlike HSE staff whom the Governmemt/HSE are responsible for. It leaves us more exposed to liability. Certainly prices will rise when Clinics reopen and costs increase. the PPE is supposed to be single use even though HSE staff are having to wash/autoclave clothing for reuse due to shortages. I got a couple of caseloads of gowns before the pandemic arrived here, they cost €12 per gown, multiply that by number of patients a typical clinician sees in a day, you can see the issue.


  • #30
    ismat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 168 ✭✭ismat


    Dav010 wrote: »
    Actually getting the PPE is difficult, not just expensive. The Hospitals/GPs get it from the HSE, but that is not an option for Dentists. We have to buy from private supply companies who have limited stock and charge a lot more. Also, as sole traders, we would be liable for staff H&S unlike HSE staff whom the Governmemt/HSE are responsible for. It leaves us more exposed to liability. Certainly prices will rise when Clinics reopen and costs increase. the PPE is supposed to be single use even though HSE staff are having to wash/autoclave clothing for reuse due to shortages. I got a couple of caseloads of gowns before the pandemic arrived here, they cost €12 per gown, multiply that by number of patients a typical clinician sees in a day, you can see the issue.

    Hopefully supply will normalise over the next few weeks. If costs go up so be it. I’d just like to see my dentist back open as I’ve a number of issues to be dealt with


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  • #31
    AliceandJim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 ✭AliceandJim


    Can anyone advise if any dentist is providing emergency service during Covid in Waterford r the South East? Checking online it would appear as if there are 1 or 2 in Dublin and elsewhere. Many thanks


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