Routine dental visit during COVID yay or nay?

Go to the dentist during COVID for routine cleaning?


  • Total voters
    23

pete6032

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2010
7,664
3,206
136
I had one dentist appointment six months at the beginning of the COVID outbreak and now I'm approaching my next routine cleaning. Six months ago we didn't know a lot about how the virus spreads but now we know that nearly all of the risk occurs when we expose each other to respitory droplets, and the longer you are in a room with someone who has it, the more likely you are to get it, and the more severe your case can become. Now that I know these things I have some concern about going to the dentist since I will be sitting in a chair with a hygienist leaning over me and me sitting there unmasked. Obviously the risk is higher for the hygienist than me, but I will also be in a chair and room that many people have been sitting in during the past 24 hours. Do you think its worth it to go to the dentist for a standard cleaning or should I skip it?
 

repoman0

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2010
4,700
3,719
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I’ve been trying to decide too. I cancelled my six month appointment in April so past a year now. I have great flossing and brushing habits and no pain or obvious cavities so leaning toward waiting.
 

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
28,678
40,015
136
Depends on where you at. I did but I'm in Vermont.

New England? Most of it, probably ok.

Certain states out West or down South? If it were me hard pass. Still too many science denying knuckleheads out there, most only too happy to flaunt their political covidiocy.
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
They are apparently wearing some pretty serious face masks/gear as they're in much more of a vulnerable position, and dentist offices tend to be more open space instead of smaller rooms.

That said, I canceled my 6 month appointment in July and have been holding out as well... at some point it will be more risky to keep avoiding it, but I am not there yet so I continue to procrastinate doing it.
 

pete6032

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2010
7,664
3,206
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Depends on where you at. I did but I'm in Vermont.

New England? Most of it, probably ok.

Certain states out West or down South? If it were me hard pass. Still too many science denying knuckleheads out there, most only too happy to flaunt their political covidiocy.
I'm in Chicago. Nearly everyone wears masks here. Honestly it feels pretty safe but cases are way up the past month or so.
 

killster1

Banned
Mar 15, 2007
6,205
475
126
I had one dentist appointment six months at the beginning of the COVID outbreak and now I'm approaching my next routine cleaning. Six months ago we didn't know a lot about how the virus spreads but now we know that nearly all of the risk occurs when we expose each other to respitory droplets, and the longer you are in a room with someone who has it, the more likely you are to get it, and the more severe your case can become. Now that I know these things I have some concern about going to the dentist since I will be sitting in a chair with a hygienist leaning over me and me sitting there unmasked. Obviously the risk is higher for the hygienist than me, but I will also be in a chair and room that many people have been sitting in during the past 24 hours. Do you think its worth it to go to the dentist for a standard cleaning or should I skip it?
standard cleaning? easy pass. the dentist i see working wears a full hood to protect himself and you.
 
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BudAshes

Lifer
Jul 20, 2003
13,933
3,227
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I went and had a cleaning and it was much better than a normal visit. Nobody in the waiting room and they took me in at exactly when my appointment started and immediately to a private room. You are being exposed to 2 people so the risk is almost non existent if they are taking precautions.
 

esquared

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 8, 2000
23,967
5,112
146
I had mine come up this week and I cancelled as well.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
68,413
12,593
126
www.anyf.ca
My dentist has pretty much resumed now, had an appointment the other day. Had another today for something else. Only part that kind of sucks is you can't wait inside, have to wait outside in the cold. Once they let you come in they take your temperature (don't know how well that works given you've been waiting outside, so it might read low) then get you to wash your hands, then bring you in. Once your in the chair you can take your mask off and they give you a disinfecting mouth wash. They also don't do the tooth polishing, I guess that's a riskier part as it can send droplets flying.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,125
30,076
146
I don't trust dentists in normal situations, no way I will trust one in a particle-to-mouth pandemic situation.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,389
1,778
126
Dentists that practice during a pandemic don't want patients to rinse and spit....they want a girl, I mean patient that will rinse and swallow.
 

H T C

Senior member
Nov 7, 2018
585
424
136
So long as the dentist and all those that work WITH the dentist have adequate precautions, i see no problem.

I had a scheduled appointment back in April that ended up being cancelled, for a while: lots of unknowns back then so this was not only my dentist but most, throughout the Country, with the only exceptions being those more acute cases.

