Would you keep a dental appointment during this time?

[ecstatic]

I'm experiencing occasional discomfort in a molar but don't want to give nor get coronavirus. I plan to cancel the appointment, which is scheduled for Monday, but I hope I'm not overreacting.

[zackymilly]

1. I'm scheduled for a root canal and I hope they don't cancel it.

My dentists wear masks, gloves, etc. so I'm more worried about the other patients in the waiting room.
I may stand out on the sidewalk and tell the receptionist to call my phone when it's my turn.

[samnsara]

7. I dont envy you.the pain plus you will probably lose the tooth anyway.....

...after I had my 6th dental implant I asked my oral surgeon which tooth would be next and he said any tooth with a root canal. Maybe ask your dentist the future of that tooth..

[zackymilly]

10. Been all through that. It's a back molar. Root canal then a gold crown.

It's going to be my children's inheritance. LOL.

[mr_lebowski]

70. If it's already had the root canal I'd probably chill and wait ...

If it had NOT yet, I might think differently.

[mchill]

26. The California Dental Association

Recommending what you suggest about waiting in the car until your turn.

[Ms. Toad]

54. Me too - early April.

I'm actually hoping someone earlier will cancel so that I can get in earlier.

[zackymilly]

56. Yep, I'm on the short list too. Hope someone is scared more than me and cancels. I'm in pain. n/t

[Ms. Toad]

62. My pain comes and goes.

I had a few really bad days, then it goes back to mostly normal. So, at the moment, I'm fine - but I don't want to go past April - and I'm concerned that by April they may be canceling all non-essential activities.

[Hekate]

69. You may want that addressed regardless

One of my root canals was announced by the gentlest throb -- throb -- throb. I insisted on an xray while there for something else -- turned out to be a large abcess. I realized I had been quite sick for 3 months.

[Ms. Toad]

72. My appointment is scheduled -

The endodontist my dentist works with just don't have any openings before April. The X-ray shows I need a root canal. It's clear enough that the endodontist scheduled me for the root canal wihtout having seen me first (based on my dentist's x-ray) - but not so bad that they will move me ahead on their list. If the pain gets worse, I wil need antibiotics to tide me over until the appointment.

[northoftheborder]

78. Have had the same questioning thoughts about a yearly physical......

I've already seen my heart doctor, all OK, have had the blood tests, just have to see the internal med doctor for reports.... But don't want to go to the waiting room.....thinking about canceling. am in the '"advanced age" group

[zackymilly]

80. If your doctor office doesn't have separate waiting rooms for 'sick' and 'non-sick'...

....stay in your vehicle in the parking lot and have the receptionist phone you when it's your turn and you can walk all the way through.

[marlakay]

2. I am wondering same thing about

My bookclub tomorrow. 10 people signed up but not sure they will all come. Ages range from 40-70. We meet upstairs in a fabric store where she does sewing classes.

[emmaverybo]

25. I have a small French class meets at the home of a lovely 96 year old. One of our members has

some not obvious lung issues and wanted to cancel It is best. Every person is the sum of all their
contacts. My senior center acting class and our upcoming production canceled as well as everything else at the center except some support services.

[zackymilly]

57. I think I'd skip the book club meeting. Can't you guys do it online?

I would skip or find an alternative to everything that doesn't require my body to be present like a doctor appointment or essential job.

[Hekate]

92. Haven't heard about my book club yet, but I think the Bunco group just self-canceled...

Last night I got the notice for this week, and crossed my fingers as I said yes. Then I checked back today and found a flood of replies to the OP from ladies saying we should probably put this off.

[samnsara]

3. I HAVE to next wednesday..my Invisalines are due to come out then and i

..get remeasured for whatever it is that comes next and the appts are so precise..I have to be in that clinic with all those kids.

[dawg day]

4. I had to get a permanent crown yesterday...

Temp was broken. Staff was all dressed in hazmat garb...
Well, not that bad, but they were protected. They're all trained in disease prevention.

