Covid-19 and getting your teeth cleaned.

[madaboutharry]

I finally had my appointment to have my teeth cleaned after having had my appointment cancelled during the period of time when dental offices were closed.

It was like something out of a dystopian movie. You have to call from the parking lot and wait in your car. You have to have a mask on to get into the building. The hygienist came out, took my temperature, asked me a list of questions, and took my credit card so that they can run it while I was having my teeth cleaned. Then she took me directly into the room where the whole place was covered in plastic, including the chair. Big air purifier in the room. She was wearing a surgical gown, mask, and face shield. I had to rinse my mouth with a peroxide solution. No polishing at the end because of aerosols.

I was so nervous, but I have to say I felt very safe. And I was complimented on the good job I have done with my dental hygiene!

[Zoonart]

1. Interesting

My husband went for his cleaning last month and I go a week from Saturday. His experience was much the same and he is, thankfully okay, so I am confident I will get through it also.

Thanks for posting. We all need support and reassurance right now.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. I went a month ago.

All the protection you mentioned, with a new cone-like funnel by my face to vacuum up any sprayed detritus. I got the teeth polished. I had to choose among available flavors: Lysol, Bleach, or Cherry. I chose Cherry.

[Midnight Writer]

18. My experience two weeks ago was just like yours.

They did offer me earplugs for the vacuum, but I didn't take them. It did get awfully loud, though.

[LisaL]

3. I just saw that WHO recommends not to do regular dental cleanings right now.

[Ron Obvious]

20. I saw that too, yet apparently wearing masks increases the risks of cavities

I decided to cancel my usual cleaning for now as well, after receiving an email from my dentist describing the new procedures outlined in the OP. I think I can wait a year or so and hope this all blows over at some point.

[lark]

4. My trips to the dentist were much the same during lockdown.

I go back next week for my crown. Yes, it should have been done over a month ago but they closed & it took me a long time to find a dentist that was open and in-network. Anyway, it is a different office of the same co. so I'm hoping they have the same cleanliness stds. as the other one. They told me they did. After the crown I need a deep cleaning, but will have exhausted my meager benefits so it will be interesting trying to negotiate a self pay rate.

[North Shore Chicago]

5. Thank you for the info

<---- I'm with nasty


My dentist office told me yesterday on top of my co-pay for my periodontal visit, I will be charged 18 bucks for PPE.

[madaboutharry]

6. And that too.

There was also a charge for PPE.

[drbtg1]

10. Some inside baseball: it is SO much worse than you know!

I've been charging $12 for PPE. At that point, most insurance plans have covered it and only one patient complained.

Unfortunately, the prices for masks, gloves, Caviwipes, cleaning solutions, etc., have skyrocketed. They used to be an afterthought, stuff I would tack onto an order to get free shipping or there might be a sale. Now, it's a huge expense I have to budget for. Insane!

But what's more insane is what's going on with dental hygiene, specifically how so many hygienists are not going back to work. This has caused the remaining hygienists to command huge increases in salary, and even signing bonuses!

Consequently, after all my hygienists left (for an assortment of reasons, one has a little kid with schooling issues but I think one of them wants to open up her own marijuana store) (but, of course they left after taking all the money from the Paycheck Protection Program, then they gave notice, with one of them giving only three days notice!), I've spent a lot of extra time doing the cleanings myself. I know many of my patients for twenty or so years and I don't think it would be fair for me to have to jack up the price on cleanings for those loyal patients because a new hygienist is taking advantage of the pandemic.

So much worse! Maybe one day I'll look back on this and consider it just another episode of the long-running soap opera "As The Drill Turns", but for now, it just sucks.

[madaboutharry]

12. I didn't mind paying the extra fee.

I am glad they are keeping everyone safe.

The practice I go to has had only one hygienist leave and she was very close to retirement anyway. Of course, she was my favorite.

[drbtg1]

16. You sound like a patient that values quality and a good dentist would want in their practice.

Obviously things like retirement become more of a consideration nowadays than they would be normally. Unfortunately it also has brought out the worst in some people.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

21. Ahhh, so my hygienist retiring was not unusual.

I’ve gotten to be really friendly with her over the years and I get the impression she doesn’t absolutely have to work. So I don’t blame he for ducking out. I’m guessing she’ll be back somewhere if not with my dentist. I’m hoping it’s my dentist because she is the main reason my partner and I stuck with that office since we moved farther away. Though the doctor is really good and I’ve had enough dentists over the years to spot a good craftsman.

