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Day in the life of Bob - Going to the Dentist
bobwilson
Posts: 595 Forumite
I Spent a lovely day at the dentist today and thought I'd share! 
I have a mouth guard fitted every so often to prevent me tooth grinding in my sleep.
I registered with this new NHS dentist recently. He made a new mouth-guard for me and everything went fine. About 5 months later, it snapped. I took it back, and the dentist said it wasn't right.
Dentist: "It looks like it was made too thin."
Although this appeared to be a manufacturing defect, I was told I'd have to pay £300 for a new one. I didn't want to get my dentist off-side, so I just decided to pay it and not make a fuss. Ah the joys of dealing with human beings :rotfl:
Today, I went to pick up the new mouth-guard from the dentist.When I saw the dentist he seemed to be in a bad mood.
Usually when fitting a mouth-guard, it's a painless, quick and easy process.
He didn't say anything as I entered the room, and then gruffly tried to put the new mouthguard in my mouth. It didn't fit. Instead of accepting the fact that it didn't fit, he got agitated and tried to force it in my mouth, over my teeth. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life, I made sounds asking him to stop. Instead of stopping, he used brute force to push it over my teeth. My eyes were crying with the pain, and my front teeth felt like they were about to break.
I have quite a high tolerance for pain, I was concerned that it would damage my teeth. I've had orthodontic treatment and braces for years, had allsorts done to me, but no pain compared to this. The force on my teeth was making my mouth go numb with pain. This wasn't normal.
He tried to take it out of my mouth. It was stuck and he couldn't remove it. He stood there for about a minute trying to force it out of my mouth. Eventually, it made a snapping sound and came out suddenly.
I was expecting him to throw it away and take a new impression. But he didn't, he seemed frustrated and in a rush. He just continued the fitting process
The fitting process is designed to make the bite-down even, it doesn't change the actual fit of the mould around the top teeth.
I explained to him that it was hurting an unusual amount, and I could hear my front teeth cracking while it was forced on. He seemed upset and interrupted me "It's fine, mouth-guards are always a bit uncomfortable to begin with."
I explained, with tears coming down my cheeks, "I understand, I've had them fitted for 20 years. I understand that but this one is too painful. I can hear my front teeth cracking, and it's extremely painful. It's only happened once before, I know it's not your fault, it just happens sometimes. Can you make another ple--"
Dentist [interrupts, visibly upset] "No. It's fine. Your teeth have just moved a bit since the impression was taken a few weeks ago, it's normal to be a bit uncomfortable."
He continued trying to force it into my mouth over and over again for about 15 minutes. It reached a point where I could no longer feel my mouth, and I was worried for the health of my teeth.
He continued the fitting process, asking me the usual questions.. "Can you feel your front teeth biting down?"
Me: "No, I can't feel my mouth at all. It's numb."
Dentist [getting more angry, looking at his watch]: "RIGHT." he forced it out again, and kept filing away at the mouthguard with a drill.
This went on for about 20 minutes. He tried to put it in my mouth again, but seemed visibly frustrated that it wouldn't go in. He was banging it into my mouth with his fist like the force of a hammer. It was so painful I almost blacked out. Again, taking 2 minutes to pull it out with extreme force.
Me: "I'm sorry, I understand what you're saying, but it honestly doesn't fit, the actual mould doesn't fit around my top tee--"
Him: [looking at his watch, looking more upset and rushed] "NO. IT'S FINE."
He forced it back in my mouth, and my whole mouth and jaw were starting to go numb with the pain.
Eventually, I decided I couldn't risk this continuing. I've given in in the past, and ended up in hospital as a result.
Me: "I'm sorry, but I'd like another one made please. I understand what you're saying, and I understand how it works, I've had this done my whole life, but this particular one doesn't fit over my teeth. I'm sorry if you're in a rush, but 15 years ago, a similar mouth guard didn't quite fit, and I followed the dentist's advice to force it over my teeth overnight. I ended up in hospital blacked out and unable to attend work for a month due to the pain. This is a lot worse than that one was. It's too painful to wear. I'm sorry"
Dentist [more upset]: "LOOK. YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!! IF YOU BUY A PAIR OF SHOES, THEY NEED BREAKING-IN. IT'S THE SAME THING."
me: "I understand that, some shoes can be broken in, but some can cause your ankles to bleed, and the user has his life's experience of fitting shoes to be able to tell the difference. The same is true for this, I have my life's experience of having these fitted to know that this one is too painful, I won't be able to wear it. I couldn't keep it in my mouth for more than 2 seconds let alone go to sleep with it. I'm really sorry."
