Kids Dentist

[waverly]

Our 2nd big Covid spike was Nov 20th, and we were at 20% positivity.  The kids had dentist appointments the week before Christmas, and I cancelled them because the positivity was so high, and I didn't want them sick for Christmas.

When would you reschedule the appointments?  The positivity rater is now down to 10 or 11%.  It is possible the dentists and assistants have been vaccinated, but I don't know that for sure.  Would you wait a bit longer to give healthcare workers more time to get vaccinated?

The kids have good teeth and no cavities at all yet, but DD did have a minor enamel issue that was fixed in June.  

[supertrooper1]

DS went last month for a cleaning. He goes to my dentist. XH took him and said they had them wait in the car, came out when they were ready and took his temp, everyone wore masks and it seemed very safe. I would feel comfortable taking them now, but if there are no apparent issues, it probably doesn't matter if you wait a few months.

[k3am]

At this point, I would not forgo any kind of routine health/wellness/dental visits for myself or my children. This situation is going to drag on for a while longer. They are open for a reason, they're accepting patients, so.. if it's me? I'll go.

I just went to the dentist for the first time since this all happened - I didn't realize they'd reopened for routine exams. Temp check, lots of cleaning, hygienist and dentist in masks and shields, and they have a special thing that's like an ongoing vacuum that sucks air out of the patient's mouth so that it's not flying around the room (I'm totally explaining this wrong). Both kids have gone to the dentist, but I don't know what it was like since parents weren't allowed in.

[sdlaura]

We have bad teeth so the kids and I normally go every four months for cleanings. We didn't go between March and December, and I needed 3 fillings/crowns replaced, and one kid had a cavity. So I won't be waiting again. But if we didn't normally have any issues, maybe I'd wait another couple months. Less for dentists to get vaccinated and just hopefully for cases per capita to go down as we get into spring (I hope). But we also have the highest cases per capital and positivity that we've ever had right now.

[k3am]

waverly, I just asked an acquaintance who is a hygienist (adult though) and her logic was.. she's working regardless. her schedule is booked solid, so if you stayed home for her, someone else is going to be seen instead, she'll still see the same number of people. If you/your kids are immunocompromised, stay home, if there's even the slightest possibility of you/them being sick, reschedule, otherwise, go.

[186momx]

Go! We've gone twice and I thought the safety procedures were really good especially at DD's dentist office.

[phdmomma]

I would go. I've taken the kids, and gone myself and both were fine. With how long this pandemic is going to drag out, I wouldn't put off any health appointments. But then again I also am getting over Covid right now.

[mommyatty]

I think it depends on your kids’ dentist. I would trust our kids’ dentist to have appropriate protocols and follow them. I’m actually changing dentists because I don’t trust my Trump-loving dentist even a tiny bit to take these things seriously.

[waverly]

Thanks all. Good point mommyatty, I also like our kids dentists. Mine, I'm not sure if she is following protocols, but I was kind of over her anyway for other reasons even before the pandemic, so I really should move on.

[sandandsea]

I’d go. Ds had part of his tooth fall off (birth defect apparently) last February and he had an emergency dentist appt and a filling scheduled for it mid March that was cancelled. He got a cleaning in late October(Ish) and just had the filling last week. Our numbers are worse than ever but they’re open and taking serious precautions so it felt very safe.

[vasc]

Kids and I all went in December.