I had a cleaning scheduled the day Illinois shut down. I was driving to the appointment listening to the governor announcing the shutdown thinking I should cancel the appointment. When I got there they informed me the doctor would be doing the cleaning and he was over an hour behind schedule so I could wait or reschedule. I took the opportunity to duck out. Mostly because I’m not a fan of the Doc doing the cleanings but also because the press conference was surreal and a bit frightening.


My office has pretty much the same protocols as the op. I felt really safe... or as safe as possible. I go every 3 months so being this far overdue sucked - big time.

I’m sure you’ve seen this. What a fucking idiot:

[drbtg1]

22. Haha, I loved your line about....

...how you've "had enough dentists over the years to spot a good craftsman." It gave me three thoughts. One, that it takes considerable talent to be a good craftsman (or craftswoman, maybe just craftsperson), but also considerable experience to be able to display that talent with confidence but without arrogance. Two, the use of the word "craftsman", because, to me, the word "craftsman" conveys someone has talent with the use of their hands which, over the decades, I think in dentistry means so much more than what many realize. I've know plenty of people in dental school who are very book smart, but their hands were horrible and I wouldn't let them anywhere near me. Three, the line "I’ve had enough dentists over the years to spot a good craftsman." made me think of an inverse corollary, namely I’ve had enough patients over the years to spot trouble! Your YouTube video is a preeminent example of that!

Thanks for posting!

[CountAllVotes]

7. I need my teeth cleaned badly

I haven't had a dentist to go to (old one retired) and haven't had them cleaned for 1-1/2 years now.

I wish there was SOMEONE that could do this for me because gawd they need cleaning!

Glad to know you were able to get this done!

Take care.

[MissB]

8. The peroxide solution is the worst part

I think.

[femmocrat]

9. Thanks for posting this.

I cancelled my appointment in March and have been afraid to go because of autoimmune disorder.

[GoCubsGo]

11. The hygienist who worked for my now-retired dentist always did the peroxide rinse.

When I went to get a broken tooth fixed at my new dentist right after they re-opened, I was kind surprised that they didn't make me rinse. This could be changed now, but I'm not about to step foot in any sort of medical office right now, if I don't absolutely need to. Not that I can afford it, anyway...

[csziggy]

13. I went in yesterday for a permanent crown and teeth cleaning

They put in the temporary the end of January and I was supposed to go back in three weeks for the permanent crown - but things went into lock down.

I was so long that my teeth have shifted and the permanent they had prepared didn't fit and could not be made to fit. So I have a new temporary crown and go back (hopefully) to get the permanent in a couple of weeks.

Then I had my teeth cleaned. No sonic cleaning like they usually do, but my plaque level was good.

The hygienist had a new device that blows cool, fresh air into her mask and under her face shield. She said it has a filter so the air that the blown air is purified. It sounded like a neat thing - I wish I had gotten the brand name!

[SoCalNative]

14. My experience was far less annoying

still got temperature check and had to fill out form of the same questions that they had asked me 2 times previously over the phone, but I didn't have to check-in from or wait in the car.

I did the peroxide rinse, but still got the polishing at the end.

[Baclava]

15. Congratulations! I did mine with a 7am appt, no wait, I was first one in the building

Literally, they took me right to my room, yeah temp check, took x-rays, did the cleaning with a little less power tools, more pick scraping, still did the polishing.

easy enough, then the Dr came in for a look and said there was a little speck of a cavity, come back in a month, shit

I usually get cleanings every 6 months, I had put this one off for an extra 2 months, deep breath

[PCIntern]

17. Exactly correct.

That’s how it is supposed to be done.

[vercetti2021]

19. That's about the same for my dentist

This past Monday I went in it was similar except I paid inside. And I had to do the peroxide rinse my mouth I didn't understand what the heck it meant until you mentioned it. But I did get a polishing though so...little differently but pretty much the same almost