Dentist: [upset, looking at the time] "FINE. WHAT'S THE POINT. YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME, SO GO TO ANOTHER PRACTISE AND HAVE THEM MAKE ONE FOR YOU. "
Me: "I am listening to you. Is it not possible to make another one here? I'm sorry for the trouble."
Dentist: "You're NOT listening to me. I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANOTHER ONE. WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THIS ONE?"
Me: "I'm sorry, I'll pay the £300 for this one as well if necessary, I just need one that fits."
Dentist [red in the face]: "WELL WHEN? WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE MADE? AND WHAT IF THAT'S NO GOOD? NO. WE'RE NOT DOING ANOTHER ONE FOR YOU."
Me: [stunned]
Dentist: [ignores me and starts frantically putting tools away]
Me: "I'm sorry for upsetting you.."
Dentist: "I'M UPSET BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME!!"
Me: "I am listening, I understand what you've said."
Dentist: "LIKE I SAID, IT'S NORMAL TO FEEL A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO LISTEN."
Me: [Nodding] "I understand that."
Dentist: "IT'S NORMAL TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE! YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!"
[Dentist continues frantically putting away his tools, then turns his back to me and looks at the computer]
Me: "I understand that. I am listening, and I understand it's meant to be a bit uncomfortable. I've had many of these made throughout my life and I'm just trying to explain this is too painful to wear. Can we just make another one please?"
Dentist: "NO!! YOU'RE NOT LISTENING! GO TO ANOTHER PRACTISE WHERE I'M SURE THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU. YOU CANCELLED YOUR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT AND MADE A NEW ONE A WEEK LATER, SO OF COURSE IT DOESN'T FIT ANYWAY!!! WHY DID YOU CANCEL??"
Me: "I'm sorry, I was in hospital."
Dentist: "WELL. I'M SORRY YOU WERE UNWELL BUT THESE COST MONEY! YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!"
With that, I get my things, my bag, and leave. He continues frantically putting away his tools away. Just as I'm leaving, he turns around and says:
Dentist: "Ok Ok fine I'm sorry. I'll make another one for you. Come here."
By this point, I was too scared to have him near by mouth
Me: "No thank you. I'll go elsewhere. I'm sorry for the trouble."
Denstist: "No, I'll make another for you. I'm sorry for being rude. This is a professional clinic, I'll of course make another one for you. It's just that this costs money. Come here and I'll do another."
For some reason, at this point I allowed myself to become slightly upset.
Me: "No thank you. I've not been treated like this before by a GP or dentist. I'll pay for this, and then I'll find another practise."
Him and his assistant look shocked/guilty as I left the room.
He followed me down the hallway.
Dentist: "I'm not going to let you pay for this, it's not fair that you should have to pay for something that isn't the right--- that you're not happy with."
He ran in front of me and spoke to the receptionist.
Dentist:"Please wipe the £300 charge from his invoice, he's not going to pay for this."
I said, in front of the receptionists and customers: "I'm happy to pay for it, I just want to leave to be honest. I don't know if you've had a bad day but it's not fair to take it out on me."
He replied in front of his customers
Dentist: "Well you weren't listening to me!" and then scuttled off back to his room.
I left the surgery feeling shaken up, almost like I was about to break down in tears! Imagine me, a grown man doing that LOL :rotfl: I went to a cafe and hid myself for a few hours.
ahh dear.. once calmed down, you have to laugh about it though. Onwards and upwards.. its so easy to let people drain your positive energy, especially in London, I guess this gives me a good chance to practice the tai chee (is is that tai de tao?) "not allowing someone to make me upset" and "choosing to stay positive" This episode shows me I haven't quite mastered the art!..
If anyone reaches the end of this post I'll be amazed
I have a mouth guard fitted every so often to prevent me tooth grinding in my sleep.
I registered with this new NHS dentist recently. He made a new mouth-guard for me and everything went fine. About 5 months later, it snapped. I took it back, and the dentist said it wasn't right.
Dentist: "It looks like it was made too thin."
Although this appeared to be a manufacturing defect, I was told I'd have to pay £300 for a new one. I didn't want to get my dentist off-side, so I just decided to pay it and not make a fuss. Ah the joys of dealing with human beings :rotfl:
Today, I went to pick up the new mouth-guard from the dentist.When I saw the dentist he seemed to be in a bad mood.
