Good/bad dentists

[buddingdentist]

Wonder if some of you can help me since there seem to be so many people on here who have views on dentistry...?

I've applied to go to dental school this year as a mature student and am trying to prepare for my interviews coming up in the next 6 weeks or so.

One of the areas I'm looking at is what makes a good or bad dentist! So, can any of you guys on here can give me any suggestions as to attributes you've come across in your dentists that you do or don't like, I'd be most grateful. Some of the things I've thought about are:

Good
Patient focus
Good communication skills
Initiative
Empathy
Dextrous
Being able to draw conclusions from imperfect info
Adaptive
Responsive
Conscientious

Bad
Doesn't listen
Doesn't talk
Poor time keeping
Incapable of adapting to new developments
Poor time keeping
Not enough of a perfectionist
Impatient
Overcharging (a matter close to everyone's heart on here...)

[Nile]

Hello buddingdentist

Welcome to the MSE site.:wave:

I'm lucky that I have a great dentist. She is very friendly and has a great sense of humour. It puts me at ease, even when I'm having work like a root treatment done.:eek:

So........I would add to your list, an ability to put patients at ease is important.

Regards

Nile

[Savvy_Sue]

Bad
hands shaking visibly, especially while operating the drill
saying something might be needed and 'we'll keep an eye on it', then never mentioning it again
saying 'it shouldn't still be hurting' when the patient complains they're in pain even after you've given a shot of anaesthetic (doctors should take note of that as well if they're ever operating under local anaesthetic!)
Lack of continuity: I know this might not be the individual dentist's fault, but it's rare for me to keep a dentist for more than a yearThe good communication skills would include taking especial care with those who have a hearing loss. If you're mumbling behind your face mask, don't expect the patient to understand a word of what you're saying!

It's a long time since I had a dentist I'd call really good, so dredging back to the last good one, she used to smile and be friendly, and I felt she did take the time to tell me what was what with both my teeth and the boys' teeth. Current one just seems to want to tell me the bare minimum.

[bank_of_slate]

Hi Budding!

I have been a dental nurse for 15 years,
I have found that the academically brilliant dentists arn't very good as they have little or no social skills!
Social skills are a huge plus as a dentist.
Oh...and BE NICE TO YOUR DENTAL NURSE!!!! A good one is worth her weight in platinum!
...Linda xx

[buddingdentist]

Thanks for these suggestions everyone, all good stuff! I'll certainly remember to be nice to dental nurses too Linda...

[Toothsmith]

This is a copy of something written by a colleague of mine.

He is available for after dinner speaking if anyone is interested!!!

You have to be an expert on
adhesives, amalgam, anaesthetics, anatomy,
bad breath, biochemistry, bleaching, bridges,
childrens dentistry, crowns,
dentures, diet, disease process,
endodontics, fluoride,
gums, gerodontics,
implants, needlestick injuries, the NHS,
orthodontics, orthopaedics, and osteology,
pathology, pharmacology, physiology,
material science, sedation, white fillings,
teeth grown in rats' intestines and prescribing drugs,
as well as the routine stuff and now ozone apparently.

Articles in the Daily Mail, features on the Jeremy Vine show, the Office of Fair trading. Which magazine. And Panorama.

As a single-handed practitioner you have to learn to juggle the Access to Medical Records Act,
case reports, clinical waste, Confidentiality issues, consent, COSHH, credit licensing, cross infection,
The Data Protection Act, the Disability Discrimination Act,
Electrical testing, emergencies, fire regulations, first aid, fraud,
The Health and Safety Act, inspection and testing all your equipment, your laboratories, the Medical Devices Directive, mercury scavenging, pathology specimens, radiology, RIDDOR,
solicitors, sterilisation and pressure vessels, vaccinations, VDU regulations, water regulations and
written policy documents e.g. practice manuals.