[ecstatic]

12. Wow ok, I'm wondering if my dentist is that prepared.

Great, competent guy, but it's kind of a super low budget operation. Found him after wasting thousands of dollars in flashier offices with all the latest equipment.

[mchill]

33. Had my pre-root canal exam last Monday

I didn’t get the full on hazmat PPE experience, just masks and gloves and maybe glasses, but dentist talked to me without a mask-ugh.

[Skittles]

49. I did the same

my long-time dentist retired and the guy who bought his practice was way too flashy for me so I researched and found another. If you are truly concerned, called your dentist office and ask about their virus preparation - no doubt many people have already called

[Ms. Toad]

60. Some of them can be the best.

Mine is similar. They hired a new hygienist a few years ago - I happened to be her first patient.

I noticed at the time that she was constantly shoving her classes back up on her face, then putting her hands in my mouth, had foiled one handle on the light - then grabbed the other, and a handful of other things that are precisely how diseass get transmitted in dental offices. (And since she was wearing the same glasss all day, she transferred my germs to her glasses, and likely to the next patient. Thank goodness I was her first patient of the day.

I came back later in the day to drop off payment, and they came out to ask me about my experience wtih her. Apparently they had concerns (but weren't in the office watching over her shoulder). I was able to give them precise details about the dozen or so times she had violated disease prevention protocols.

Her first day was her last. So - yes, onone day they were really bad - BUT - they were alert enough to be concerned, and to ask someone with first-hand knowledge about it, and to act on the information they were given.

[SWBTATTReg]

5. I just had an appointment and I debated the same thing. I did go, because (1) I trust the ...

dentist (2) not a single person was in the waiting room (3) I needed the work done. I'm glad I went.

[FirstLight]

6. Ha! I was just commenting about this on my thread in the Lounge

My daughter is local, going to college and living across town. We had a cluster-family dental appt coming up where we'd all drive together and just hang out till we are all done (her brother still lives at home).

I decided to isolate this week cuz I have immune issues and also went to a concert on Sunday that was probably a vectorfest.

She is not isolating, even though she has a few chronic issues as well

She got mad at me cuz I told her that her brother & I won't be going. So she is pissed I still won't just give her a ride and stay in the car...

Isn't that just negating the idea of isolation anyway?
Sheesh, and she's supposed to be the "smarty pants" of the family

[ecstatic]

18. That's the thing, I'm actually more concerned about my

recent dabbles in vectorfests, and my dentist is at least 70 years old.

[FirstLight]

19. Funny, I have a client who is also about 70...a literal Boomer

and she is less concerned than I am!

I told her I would work from home this week, and she says she has a mask I can wear and I can wipe stuff down...I'm like no, you dont get it. I also don't know if I am feeling well, so unless I feel "normal" I am staying put.

Strange times indeed

[Cirque du So-What]

8. I can only speak personally

I would keep the appointment. In my experience, dental offices maintain a high degree of cleanliness. Dentists usually wear masks and always wear gloves.

[treestar]

24. I just went

Agree; they are already very aware of such things and clean everything. And they made it even moreso when AIDS started.

[live love laugh]

9. I have an April 5 appointment I'm canceling until we're clear

of this.

[cally]

11. I plan to go

dental hygiene helps your own immunity this might last awhile

[shanti]

13. I had one for the 25th

but cancelled it. They were ok with my explanation and told me to reschedule whenever I wanted. I needed to go too, as I also have a twingey crown that probably needs replacing. But if I were in real pain, I'd take my chances and go.

Makes me wonder if some dentists are closing shop for a few weeks themselves.

[DonaldsRump]

14. This is what I love about DU

I have a dental appointment at the end of the month and was wondering if I should go. Right now, I think I will.

[dalton99a]

15. I think dentists and staff are just as scared of you as you are of them.

[zackymilly]

20. Especially when you bite down when they didn't ask you to! n/t

[alwaysinasnit]

45. Funny! Just had a root canal done last Tuesday and I pretty much have no choice but to go

to dentist for follow-up crown work. I wish you well.

