Dodgy filling

[quietheart]

My tooth broke 4 months ago, I got an emergency appt, when i got there my usual dentist was busy so i saw the private dentist as an NHS patient. She did me a white filling that was never right, it was overfilled, ledges on both sides and a lump by the gum. I've been back to my usual dentist about it twice, he's filed it and has taken out some filling. The gum has been sensitive since and now it's unbearable. I paid £80 for the filling. I feel they should re-fill it for free, is there any kind of guarantee on fillings?
Thanks

[Toothsmith]

I think you're right.

The problems with it should be in the notes. I would ring up or write to them and just set out your position, and how you'd like it resolved.

Complaints can be handled so much better if the complainer is up front about how they would like the complaint resolved. Redone/money back/dentist struck off... etc If the practice know all you want doing is for the filling to be replaced, they probably won't be so defensive.

[quietheart]

Cheers Toothsmith.
That's reassuring. I just wish my dentist had just offered to refill but I guess that costs him and it wasn't his fault.
Is there any guarantee on fillings or is it just judge each case on it's merits?
I've got an appointment on Wednesday so will bring it up then......

[Olympika]

rovers I am sure all private practices have different policies, but the dentist I go to has a 6 month guarantee for normal fillings, if they fail within that period then they are redone at no extra cost. It MIGHT be that there's a similar sort of scheme at your's (though sounds unlikely I guess if he hasn't already offered to redo it). Hope you get it sorted.

[quietheart]

Thanks.
My dentist is generally a very good nhs dentist with one private dentist, she's mucked up and the nice nhs man is picking up the pieces. I guess he isn't overkeen on paying the price so to speak but there's no way i'd let her loose on me (I should have ran when I smelt her B.O. at 9am, if it'd been at the end of a hot day i could forgive it - such a big warning sign that i didn't take:o ).

[Savvy_Sue]

I'm also confused at why you had to pay £80 for a private dentist to see you on the NHS: surely that's a private charge not an NHS one?

Which might complicate getting it re-done on the NHS, as it were, but maybe your NHS dentist will now do a private filling for you ...

[quietheart]

Savvy, it is confusing. I go to an NHS dentist, he was too busy, it was an emergency so the private dentist saw me, offered an NHS amalgam filling but I went for a white one as it's near the front. Just wish I'd insisting on seeing my usual dentist but I'm not very good at insisting......:o

[Savvy_Sue]

Ah, that makes sense now.