Then there's the employment stuff, absenteeism, appraisals,
contracts of employment, discipline, discrimination, firing, gifts, hiring, interviewing, holidays, hygienists, locums, maternity and SMP, paternity, adoption, part-time workers, operating a PAYE system, student loans, stakeholder pensions, references and statutory sick pay.

Did I mention selling your practice, business rates, complaints, banks, consultants, credit cards, fee scales, leasing, merchant services, logos, insurance**, third party payment plans, the DPB, RDO inspections, staff training, Xmas parties, your accountant, your bank manager, junk mail, marketing, suppliers, repairs, computers, drugs, gases, light bulbs, fire extinguishers, flowers in the waiting room, air conditioning and web sites?



On the insurance front, buildings insurance, personal health insurance, car insurance and public liability insurance as separate areas demanding attention. If you are unlucky you may also be required to cope, in no particular order, with the delights of rent reviews and surveyors, leasing regulations and subletting, parking problems, vandalism, security alarms, flood protection, the PRS, the BSA, passport applications, firearms applications and bad debts. If all this seems too easy I suppose you could also apply to register for VAT as well :-).

There’s hardware, software and the networking of computers.

You need to be an electrician, a plumber, a joiner, a decorater and a plasterer.

And then there’s the hydraulics of that fab chair, the electronics of the new phone system.

Public speaker, networker, author.

Manager, leader and inspiration.

You will also need to design and delegate production of practice information leaflets, staff badges, appointment cards, childrens stickers, checklists, compliments slips, daylists, diet analysis sheets, labels for tablets, leaflets, letterheads, mailings, failed appointment letters, private fee guides, quotations, receipts, prescriptions, rubber stamps, time-sheets and xmas cards.

Plus you have to do your main job (dentistry) and have a family life while resisting all impulses to stick a large gnome up the President of the General Dental Council’s bottom.

[ktb]

saying 'it shouldn't still be hurting' when the patient complains they're in pain even after you've given a shot of anaesthetic (doctors should take note of that as well if they're ever operating under local anaesthetic!)

Yes definitely this one! Happened to me when i was having 2 fillings and was so frustrating. I dont care if you have given me 9 injections and it 'shouldn't' be hurting... it still bl**dy does! :mad:

I had a dentist with bad breath once... that didnt bode well & I didnt go back to him again.

[Bossyboots]

For me, the defining moment with my dentist was realising she understood why I was frightened. She didn't make me feel daft for feeling scared and every time I see her she makes sure I am settled and ready for her to start before even lowering the chair.

[Teerah]

LOL @ toothsmith :)

[Savvy_Sue]

What Toothsmith (or his friend) needs is a superb administrator / practice manager he can trust enough to delegate all the non-mouthy stuff to. You'd need to be even nicer to one of them than you would to the dental nurses, I reckon!

So, Social Skills top of the list then?

Oh, and TS, your friend doesn't seem to have sexual discrimination / equal ops explicitly on his list, yet I'm sure you need an equal ops policy, not to mention a policy on Child Protection and Protection of Vulnerable Adults ...

[buddingdentist]

:rotfl: :rotfl:

[Sherbetlover]

My orthodontist talked continually to the nurse throughout my treatment and never once addressed me. At the end after taking my braces off he slapped on a permanent retainer that he had never told me about or even mentioned and then said it was all done. Really irritating. It wasn't as if I was twelve either, I was nineteen at the time!
Always tell the patient what you are doing and maybe show some interest in something other than your next skiing holiday!

[choccyface2006]

My ortho, and dental nurses are so freindly and funny that its almost a pleasure going to see them. Recently my consultant had me in stitches, he has an absolutly wicked sense of humour which really helps.

I did go to a dental practice that was very odd I thought, it was always deserted apart from a couple of staff (The dental nurse only looked 10!!) When I took my children for their first check ups they were whisked away and I was not allowed in the room with them, I was stunned and we changed dentists soon after!