[dalton99a]

48. +1. That's why they use a bite block/mouth prop

Plus they always keep an instrument in your mouth so you can't close all the way

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

16. My dentist and hip replacement surgeon recommend I take an antibiotic

both before and after any dental procedure other than teeth cleaning and xrays. I trust them. I would rather wait and have a cavity filled until we get some sort of handle on this disease than do the procedure now and risk infection. The dentist may keep his exam rooms spotless, but you've still got the reception area and the waiting room where carriers could be present.

[Hekate]

63. I'm under orders to take 5 months after surgery before having mere dental hygiene done...

...and take a dose of antibiotic with it. Surgeon said I needed to take an antibiotic for dental work the rest of my life post-joint replacement. Ugh.

[Ms. Toad]

66. The antibiotic is entirely different.

The gums harbor a lot of nasties. Cleaning your teeth stir things up and get them circulating - and the surfaces on the artificial hip make a good collector.

(I just had a rod installed in my leg (sprial fracture). I had to premedicate for a year.)

[GusBob]

17. Hmmmm

The clinic I work in next to my profession,
3 dentists full staff

3 patients the last 2 days

[mchill]

37. Can I ask where that is?

[mrs_p]

21. I have one on Wed.

It’s been scheduled since last August. I will still go but I’m in a low risk area (for now).

[tblue37]

22. I have a crown scheduled for Tuesday, but I am hesitating. Maybe I should postpone. nt

[tblue37]

29. Well, considering that I have MANY risk factors, as well as being 69 years old, I just

chickened out & cancelled my crown appointment for next tuesday.

[shanti]

30. And a crown will take two trips

to complete.

[tblue37]

32. No--mine are just one visit. I had a crown done a month ago in just one visit. nt

[shanti]

36. Wow

Mine is one appt. for the grinding and the temporary, and then the next one is to put the permanent one in, usually a couple of weeks later. Do they make your crowns in-house while you wait?

[mchill]

40. I think most dentists are one-stop now

But sometimes you have to go back for a bite adjustment. When you are all numbed up sometimes hard to tell how the bite feels.

[tblue37]

47. They always get my bite the first time, probably because they use a device

that allows them to see the treated teeth and the bite on a monitor and to rotate the teeth as needed for precision.

[tblue37]

42. Yes, they make it in-house while I wait. The whole appointment took 90 minutes,

including the wait time. It's a permanent crown.

I did have a dentist in 1969 who turned even cleanings into multiple visits, but I was young and, since it was my first dental visit, didn't realize he was scamming me.

[shanti]

75. I'll have to ask him about this

the next time I see him. He has to send his impressions out for the crowns though. They don't make them in-house.

[tblue37]

51. I have never had a temporary crown. (I had a crown done about 20 years ago, and

it was one-stop for the permanent crown.)

[mchill]

23. My whole being pre-occupied with this question!

In light of this new study (not yet peer reviewed):

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/03/study-highlights-ease-spread-covid-19-viruses

“ The findings confirm that COVID-19 is spread simply through breathing, even without coughing, he said. They also challenge the idea that contact with contaminated surfaces is a primary means of spread, Osterholm said.”

The rest of the article implies viral load very high even before symptomatic.

In another study, respiratory droplets appears to remain in a room for up to 3 hours.

I saw the endodontist last Monday and my root canal is scheduled this Tuesday (Jackson Co in Southern Oregon). Two travel related cases thus far in the county, but without tests we know that is meaningless, plus Trump country (it’s a hoax) all around.

Based on the office last week, office personnel not wearing masks but the medical staff take them off between patients. The doctor spoke to me from about 4-5 ft away after the exam (less than advised 6-10 ft). Also, I need to skip the crown and survive with a temporary until a vaccine available. The last crown I had (next to the tooth that is now the problem) sent my tinnitus into raging territory. Can’t find a dentist locally that will drill intermittently as suggested by some researchers.

So confused as dentist did not say tooth infected though sensitive to cold. One option was going straight to a crown and hope for best maybe implying not infected and or not urgent?