Then, i received their call stating it had been re-scheduled to early June. Had to wear feet covering that they provided ... OKay ... disinfect my hands with their product and wear a mask while waiting for my turn. Also had to answer a questionnaire:

- have you had COVID?
- have you been in contact with anyone that had COVID recently?
- and a few other questions

The dentist was wearing what i call "a space suit" which makes my think that it makes their job more difficult for them but it didn't inconvenience me in any way.

Had a 2nd scheduled appointment last month: the only difference was that i didn't need to use feet covering and instead we had to use two mats with special products they placed @ the entrance, while the rest was pretty much the same.
 

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
13,746
2,263
126
i've had 1 dentist visit last year because, well, my cousin is a dentist, so, free visits. did a bit of teeth cleaning.
My previous visit was .. uh .. let me think. 1997. I may be off by a year.

No i do not have cavities. I actually brush my teeth .. occasionally. Twice a week OR EVEN MORE. I do *not* look like a monster, have crusty yellow vampire teeth, or bleeding gums. No smelly breath.
The only thing that's unusual about me is that i have little sugar in my diet (no soda, practically no sweets, very rarely fruit), but i'm otherwise normal and healthy. Thing is, it's really an exaggeration to have a dentist visit every six months, imho, obviously dentists will tell you you should have a visit every six weeks, because it's money, but i don't think i have magical radioactive regenerating teeth.


so .. you can survive without this one visit.
 

Ajay

Lifer
Jan 8, 2001
16,094
8,109
136
My dentist is super careful. They get gowned up, masks, face shield, gloves and what not. All patients must wear masks, we get temp checked and answer basic COVID related questions. Knowing everyone who works their (for many years) - didn't have a problem going for a cleaning. I wasn't able to go during lockdown, just after lock down I went in cause I lost a piece of tooth (small fracture) and had to get a crown (boo). Anyway, no worries for me.

I usually go every six months now because a medication I'm on tends to accelerate receding gum lines (and it's happening to me), so they need to check for cavities that form along the gum line where the enamel is thinner (and I had to have two fillings there).
 

stargazr

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2010
3,947
3,346
136
I had a problem with a cracked tooth. Part of it broke off so didn't want to let it go any longer. I had to answer a bunch of questions the first time. They checked my temperature and gave hand sanitizer each visit.
 

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,412
5,848
136
i was due for a cleaning in june but postponed to october

eventually i figured i better get the plaque cleaned and everything went fine

i'll probably wait again til next summer
 

BarkingGhostar

Diamond Member
Nov 20, 2009
8,409
1,617
136
Actually I trust my dentist office. I've been going to them for +20 years, as has my wife. Good people although not necessarily the closest ones around. In fact, they use to be the official dentists of the Atlanta Thrashers when ATL had a hockey team.
 

KB

Diamond Member
Nov 8, 1999
5,402
386
126
I didn't hestitate to go to mine. They wore extra protective gear - faceshields and thicker masks - and only allowed one person in the office at a time. Its important to maintain some normality in life, for the economy and for your health. If you don't go, your dentist is losing money and may have to lay people off. I would hate to see my hygienist layed off.
 
Last edited:
Dec 10, 2005
25,022
8,298
136
I went in June for my 6 mo cleaning and it was fine. But I also live in an area trying to take the virus seriously. Next appointment is in December for me.
 

VashHT

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2007
3,112
961
136
I needed a crown right when the shutdowns happened so went in as soon as my dentist opened back up. I felt pretty safe, they were spacing out appointments so no one was there and everyone had faceshields, masks and gloves on.
 

MtnMan

Diamond Member
Jul 27, 2004
8,943
8,153
136
Wife and I have both had routine cleanings, although delayed due to shut downs.

Wait in car, go in when called, have temp taken, sit in chair then take mask off.

Given peroxide solution to rinse with. Hygienists probably resembles someone working in the ICU COVID ward. Gown, two masks, face shield, and gloves.

Beyond that cleaning was normal, scraping, gouging, polishing, flossing, and fluoride treatment.
 

Ajay

Lifer
Jan 8, 2001
16,094
8,109
136
I should point out that for the crown, my Dentist and dental assistant wore N95 masks. The dental hygienist wore a surgical mask and face shield. I too had to rinse with some grotesque liquid twice. Dunno know if it had peroxide in it, but definitely had some alcohol in it.