Sarah x

[bestpud]

My dentist is great because:

he puts my children at ease and does things like give the little one a 'ride' in the chair

he always says exactly what he is going to do when doing fillings etc - I hate surprises!

he says to raise our hand if we want him to stop - and he does stop immediately if we do so

I never seem to go numb completely, sometimes not at all, but he understands my fears about this and never carries on regardless!

he obviously has a very good working relationship with the dental nurse and they both seem very happy in their jobs

appointments never appear rushed and we are usually seen within about 5 minutes of the appt time

patients are kept well informed if he is running late and if he is going over by more than 30 minutes, they begin ringing people further down the list to ask if they want to reschedule or come in a bit later

he keeps up with new technology and techniques but always informs patients of the pros and cons of different things, including costs

A bad dentist imho is one who does not talk to patients, ignores their fears or does not respond when they say they are in pain

hth

bestpud

[abbecer]

smile!! Then peoples first impression of you will be friendly and approachable. My dentist is an absolute star and is fantastic with my two boys. We actually look forward to going so that we can see her and have a bit of a chat.

Rebecca xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Savvy_Sue]

smile!! Then peoples first impression of you will be friendly and approachable. As long as your own teeth are in excellent nick ... :rotfl:

[eyelinerprincess]

Lol. Had the whole "it shouldn't be hurting..." thing...Oh yeah? Then WHY do I still feel that damn drill?!

And my old dentist had a number of complaints against him, heard stories of a woman in her mid 20s being chastised like a 12 year old and he was generally not very nice to anyone.

[gooismeid]

I agree absolutely with the listening to patients thing (which is what the "it shouldn't be hurting" thread is all about!). My husband - and, indeed, all three of his siblings - are odd in many ways, but as far as dentists are concerned they are a bit freaky because they have an odd extra bit of nerve in some of their teeth, which means that normal injections don't numb the area entirely. They all thought they were total wusses until one lovely dentist did some investigations and found out what the problem was!

[lottee]

A very sympathetic understanding dentist, who doesn't have an emergency resuscitation kit on show as you make your way to the dreaded chair. I AM serious! I would rather give birth 10 times (& my son was 9lb + !) than go to the dentist, I am petrified, & seeing that 'piece of kit' the last time, just confirmed again all my fears!

[Toothsmith]

The problem is 'elf 'n safety' states it should be in an easily accessible and well marked location.

If you were ever in need of it, you wouldn't want it hidden in the back of a cupboard somewhere!

To put it in context though, I have never needed any of the drugs in the drugs kit (Nor have my patients :D ) and we've only needed the oxygen cylinder twice in 20 years of being qualified - and even with them, I'm sure a good slap would have been just as effective:p :p !!!!!

Can you not just find it reassuring that you are in an establishment that has everything it is likely to need should he worst happen, and that you are with somebody trained to use it effectively?

[lottee]

Yeh, I know what your saying Toothsmith.. In fact it all makes perfect, spot on, obvious sense!
It's just me, I am a nervous wreck, when it comes to even making the phone call for an appointment. I've never had a 'majorly' bad experience in 'the chair' to pin point what it is that I'm scared of!

[buddingdentist]

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments! Had my first interview yesterday and should know in a couple of weeks whether I have a place or not...

[Toothsmith]

Where was that?

[buddingdentist]

GKT yesterday, Barts and the London next month. Any thoughts on the dentists either of these turn out Toothsmith?

:D

[Toothsmith]

Yes - but I won't print them here!!!!!!

Seriously - they're good places. Nearly as good as Manchester!!

[Jennie]

This forum is excellent. I am knee deep in writing an article about a local dentist and your comments have been an excellent contribution!

Thanks y'all!!:kiss:

[buddingdentist]

Just wanted to thank everyone for your helpful comments earlier!

I have two offers to choose from - Barts and The London and Guys, Kings and St Thomas's dental schools, so will be heading off to dental school in the Autumn.

[Toothsmith]

Good luck!