Dentist Question

jugglebug

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

Just to add a non-dental comment, if this person is going to be spending considerable time working at your mouth, you need to feel comfortable and confident with them. If this isn't the case then maybe you should investigate going to someone else?

Sorry if I'm confusing things more, but I've recently seen a friend being treated by a dentist she wasn't happy with. It was stressful and unpleasant and she still has a nagging worry that some of it wasn't necessary. So make sure you feel happy with your dentist before you get any more treatment done.

This is an important point.
As a dentist if someone isn't confident in me and happy to trust what I am saying I absolutely think they should find someone they are happy with. I don't ever want someone to feel uncomfortable or have any doubts about what treatment they are receiving. We are in a very unusual position, both professional and personal at the same time. I cannot expect everyone to like me, so if that is the basis of the relationship then the best thing for all concerned is to change.
I was recently in a position where I was seeing a lady who had been a member of my practice for Decades (Literally) However times changed and her original dentist retired, subsequent dentists came and went and the decision was made to convert to private. This was all before my time. However a filling failed through no ones fault but time and wear and tear and all hell broke loose as essentially she has been bottling up all the anger from conversion and basically viewed every item of treatment received since as a "scam"
One wonders why she kept coming of course but basically her letter of complaint detailed events going back 15 years. (I have only been at this practice 2) And it was all down to not being happy right from the 1st change.

welshdent

Good post jb. What I always find interesting is that a lot of patients seem to be unable to differentiate the dentist from the practice even if the entire staff have changed over the years. I hope the complaint isnt causing you too much hassle.

VictoriaBlyth

Apologies for not coming back and thanking you all sooner - some great advice from you all.

I don't know about the relationship between the dentist and myself. She spoke maybe a dozen words to me all the time I was there! I really do not need a touchy feely person, as long as I am confident that they can do a good job, that is all I really care about to be honest.

She is on holiday now, so I go back to see her a week on Monday when she will have two treatment plans for me, one NHS and one private. I will ask her about getting as much done on the NHS, but paying privately for the rest. I also would prefer to have as much work done in each visit as possible, even if I am in the chair for hours - it is the build up to going into the dentist that kills me, once I am there, I am not too bad! I am also considering going to an alternative dentist, just to be sure that I am getting the best treatment, but I assume I will need to pay for a private consultation as I have already have my NHS one (cost somewhere around £17)?

Anyway, many, many thanks for your advice - and to the dentists on here, you have my sympathy;)

VictoriaBlyth

Just to let everyone who gave advice know what happened next...

Very happy with dentist, built a good relationship with her. I decided to go for a permanent bridge of 6 teeth! I have just been today to have a deep scale and polish, and have a teeth whitening kit which I need to use overnight to get my remaining teeth all sparkly white:j
I am then back on 16th Sept (she is on holiday) for the real work to be done, with a temporary put in place, returning a fortnight later for the permanent, lovely smile I have always wanted.

Not cheap, and I am not looking forward to the 16th, but I am just so overjoyed that I finally took the steps to get sorted out.

Many, many thanks to everyone for their encouragement and help.

brook2jack

Great ,just one point. A bridge isn't permanent, no dental work is. It all needs replacing eventually but alot of how long it will last comes down to how well you look after it. Now you've got the habit of going ,go regularly for checks and hygiene and follow everything the hygienist tells you about looking after your teeth scrupulously to give your bridge its best chance of a long life.

VictoriaBlyth

Thanks, I know it is not permanent permanent, I just mean I don't have to take it out;)
Also, I am much more aware of my dental hygiene now, always brushed two or three times a day, but never got away with flossing. That has all changed now, I am using interdental sticks and mouthwash as well as brushing. Dentist also advised going three times a year for scale and polish, which I will do!
Believe me, with what it is costing, it will be very well looked after!

Dizzy_Ditzy

your original post could have been written by me!

i was going for implants, but long story short, i have now got a bridge with i am 99% thrilled with! i have my 2 front teeth and one other on a bridge which is brilliant, but because i now effectively have a lump of metal behind my front teeth, i am quite conscious of a slight lisp, even though other people say they cant tell the difference.

I got mine done at the dental hospital and it didnt cost me a thing.

get some superfloss- its 3 types of floss on one piece- a stronger end, a thicker middle and normal other end. You might find you need the thicker floss and the stronger end for flossing around the bridge. It takes some getting used to but its worth it :-)


And this year i will actually be smiling in my holiday photos! I dont think i ever have done :-O

Mrsscowie

Hi i am new to this so apologies if i post this in the wrong place x
I have a veneer on my top front tooth and think it was root canal treated too. The large filling at the back has broken off and the veneer is wobbling back and forth but still attached along the gum line. Have a dentist appt booked for 3 days away. I am terrified of going. What are the options?

Toothsmith

Mrsscowie wrote: »

Hi i am new to this so apologies if i post this in the wrong place x
I have a veneer on my top front tooth and think it was root canal treated too. The large filling at the back has broken off and the veneer is wobbling back and forth but still attached along the gum line. Have a dentist appt booked for 3 days away. I am terrified of going. What are the options?

Option 1.

Get loads of inaccurate guesses from people on a web site that can't see exactly what's happened here. Some of these guesses will probably terrify you, some will be overly optimistic.

Option 2.

Wait 3 days and get an accurate assessment based on what a proper dentist can actually see.

Option 3.

Try and get in ASAP and get the proper opinion even sooner.



My recommendation would be for option 3 if possible.

Whatever has gone wrong, I'm sure there'll be a way of fixing it, but just from that description, I don't have enough information to give a decent idea of what it might be.

belfastgirl23

Even my own dentist who I've been seeing for years won't hazard a guess about what's going on underneath one of my big old fillings which is a bit uncomfortable from time to time. He says really until you get in there you don't know what the story is. I think this goes double on a website Please do just try to see your dentist ASAP before you lose any more tooth - it's the one thing my dentist is very insistent on, that maintaining as much original tooth as possible is vital. if anything of yours is connected to original teeth then you certainly don't want to lose any of that!