Dentist Help

pollocmc

Toothsmith wrote:

The simplest thing the dentist could do would be to take out every tooth with a problem and provide a denture. This would get him maximum points for minimum outlay.

Risk of a professional misconduct case there. The treatment has to be appropriate and surely extractions are not always appropriate. I know in a lot of cases you could argue the toss.

see http://www.gdc-uk.org/General+public/Conduct+hearings/ if you don't believe me.

What really needs to happen is that dentists are properly rewarded for remaining in the NHS and private practice doesn't seem such an attractive alternative and not driven by piece-work targets.

Toothsmith wrote:

Be careful to discuss all alternatives with him, and come up with a treatment plan you are happy with (Of course - you may well be happy with that option).

Great advice. Make sure you know what is going on and attend all your appointments now that you are on a list. Two strikes and you'll be out!

My initial reaction in your situation (unregistered and no-one willing to take you on) would have been to visit A&E if you are in that much pain - all dental pain is agony and no-one wants to listen. Are you near a Dental School? Do they not have dental A&E there?

Here's a wee bit (from the scotsman newspaper )about A&E provision up here.

"NHS Grampian operates what is calls the GDENS service for out-of-hours dental treatment, which operates from 6:15pm to 9:15pm, Monday to Friday and from 9:30am to 12:30pm at the weekend.

The Glasgow Emergency Dental Service, based at the Dental Hospital in the city, provides coverage for everybody in the Greater Glasgow health board area during weekday evenings and throughout the weekend.

Meanwhile, in Dundee, a walk-in clinic operates from 9:30am to 11:30am on Saturday and Sunday at the city's Ninewells Hospital.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran offers a community emergency dental service to unregistered patients, which operates every afternoon from Ayr Hospital. "

Miroslav

pollocmc wrote:

My initial reaction in your situation (unregistered and no-one willing to take you on) would have been to visit A&E if you are in that much pain - all dental pain is agony and no-one wants to listen. Are you near a Dental School? Do they not have dental A&E there?

A&E apologised and sent me packing with the same telephone number I got no answer from, although they eventually called me back. Seems my local A&E couldn't help.

Dental School? Is that the same as a Dental Access Centre? That's where I eventually got treated.

Toothsmith

No - a dental school is where we are taught to do it properly! A training hospital for undergraduate dentists. They too are short of funds, and can't really operate a dental A&E service for the demand around them. There have been reports in the press recently about the queues that form outside Manchester dental hospital on a daily basis.

Pollocmc :-

I agree entirely that if an extraction were done inappropriately, a service case could follow.

The way this dental contract is laid down though, dentists on the NHS are having to tread the tightrope between Bankruptcy on one side and professional ethics on the other. Some find it a bit too easy for my liking though!

Miroslav

I was talking to the dentist about the new NHS charges etc. She was really friendly and talked me through the whole process and was evening joking with me.