Desperately looking for advice on this one. I am somewhat high risk -66 years old, have had cancer in 2012, slightly enlarged heart (maybe from chemo) and slightly under normal WBC. I know, TMI, but I have been preparing for this virus since i first heard and now this.

[tblue37]

39. I had a crown a month ago & was scheduled for another next Tuesday, but I just chickened out and

cancelled. I grind my teeth, so two molars were cracked. The worst one was done last month, so I can wait on the lesser problem.

Also, I have had a sore throat and cough the past few days. I have gotten well, or nearly so, and I am pretty sure I won't be at all sick by Tuesday, but I still think it would be selfish to have someone working in my mouth after I have been sick, even though I probably had something insignificant.

[mchill]

44. Do you have temp sensitivity

With the cracked tooth? That’s my issue so wondering if urgent??

[tblue37]

46. Yes--actually, temperature sensitivity with all my teeth. Even the water they use during a

cleaning is uncomfortable.

But the problem with the cracked teeth is that when I bite down while eating, they freaking hurt--enough so that I have been trying not to chew on those teeth. Unfortunately, one is in the upper left jaw, and the other in the lower right jaw, so even being careful, I often end up biting down on the cracked teeth, which causes me to jump and yelp.

Fortunately, I am retired now and somewhat reclusive, so most of my jumping and yelping is done in solitude, and the rest only among good friends.

[mchill]

55. And what does

The endodontist say about waiting to you? I’m nowhere near that bad and since he even said one option was I could go straight to crown—no infection? That would be a slight risk though because I could end up hAving to get a root canal later. Maybe I can wait too?

Problem is, waiting for a vaccine or at least til we are on a virus lull and dental staff can be tested.

[apcalc]

59. NO. My Dr was clear...anyone over 60 STAY HOME.

[Totally Tunsie]

27. My d-in-law is a hygienist, and she tells me they're

exercising maximum protection and sanitation for themselves and their patients., but they're understanding if patients feel the need to cancel. It'll be interesting to see if or how restrictive such professionals will become. So many of them are on the front lines.

Wednesday I have a pulmonologist appointment which I plan to keep. It's my one last shot at rolling the dice. After that, the only place to find me will be home.

[Skittles]

28. yes

I have one Wednesday

[BluesClues]

31. Dentists are some of the most hygenic people that work

Every dentist office i been in, everything was spot clean

[meadowlander]

34. I would be factoring in a few things.

1. Is there community transmission in your area?
If you are in a small town in Kansas, go for it. If you're in Seattle or New York, I'd have second thoughts.

2. How essential is the work?
If it's a routine check up and cleaning it can probably wait six months. If you're in pain, I'd go.

3. How old are you? Do you have underlying conditions like diabetes, asthma or heart disease? Are you in regular contact with people who are older or have those conditions?
If you're young and healthy and don't have regular contact with people who are in the risk groups, the risk to you personally of getting Covid-19 is relatively small and even if you do you'll probably be fine. Your risk is transmitting it to other people. Can you self-isolate for a few days after you see the dentist to make sure you don't develop any symptoms?

If you go, discuss your concerns with the dentist. See if you can wait in your car and have the receptionist text you when it's time to come in instead of sitting in the waiting room. The dentist should be wearing gloves, a mask and be using sterilised equipment anyway so you would be unlikely to get it from him or her.

[mchill]

43. I'm more afraid of the air I'll be breathing

In the office based on this new study:

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/03/study-highlights-ease-spread-covid-19-viruses

The findings confirm that COVID-19 is spread simply through breathing, even without coughing, he said. They also challenge the idea that contact with contaminated surfaces is a primary means of spread, Osterholm said.”

[ecstatic]

88. Wow. Disturbing as hell. nt

[The_jackalope]

35. My partner was wrestling with this too

But her problem was simple - she's 77 years old, the appointment wasn't for urgent care, and the local provincial government has "suggested" that everyone over 70 stay the hell home for a while. Problem solved.

