bad dentist

WolfSong2000

Okay, will try and make this as concise as possible...

I am currently at University in Aberdeen, Scotland, but live near Horsham, West Sussex and am registered (recently) at a dental practice in the latter area. Saw them for the first time just before I went back to University. I told the Horsham practice I was a university student, and would be going back to Aberdeen in September, but they booked my appointment for late august (almost 3 weeks after I initially went in), charged me £16.50 for a very brief, superficial examination and then told me they couldn't fit me in for the work that they said needed to be done before I went back to University.

Roll on to December and I booked an emergency appointment in Aberdeen - turned out to be result of pain from wisdom teeth (all 4 are coming through at once), but dentist was very careful, took x-rays, gave temp filling, perm filling, picked up on some stuff no other dentist has mentioned (white spots on teeth from problems when my mother was pregnant with me)...she was really, really lovely but told me that I needed a root canal, which she couldn't do. So I duly booked 2 appointments with the denta practice in Horsham. When I rang, they argued with me at first that they could only book an initial appointment for an examination, but when I pointed out that one of my teeth had actually cracked in haf - something that wouldn't have happened if they'd gotten me an appointment before I went back to university, plus if I had to wait until after the initial appointment to book the treatment, the odds were I'd be back to University - the receptionist relented and booked me an appointment for 2 days after the initial appoinntment, gave me a time, etc.

So, I turned up for the initial appointment and asked at reception firstly if I had to pay again, as although it had been over 2 months, they'd known before I booked the first appointment that I was a University student, so I felt they were taking advantage. Despite a receptionist teling me over the phone that there was a good chance I wouldn't have to pay, the receptionist on the day refused. I then asked if I could change the second appointment to after Christmas...they then told me they had no record of my second appointment and accused me of lying!

I wasn't in a brilliant mood at this point, but went up to see the dentist...I was in and out of the chair in under 2 mins...dentist was beyond useless, didn't do a proper examination, no x-rays, and tod me that she'd fill the tooth that was half-missing and if this didn't work it would have to be extracted. When I mentioned that a previous dentist had suggested a root canal, the dentist blew me off, despite the fact that as the tooth is a main molar, there is a chance, according to the first dentist from Aberdeen (who I am more inclined to believe due to her thoroughness) that if it was removed I would need a bridge, denture or implant as it could affect my ability to chew.

Anyhow, left the dentist in under 5 mins and went down to reception. They asked that I pay and then asked me if I was going to book another appointment - like hell! I asked the receptionist if she knew of any other dentists that were taking on NHS patients as I would not be coming back to the practice. That dentist is never going anywhere near my teeth again.

Am going to complain to the PCT, but just felt the need to vent...

Toothsmith

Your posts don't get any easier to read!

Right - I'm going to turn this round.

1. Why, when as a university student, you get 3 months holiday, did you wait until "just before you went back" to make an appointment with the dentist? It would be odds on that at an NHS place, if you needed anything doing, they wouldn't be able to fit you in in time.

2. Why, when you knew you needed something doing urgently, did you not get in to see someone in Aberdeen more quickly?

3. The dentist didn't break your tooth. Whatever you've eaten/drunk over the last few years has done that.

From the dentist's point of view he has a shirty patient who comes along just before she goes back to uni, has a badly broken tooth, which, despit the dentist telling her was in urgent need of attention, she decided to leave 3 months before getting something done about.

Root fillings are quite complex treatment, and not always an end in itself. The tooth - once root filled will need looking after and further work. Even then, it probably won't last forever.

So - a late teenage/early 20s young lady with a tooth so badly broken down it needs root filling, and a poor history of taking dental advice - I would say that extraction was a perfectly valid treatment choice for such a patient.

What exactly are you going to complain to the PCT about? A dentist who's just a bit too busy to rearrange his appointment book to suit your convienience? There's not many private places that would do that, never mind NHS!

I don't mean to get at you here - but NHS dental practices ARE busy places. If you don't want your teeth t fall to bits, you need to take a bit of responsibility for looking after them yourself, and make sure you leave plenty of time to get things sorted out.

WolfSong2000

I will keep working on my attempts at clarity .

I left things so late as I have an inherent dislike of dentist practices...my mother is phobic about dentists, which hasn't helped, plus the attitude of the dentist I had growing up annoyed me...so I kept putting stuff of, which is my own fault.

I am annoyed at the dental surgery took money knowing they wouldn't be able to provide treatment before I left for university. Also the examination wasn't thorough and the dentist failed to pick up on a lot of things. I got the impression the dentist couldn't be bothered, and was not someone I would trust with my dental health.

Receptionist also accused me of "making up" appointments which I had received date and time for over the phone.

Anyhow, rang local PCT and they said I shouldn't have been charged twice as the dentist never provided treatment after the initial consulation, despite pointing out that it was required and generating a treatment plan.

I guess I'm annoyed more now as I received really first rate treatment as an emergency patient in Aberdeen, but Horsham practice just doesn't seem to care - as a result I am paying more for less work.

Toothsmith

Go to the place in Aberdeen then.

VfM4meplse

I saw a wonderful dentist today...he slotted me in as a favour and treated me with a great deal of care although the prognosis is not good. This was after I had visited my "regular" dentist just 3 weeks ago - in fact the practice had been sold to a new dentist - who I wish I hadn't bothered with. She gave me the most cursory of checks and advised that my problem was wisdom teeth whilst missing the problem I was trying to point out to her. I actually described the pain to her as being punched in the face which she completely ignored but turned out to be very relevant.