Usually when fitting a mouth-guard, it's a painless, quick and easy process.He didn't say anything as I entered the room, and then gruffly tried to put the new mouthguard in my mouth. It didn't fit. Instead of accepting the fact that it didn't fit, he got agitated and tried to force it in my mouth, over my teeth. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life, I made sounds asking him to stop. Instead of stopping, he used brute force to push it over my teeth. My eyes were crying with the pain, and my front teeth felt like they were about to break.
I have quite a high tolerance for pain, I was concerned that it would damage my teeth. I've had orthodontic treatment and braces for years, had allsorts done to me, but no pain compared to this. The force on my teeth was making my mouth go numb with pain. This wasn't normal.
He tried to take it out of my mouth. It was stuck and he couldn't remove it. He stood there for about a minute trying to force it out of my mouth. Eventually, it made a snapping sound and came out suddenly.
I was expecting him to throw it away and take a new impression. But he didn't, he seemed frustrated and in a rush. He just continued the fitting process
The fitting process is designed to make the bite-down even, it doesn't change the actual fit of the mould around the top teeth.
I explained to him that it was hurting an unusual amount, and I could hear my front teeth cracking while it was forced on. He seemed upset and interrupted me "It's fine, mouth-guards are always a bit uncomfortable to begin with."
I explained, with tears coming down my cheeks, "I understand, I've had them fitted for 20 years. I understand that but this one is too painful. I can hear my front teeth cracking, and it's extremely painful. It's only happened once before, I know it's not your fault, it just happens sometimes. Can you make another ple--"
Dentist [interrupts, visibly upset] "No. It's fine. Your teeth have just moved a bit since the impression was taken a few weeks ago, it's normal to be a bit uncomfortable."
He continued trying to force it into my mouth over and over again for about 15 minutes. It reached a point where I could no longer feel my mouth, and I was worried for the health of my teeth.
He continued the fitting process, asking me the usual questions.. "Can you feel your front teeth biting down?"
Me: "No, I can't feel my mouth at all. It's numb."
Dentist [getting more angry, looking at his watch]: "RIGHT." he forced it out again, and kept filing away at the mouthguard with a drill.
This went on for about 20 minutes. He tried to put it in my mouth again, but seemed visibly frustrated that it wouldn't go in. He was banging it into my mouth with his fist like the force of a hammer. It was so painful I almost blacked out. Again, taking 2 minutes to pull it out with extreme force.
Me: "I'm sorry, I understand what you're saying, but it honestly doesn't fit, the actual mould doesn't fit around my top tee--"
Him: [looking at his watch, looking more upset and rushed] "NO. IT'S FINE."
He forced it back in my mouth, and my whole mouth and jaw were starting to go numb with the pain.
Eventually, I decided I couldn't risk this continuing. I've given in in the past, and ended up in hospital as a result.
Me: "I'm sorry, but I'd like another one made please. I understand what you're saying, and I understand how it works, I've had this done my whole life, but this particular one doesn't fit over my teeth. I'm sorry if you're in a rush, but 15 years ago, a similar mouth guard didn't quite fit, and I followed the dentist's advice to force it over my teeth overnight. I ended up in hospital blacked out and unable to attend work for a month due to the pain. This is a lot worse than that one was. It's too painful to wear. I'm sorry"
Dentist [more upset]: "LOOK. YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!! IF YOU BUY A PAIR OF SHOES, THEY NEED BREAKING-IN. IT'S THE SAME THING."
me: "I understand that, some shoes can be broken in, but some can cause your ankles to bleed, and the user has his life's experience of fitting shoes to be able to tell the difference. The same is true for this, I have my life's experience of having these fitted to know that this one is too painful, I won't be able to wear it. I couldn't keep it in my mouth for more than 2 seconds let alone go to sleep with it. I'm really sorry."
Dentist: [upset, looking at the time] "FINE. WHAT'S THE POINT. YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME, SO GO TO ANOTHER PRACTISE AND HAVE THEM MAKE ONE FOR YOU. "
Me: "I am listening to you. Is it not possible to make another one here? I'm sorry for the trouble."
Dentist: "You're NOT listening to me. I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANOTHER ONE. WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THIS ONE?"
Me: "I'm sorry, I'll pay the £300 for this one as well if necessary, I just need one that fits."
Dentist [red in the face]: "WELL WHEN? WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE MADE? AND WHAT IF THAT'S NO GOOD? NO. WE'RE NOT DOING ANOTHER ONE FOR YOU."
Me: [stunned]
Dentist: [ignores me and starts frantically putting tools away]
Me: "I'm sorry for upsetting you.."
Dentist: "I'M UPSET BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME!!"
Me: "I am listening, I understand what you've said."
