We are very happy to spread the word that most of our dental practices throughout the country are now open for direct care with our patients. As of right now, we are putting emergency appointments at the forefront and servicing those with the greatest dental needs. We have gone ahead and created guidance that you can use to tell whether or not you’re currently in need of an emergency dentist in Fleet and what you should be doing next. Regular dental appointments have had to be put on the backburner due to the pandemic with social distancing making it increasingly difficult for patients to access routine services. Here is some key information that you should be using to help you figure out how to get an NHS dentist during the pandemic.
How do I find a dental professional?
To get some of the help you require you can:
– Call on a local dentist in your area and they’ll be able to give you info about when they are opening and specific advice on where and how you can get dental help.
– If you don’t currently have one or your current dentist isn’t open, you can call NHS 111. You’ll find translation services available.
– If you cannot hear or you are hard of hearing, you can visit interpretnow.co.uk/nhs111.
– Don’t visit any dentist without making an appointment first.
Any dental practice is going to be prioritising their patients based on needs. The British Dental Association currently offers this advice:
– If you need to call to make your appointment, you will need to answer some questions during the screening process. These are the same questions you’ll be asked again when you visit for your appointment.
– You will likely be asked by the practice to rub your hands with hand sanitiser or to wash your hands using soap and water as you arrive and before leaving.
– Social distancing will be in effect when you are waiting around for your appointment.
– Any appointments will be set in a way that allows for optimal social distancing from patient to patient. This is likely to mean that you will be given fewer appointments to choose from when making it.
How do I know If I’m experiencing something deemed as an emergency during the pandemic?
Dental Emergency:
You will want to contact a dental practice in your local area if you are experiencing any of these:
– Any swelling of your gums and/or your face that is continuing to spread throughout your face or your neck. If you are experiencing these symptoms, be certain you mention them as you are scheduling your appointment.
– Any debilitating pain that is resulting in a lack of sleep and/or concentration.
– You have any ulcers in your mouth that have not healed after 2 weeks.
– You’ve recently had a tooth extraction and you are experiencing a lot of bleeding that lasts for over 20 minutes and they cannot be stopped on your own.
– You have a broken tooth that is resulting in damage to your cheek and/or tongue.
– You have a tooth that’s been knocked out.
– Controlled bleeding is a direct result of facial trauma.
Non-Dental Emergencies:
If you are experiencing some of the symptoms below, you will likely be able to treat the problem at home:
– You have a minor toothache that often comes and goes or one that results in dull pain.
– You’re experiencing pain in your wisdom teeth that don’t have swelling and that doesn’t cause you the inability to open your mouth.
– Your teeth are sensitive to hot or cold.
– You are experiencing sharp pains when biting down.
– You have a mouth ulcer that hasn’t been there for over 10 days yet.
– You’re experiencing orthodontic pain or issues.
– You’re experiencing a chipped or broken tooth.
– You have a crown and/or veneer that is loose.
Accident and Emergency:
Go right towards A&E if you are experiencing:
– Facial swelling that causes you to not be able to breathe or see.
– Any trauma that results in you vomiting, getting the double vision, or you lose consciousness.
– Any uncontrollable bleeding directly from your mouth.