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NHS dentist fobbing me off, or has he got a point?
Comments
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A '5' is a premolar. Upper ones can be single, or double rooted, but usually not especially difficult.
I would expect a dentist who is competent enough to actually qualify is competent enough to root fill an upper 5.
You are not under any 'contract' with the dentist you've seen, so you're fine to seek treatment elsewhere. It might be worthwhile to 'feedback' your experience here to the PCT though.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 -
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Toothsmith wrote: »We can't know that for sure without being able to see the tooth, and an x-ray of the tooth - so it's wrong to get judgemental and all emoticon without that.
It's hard not to be 'emotional' when people are being ripped off. I was told by my dentist that there weren't funds available and that I had to go private. That is rubbish. Dentists are contracted to the NHS to provide services. If they feel that the contract which was negotiated isn't suitable, then they need to take that up with the body that represented them during the negotiations. To rip people off in the meantime is just plain wrong. They need to provide what was agreed. Of course, there are good dentists providing good NHS services (and if anyone knows of one, please let me know!!!)
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Im getting root canal work done for £48 NHS on Dec 20th 2012.Never had it done before.I live in Yarm north east England.0
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It's hard not to be 'emotional' when people are being ripped off. I was told by my dentist that there weren't funds available and that I had to go private. That is rubbish. Dentists are contracted to the NHS to provide services. If they feel that the contract which was negotiated isn't suitable, then they need to take that up with the body that represented them during the negotiations. To rip people off in the meantime is just plain wrong. They need to provide what was agreed. Of course, there are good dentists providing good NHS services (and if anyone knows of one, please let me know!!!)
I agree with you completely, and I went totally private in 2006 rather than sign the hogs breakfast of an NHS contract we were presented with (the DoH actually stopped negotiating with our 'representatives' and imposed it)
It makes me very cross when dentists out there attract people in by saying they're NHS, but then flog private 'alternatives' that aren't a choice, but the only thing they're prepared to do!
I think if more dentists had refused to have anything to do with this system, then the DoH's only option would have been to renegotiate. But they didn't, and they help to perpetuate the myth that this country has a functional social dental care system - and despite there being some out there who still operate ethically within the system, it doesn't.
BUT - as recent events have shown all too clearly, just getting cross on Internet forums without all the evidence can become misleading in itself.
In this case, as more information has come out, it would seem like something naughty has been going on, but it was not obvious from the first post, so we need to be careful before we make judgements.
It also has to be said though that the way some PCTs treat dentists trying their best to provide a decent service can be equally despicable! It's almost as if dentistry is being forced out of the health service.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 -
Toothsmith wrote: »In this case, as more information has come out, it would seem like something naughty has been going on, but it was not obvious from the first post, so we need to be careful before we make judgements.
Can you explain this please toothsmith?0 -
A dentist treating an NHS patient should not imply that the NHS work will be of poorer quality than a private option in order to influence the patient to choose the private option.
In your first post you identified he tooth as 'A back one next to the wisdom tooth' which would be quite a tricky molar. If that were the case, then a referral to a specialist is a reasonable suggestion.
In a later post you identify it as an UL5. I assume you've read this off some sort of plan from the dentist you've already seen? If it is UL5, then it's a premolar (which is a bit further forward from the position you described initially), and it should be easily possible for a dentist of average competence to perform a successful root filling on this tooth.
Therefore, by suggesting that you would be better off seeing a specialist for this tooth - unless there was some particularly complicated root structure- was a bit naughty.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 -
Ah ok, I wondered if it was me being naughty in some way
To me it is at the back, as there is only one other tooth behind it.
I shall be exercising my rights next week.0 -
Toothsmith its all part of the big lie.
Are you trying to tell me NHS dentistry is as good as private?
If it is as good then why did you go private?
Maybe you should read
http://www.nhsdentistrythebiglie.co.uk/0 -
Ohhhh - no. I don't think you've been a naughty boy! Apart from letting your tooth get into a state where it needs a root filling!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
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