I think there is a real fitness to practice issue here. What I would like to know is whether the Bolam test applies to dentists as it does to medics?

Toothsmith

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I saw a wonderful dentist today...he slotted me in as a favour and treated me with a great deal of care although the prognosis is not good. This was after I had visited my "regular" dentist just 3 weeks ago - in fact the practice had been sold to a new dentist - who I wish I hadn't bothered with. She gave me the most cursory of checks and advised that my problem was wisdom teeth whilst missing the problem I was trying to point out to her. I actually described the pain to her as being punched in the face which she completely ignored but turned out to be very relevant.

I think there is a real fitness to practice issue here. What I would like to know is whether the Bolam test applies to dentists as it does to medics?

Is one bad check-up really enough to take someone's livelyhood away?

Did you know that the night before, her Mum rang her up to tell her that her brother had been diagnosed with cancer?

Of course, I've just made that up - but everybody can have an off day. I even have them myself now and again.

Consistant poor performance is one thing, but one bad check up?

Buttonmoons

One of my main molars, kind of eroded away to nothing on one side (Couldn't get a dentist!) when I finally managed to get a dentist, I thought he'd just pull it out, but he gave me a root canal, and it's perfect! Ok it looks bionic but it does the job, and was really quite relaxing getting it done!

If you are able (with the dentist in Aberdeen?) to save the tooth or attempt to get it saved I'd try, as on the other side of my mouth, I developed a small hole (during the period of no dentist and pregnancy) and ate peanut butter, well a peanut went in that hole, I was in sheer agony for 3 days before I bit the bullet and went to the emergency dentists, where it had to get removed (as they don't do work there, just get rid of the pain) Was gutted, and I don't really chew with that side of the mouth now.

VfM4meplse

Toothsmith wrote: »

Is one bad check-up really enough to take someone's livelyhood away?

Did you know that the night before, her Mum rang her up to tell her that her brother had been diagnosed with cancer?

I doubt it, she just didn't seem interested and didn't even note the dentition or even look examine the area, just saw an inflamed gum and made a diagnosis on that basis. I know that locum cover is always scarce, but part of being professional is about forgetting your own problems and putting the patient first. What took prominence was her active promotion of cosmetic procedures, you can't put that before basic dental care.

WolfSong2000

If I could stay with the dentist in Aberdeen, I would, but the dentist wont do the root canal, and I'm only there as an emergency patient...actual waiting list is 2-3 years...Grampian area is the worst in the UK.

Speaking of wisdom teeth, I've just finished a short course of antibiotics as my wisdom teeth are coming through...very uncomfortable, but the Horsham dentist never even mentioned it, despite the fact that the area around one of the teeth is swollen (and sore!).

Anyhow, I guess I just got unlucky with a not-so-great dentist...will see if I can get some of my money back and then find another dentist.

welshdent

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

I will keep working on my attempts at clarity .

.

I am annoyed at the dental surgery took money knowing they wouldn't be able to provide treatment before I left for university. Also the examination wasn't thorough and the dentist failed to pick up on a lot of things. I got the impression the dentist couldn't be bothered, and was not someone I would trust with my dental health.
.

How could they know they wouldnt be able to do the treatment? The dentist is not psychic, they can not know exactly what is needed and how easy it is to manage until it is assessed fully. Some treatments take differing amounts of time. For example to manage a dead tooth you can either extract or root fill and crown. Extraction can take 10 - 20 mins. root filling then crown can take at least 3 visits and around 3 hours. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find 3 hours at short notice?!?!

Also they SHOULD have charged you. you booked in to the dentist, you may not have LIKED your examination but none the less you had one. Immediately that is a band 1 charge irrespective of treatment needed. You then popped off to Scotland where that practice who, as we have established are not psychic ... had no idea if you were going to return and so closed off your course of treatment. You then return again with a totally different clinical scenario to that which you initially presented with and one that is more complex to manage. This has resulted in a new course of treatment being opened ... its nhs regs not the dentists. The nhs only HAS 4 poissible courses of treatment. Band 1 for just check ups prevention and investigation, Band 2 for active treatment, Band 3 for lab prostheses and Band 4 for emergency care.
I suggest speaking to your MP if you do not like them. Most dentists dont either. Regards to the PCT. They have no right giving you that information without knowing the full facts surrounding your situation and seeing the dentists notes. From what you have said I doubt an actual complaints board would agree with them

WolfSong2000

Never suggested the dentist was psychic, but they failed to do a proper examination and I wasn't assessed fully on my first visit, nor my second, which is one of the things I'm taking issue with.

I visited the Aberdeen practice purely as an emergency patient, and was informed I coudn't get root canal done with them - fine, no problem. I ring up English practice, they say yes it can be done if necessary. I had been in contact with them a month beforehand saying I needed treatment, but at that time nothing could be booked as I didn't know if/when I would be coming to England over Christmas.

My main issues with the dentist in England are as follows:

1) They charged me initially for a consultation which they would have known that they would be unable to see through as they were informed before I booked the initial appointment that I would be leaving for University. My initial consultation was delayed for so long that when I went to book an appointment for treatment I was told that there were none available before I went back to University.

2) Both times, the dentist I was was off-handish and failed (in my opinion, and going by the treatment I received in Aberdeen) to do a thorough examination.

3) English receptionist accused me of lying and making up an appointment that I had received over the phone from the practice a few weeks previously.

4). Was charged again for a check-up despite the fact that they hadn't been able to follow-up with the first course of treatment...if I hadn't warned them that I would be leaving for Aberdeen, then fair enough, but I gave them plenty of warning.