Dentist: "LIKE I SAID, IT'S NORMAL TO FEEL A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO LISTEN."
Me: [Nodding] "I understand that."
Dentist: "IT'S NORMAL TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE! YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!"
[Dentist continues frantically putting away his tools, then turns his back to me and looks at the computer]
Me: "I understand that. I am listening, and I understand it's meant to be a bit uncomfortable. I've had many of these made throughout my life and I'm just trying to explain this is too painful to wear. Can we just make another one please?"
Dentist: "NO!! YOU'RE NOT LISTENING! GO TO ANOTHER PRACTISE WHERE I'M SURE THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU. YOU CANCELLED YOUR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT AND MADE A NEW ONE A WEEK LATER, SO OF COURSE IT DOESN'T FIT ANYWAY!!! WHY DID YOU CANCEL??"
Me: "I'm sorry, I was in hospital."
Dentist: "WELL. I'M SORRY YOU WERE UNWELL BUT THESE COST MONEY! YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!"
With that, I get my things, my bag, and leave. He continues frantically putting away his tools away. Just as I'm leaving, he turns around and says:
Dentist: "Ok Ok fine I'm sorry. I'll make another one for you. Come here."
By this point, I was too scared to have him near by mouth
Me: "No thank you. I'll go elsewhere. I'm sorry for the trouble."
Denstist: "No, I'll make another for you. I'm sorry for being rude. This is a professional clinic, I'll of course make another one for you. It's just that this costs money. Come here and I'll do another."
For some reason, at this point I allowed myself to become slightly upset.
Me: "No thank you. I've not been treated like this before by a GP or dentist. I'll pay for this, and then I'll find another practise."
Him and his assistant look shocked/guilty as I left the room.
He followed me down the hallway.
Dentist: "I'm not going to let you pay for this, it's not fair that you should have to pay for something that isn't the right--- that you're not happy with."
He ran in front of me and spoke to the receptionist.
Dentist:"Please wipe the £300 charge from his invoice, he's not going to pay for this."
I said, in front of the receptionists and customers: "I'm happy to pay for it, I just want to leave to be honest. I don't know if you've had a bad day but it's not fair to take it out on me."
He replied in front of his customers
Dentist: "Well you weren't listening to me!" and then scuttled off back to his room.
I left the surgery feeling shaken up, almost like I was about to break down in tears! Imagine me, a grown man doing that LOL :rotfl: I went to a cafe and hid myself for a few hours.
ahh dear.. once calmed down, you have to laugh about it though. Onwards and upwards.. its so easy to let people drain your positive energy, especially in London, I guess this gives me a good chance to practice the tai chee (is is that tai de tao?) "not allowing someone to make me upset" and "choosing to stay positive" This episode shows me I haven't quite mastered the art!..
If anyone reaches the end of this post I'll be amazed
0
Comments
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Oh my God! I can't believe that! My dentist phobia has just gone up by a few notches over this as it's so terrible! I can't believe they did this to you-you need to complain to someone asap. Also, get another dentist to check your teeth over for damage caused by this crazy guy! Poor you.0
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you offered to pay....are you mad!!
(I read all the way through, and now have toothache!)0 -
Would love to know whats eating him. Some people have really bad days.
I'm not condoning his actions but you could at least understand if he caught his wife cheating with his best friend or his dad was murdered, etc.0 -
I really don't understand why you didn't listen to him. He's a dentist, he obviously knows your mouth better than you do.
IMO you were impatient and stubborn. Shame on you
seriously, though, the guy sounds like a proper douchebag... 0 -
What's biting him?0
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Wow. Sounds like my childhood dentist. My mother dragged me out of there with half a filling and a numb face after he went ballistic at me missing the bowl to spit because I was numb...I was 8 years old.
If I were you I'd speak to 'toothsmith' on here and find out how to initiate a complaints procedure against this man.0 -
Bob, this is your eighth Day in the Life of Bob thread in the last month. Now either you're one unlucky guy or your expectations are a little skewed or perhaps you just like a good old ding-dong "Growth for growth's sake is the ideology of the cancer cell" - Edward Abbey.0
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I love Bob's "Day in the Life of....", we need more!!0
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If this actually happened, it sounds more like someone on the verge of a breakdown to me.
I would write to the practice manager/senior partner at the practice more out of concern than of complaint.
I think they need help.How to find a dentist.
1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.0 -
I'm sure it's true that dentists have the highest rate of mental health problems of all the professional classes. Sounds like you've got one right on the edge!"Growth for growth's sake is the ideology of the cancer cell" - Edward Abbey.0
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