[Renew Deal]

38. You'll feel a lot better if you go.

[Satch59]

41. had a cleaning on Thurs, need a root canal and replacement crown

but that's on a different tooth. Opted for the root canal (more important) and postpone the crown for a few weeks. One less dentist appt to be a little safer?? Our dentist office is pretty top line so feel safe.

[apcalc]

50. ESSENTIAL appts only! No way in hell am I going to get my teeth cleaned next week.

[milestogo]

52. I went to one yesterday

[Hekate]

53. Check PC Intern's threads. He's a dentist & has been posting about dental work.

[mchill]

58. I don't know how to search on a user name 😓 here

[Hekate]

65. I hope someone can help you out: I'm not very good at it myself

Sorry

[mchill]

67. I just did a google on PC Intern

His message was grim

[Hekate]

68. Yes. "Aerosolized" onto every surface from the drilling process.

[meadowlander]

85. Here you go:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213042105

Here's the ADA's advice:

https://success.ada.org/en/practice-management/patients/coronavirus-frequently-asked-questions

[crickets]

91. Thanks for those links. Very informative. nt

[ecstatic]

90. Welp, I had rescheduled for 2 weeks from Monday, but after reading that

I'm officially done. Will postpone indefinitely or until the virus is under control. 😝

[Jirel]

61. Absolutely. Life goes on.

Medical treatment is super important. Unless you are very elderly or have a compromised immune system, it’s better to be seen by the doc. You’d better believe that a good doc will have corona protocols in place.

[sarge43]

64. Check with them before cancelling.

Keep in mind your dental team doesn't want to be bit anymore than you do. They're going to be extra careful.

You don't want an abscess taking hold, not only painful, dangerous.

[Clash City Rocker]

71. We postponed my daughter's dentist appointment this week

The office is on 5th Avenue in NYC. We were concerned more about everyone else we might come across on the street than about anyone in her office.

[Different Drummer]

73. I got an email from my dental clinic yesterday.

They said that patients who are showing signs of infection, or who live with someone who has symptoms, should reschedule their appointment and stay home. Also, the email said that anyone who has traveled to a high-risk location within 14 days of their appointment should reschedule and stay home. The "high risk" locations they listed are:

China
Hong Kong
Iran
Italy
Japan
Singapore
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam

My next appointment with them is May 28. Hopefully, COVID-19 will be under some semblance of control by then. Right now, I plan to keep the appointment.

[DeminPennswoods]

74. Yes

Everyone working in a doctor's office knows how to disinfect and protect against disease and have been doing it for a long time. Unless there are a lot of patients waiting for appointments at the same time, just keep your distance and use common sense.

[OverBurn]

76. I cancelled my appointment for next week, they asked if it was because of Covid-19, yes it is.

[CountAllVotes]

77. There is a dentist shortage here

I managed to find one that would take me in Sept. of last year and have been waiting to get in to see him.

I have an appt. at the end of this month.

I won't be going, it is not worth the risk.

Take care Warpy!

[Baclava]

79. For a regular cleaning, no, but if you are having pain and swelling, yes

A little pain now could quickly lead to a bigger problem at any time. You dont want a massive infection problem with pain happening on a weekend.
Get seen and started on antibiotics if needed ASAP. If its just a cavity they will tell u if u can wait.

[MFM008]

81. go.

drs offices are probably pretty safe.
I have an endoscopy scheduled next month, im going to do it.

[dhill926]

82. yes...

and going to the dermatologist on Monday. Not that concerned yet....now a trip to Italy...yeah, would bail on that...

[scarytomcat]

83. sooner is better than later... probably to late to cancel

without paying
you should go unless there is a major outbreak in your area or mass transit involved

[beaglelover]

84. I have a cleaning scheduled for Friday

I plan to go unless I’m not feeling well. I feel fine now.

[Ferrets are Cool]

86. Yes

[Chainfire]

87. I canceled my cleaning appointment until further notice

I would have reconsidered it it were a tooth ache.

[Marrah_Goodman]

89. I have a filling scheduled for monday

I canceled. My dentist office is also in my medical clinic and I don't want to be in the waiting room there.