Anyone who knew me as a kid might not believe it, but I really take care of my teeth and have done for many years with increasing commitment! But like many others, I've been avoiding basic dental checkups mostly because in my case I'm not entirely convinced my particular dentist will implement #Covid safety precautions. Dental treatment is one of those maskless inevitabilities where the least they can do is mask up as staff and use air filtration. I'm not assured this is the case at my default dental practice. If anyone in #Sheffield, #SouthYorkshire or further afield in #NorthernEngland are aware of any #dentists that implement cautionary measures, do let me know. As an NHS patient, I'm even begrudgingly willing to pay for private care if I can afford it in order to avoid getting Covid. Thanks! #AskFedi#Covid19#CovidIsNotOver
@MediaActivist If you cannot find a covid safe environment (I still haven't got round to dentist shopping) you may at least be able to find one who will schedule you as first patient of the day. Take good masks and ask the staff to wear them?
@RedRobyn Aww yeah, it does take some plucking up courage sadly, given the current culture -- I'm realising it definitely always pays to be assertive, in many situations: friendly but firm!
@MediaActivist My clinic rang the night before and asked me to reschedule my hygienist appointment later in the day so they didn't have to open so early, but accepted my refusal in good grace. Plucking up the courage to be more demanding before the checkup with the dentist who shocked me by taking less precautions than he did pre-covid last time I saw him. Hence my resolve to dentist shop. Shame yo lose the lovely hygienist though.
@MediaActivist It's also completely wild that a good* dentist would see patients unmasked and be flippant about COVID risks.
*One who I found by accident, but immediately respected for the way he clearly kept up with the research practised evidence based dentistry. Discussed pros and cons of treatment options fully and honestly and a wizard at tricky extractions. Started teaching part time at the uni shortly after starting to practice. Humorously scathing about anti fluoride campaigners
@RedRobyn Aahh, shit. So many people capitulate to the absurdity. Today I collected mail for an organisation I work for and the workspace featured workers who wore masks for so long, and seemed so strong on it, but today I went in masked - and they weren't. It's really too bad. But yes, worse when they're dentists!
@MediaActivist That’s what I thought. Right up until I walked in to our most recent appointment to find him barefaced and smiling. It was so unexpected that I didn’t walk straight back out
@3TomatoesShort Yeah, pretty shitty eh? Also a country where you're not allowed to even purchase a vaccination - they're destroying whole batches instead.
@MediaActivist Oof, I was going to ask if you've checked the Clean Air Stars map but I thought I'd take a quick look first - only 5 entries in the whole of the UK?! 😱 https://cleanairstars.com/
@3TomatoesShort Thanks. You're not alone - folks tend to be horrified when they find out just how much far right-wing eugenists are in power in the UK. And the lengths they go to.