Dentist second opinion

aliasojo

Is it acceptable to go to a new private dentist to just ask for a second opinion? Or is that not the done thing?

I've had many dentists over the years but the one I have now, I have never really had faith in tbh. I didn't choose him, he took over when my previous dentist left the practice and I was just kinda allocated to him.

He's a nice enough bloke but I have had issues with quite a lot he's done in my mouth and I never have had any problems after any other dentists work. Nothing drastic I hasten to add but I've had to go back because a filling has been too high or he's left rough bits that caused a sore bit on my tongue or that he's not given enough analgesic and had kept going 'because he's just about done' even although I'm in pain, for example. Then next time he went OTT and gave me several jags in the one area (he did say later it was perhaps too much btw) and I couldn't open my mouth for weeks. Just little things but they're often and I dont feel he's careful enough. He tends to rush through things a bit.

Anyway the point of all this is.. I've had a tooth that I've had bother with for around 18 months now at least. He filled it then about a year ago decided it needed a root canal so he did that. (Very painful - gum wasn't properly frozen). The problem never really went away and I've had pain on and off since then. It took ages (around 8 weeks) to settle after the root canal but he said it was all fine and he says it's just sensitive. I dont understand that because I thought the bit that caused pain was taken away during a root canal? Happy to be told I've misunderstood though.)

Anyway, I'm now at the stage where I cant eat on that side of my mouth and if I drink anything, it stays sore for at least an hour afterwards. He said the last time that the next option was extraction. He could try to redo the root canal but second time root canals had a low success rate.

He might be right in all he says, I dont know. All I know is I feel unsettled about his advice and I'm fed up with the pain.

I'm just not very sure what to do for the best about this tooth now, let alone my dentist himself. There are 2 other dentists in the practice but I dont know if asking one of them to see me is worse than going out of the practice iyswim. I dont want to ruffle anyone's feathers and I'm wondering if asking a colleague is not a good idea?

If we lived in a different area I dont think I'd be so undecided as we'd be closer to alternative practices but as it is we dont really have the luxury of great (affordable) choice. NHS availability is poor and some of the other private practices that are anywhere near us seem scarily costly.

Any thoughts?

Just to clarify...I'm not here complaining about my dentist, that's really not my purpose...I was just trying to explain my thoughts.

suki1964

I dont see why you cant go to any dentist you like as you no longer register with a dentist, only sign up for a course of treatment.

I think that Toothsmith and the other dentists here always say root canals are hit and miss and they can fail. Ive been lucky that all mine are sound, others post here that they have had failures and had no option but to go for extraction. I know every time I have had a root canal Ive been warned it may not take

aliasojo

Ah, I didn't realise you didn't have to register now.

I have had other root canals done and haven't had a problem thankfully, but been unlucky with this one.

tirednewdad

Just to clarify there is no officail NHS registration once a course of treatment is complete, however private practices often have a registration list.

RCT isn't always successful and what you have been told is correct. However if you think you can get better care elsewhere then you should look into the possibility.

Once you have lost faith with the dentist, it's very hard to get that trust back (and from a dentist point of view you can usually tell and it gets more difficult to treat the patient).

Be aware though, each dentist will see the same things differently. Where one recommendeds a crown, another will suggest a large filling is enough. The only thing that that can say is if something has been done well or badly.

tirednewdad

sorry RCT= root cannal treatment

Toothsmith

I wouldn't have a problem with a patient seeking a second opinion with me, but it's important to be honest right from the start about that being all you want (At least for the time being) and be as accurate as you can about previous treatment and discussions with your previous dentist.

aliasojo

Thank you both for your replies.