Private Dentist Ignoring Me

[Deleted User]

Hi, last year I had a tooth out by an nhs dentist and developed an abscess which turned into sepsis and I spent 3 weeks in intensive care. 

A recent check up revealed some serious problems with a number of upper teeth having fractures and loose probably due to the abscess. I was told I have to have a number of upper teeth extracted as they were unsafe. I felt I’m too young for dentures so it was suggested I get implants. I got recommendations and saw a private dentist who is also a lecturer and specialised in implants. The implants and bridge would be £7,500 so I got a loan and had many X-rays and scans of my teeth and had 2 consultations with the dentist and told him about my sepsis nightmare. We set a date and he sent me a prescription for antibiotics to start the day before.  The dentist was very good and made me feel at ease during the whole procedure which only lasted a couple of hours. In the days after I finished the antibiotics and I’m still swilling my mouth 3 times a day with Chlorhexidine? But then the day after I finished the antibiotics I woke with intense pain and discovered a large abscess across my gum where the implants are. I phoned the practice to ask to see him and explained what was wrong. I was asked to send in a photo but can’t get a decent one as I can’t move my lip. I heard nothing back and phoned the next day to be told the dentist had told the receptionist he’d phoned me and sorted it out! I hadn’t had any call or message from him and she acknowledged there was nothing on the surgery phone sent to me. I demanded to see the dentist but apparently there’s no dentists in today - only the reception staff. I reiterated my concern that I’m feeling hot but shivery and was told there’s nothing they can do until tomorrow lunchtime.
i decided to look up the dentist of the General Dental Council register only to find he’s working ‘under strict conditions’ but I don’t know why or what the conditions are. 

I’ll go to A&E if I feel any worse during the day but I’m so annoyed he said he’d phoned when he hadn’t. What should I do?

Aylesbury_Duck

As you say, your priority is your health so A&E is the place to go if things deteriorate but at this stage, get to see another dentist as an emergency appointment asap.

The matter of the private dentist is probably a longer-term game, I'm afraid.  Sort out the immediate problem and then worry about your consumer rights.

soolin

First things first, go to A and E now if you have concerns, don't wait as you'll have a long enough wait when you get there, make sure they understand your previous history with sepsis.

Others much more knowledgeable than me will be along later to offer other non medical advice as allowed on MSE , but this line worries me

 'i decided to look up the dentist of the General Dental Council register only to find he’s working ‘under strict conditions’ but I don’t know why or what the conditions are.'

It could be something or it could be nothing but the fact that the dentist has allegedly potentially lied about contacting you would raise a red flag. I would ensure that if you keep clear notes of dates and times you contact them, and also the same, together with a bullet point note of what was said' when you speak to someone, along with their name. 

Is  the dentist a sole worker at the clinic, have you asked whether he has any colleagues or partners that could see you? 

[Deleted User]

soolin said:

First things first, go to A and E now if you have concerns, don't wait as you'll have a long enough wait when you get there, make sure they understand your previous history with sepsis.

Others much more knowledgeable than me will be along later to offer other non medical advice as allowed on MSE , but this line worries me

 'i decided to look up the dentist of the General Dental Council register only to find he’s working ‘under strict conditions’ but I don’t know why or what the conditions are.'

It could be something or it could be nothing but the fact that the dentist has allegedly potentially lied about contacting you would raise a red flag. I would ensure that if you keep clear notes of dates and times you contact them, and also the same, together with a bullet point note of what was said' when you speak to someone, along with their name. 

Is  the dentist a sole worker at the clinic, have you asked whether he has any colleagues or partners that could see you? 

It’s a 1-dentist practice

Jumblebumble

This may help
ring 111
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist-in-an-emergency/
It is likely to be quicker and more efficient than hanging around in A and E for hours
During covid this was the only way to get an emergency appointment
Apart from kidney stones these tooth  abscesses are the most painful thing that ever happened to me and I really feel for you

[Deleted User]

Jumblebumble said:

This may help
ring 111
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist-in-an-emergency/
It is likely to be quicker and more efficient than hanging around in A and E for hours
During covid this was the only way to get an emergency appointment
Apart from kidney stones these tooth  abscesses are the most painful thing that ever happened to me and I really feel for you

It is very painful and you don’t realise how it affects you. I can’t drink or eat anything because it either stings like a b!tch or becomes very sore very quickly and i keep catching it with my tongue which also sends a shockwave through me. It started as the size of a 5p and is now the size of a 50p within half a day and it feels like when you go to the dentist and they put a roll of cotton wool between your teeth and gum. 

soolin

[Deleted User] said:

Jumblebumble said:

This may help
ring 111
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist-in-an-emergency/
It is likely to be quicker and more efficient than hanging around in A and E for hours
During covid this was the only way to get an emergency appointment
Apart from kidney stones these tooth  abscesses are the most painful thing that ever happened to me and I really feel for you

It is very painful and you don’t realise how it affects you. I can’t drink or eat anything because it either stings like a b!tch or becomes very sore very quickly and i keep catching it with my tongue which also sends a shockwave through me. It started as the size of a 5p and is now the size of a 50p within half a day and it feels like when you go to the dentist and they put a roll of cotton wool between your teeth and gum. 

Then forget about 'consumer rights' at the moment and seek immediate medical attention. You can worry about the private dentist later.

Voyager2002

First, seek immediate treatment as advised above.

Secondly, make contact again with the dentist's surgery. Be polite to the receptionist and make it clear that some misunderstanding has occurred, and you are still in pain and need treatment. See if they can get their act together and help you.

Thirdly, resolve to explore your consumer rights once you feel well again.

[Deleted User]

Thanks all for your helpful comments. My main concern is getting the abscess looked at and get on some antibiotics quickly before it develops into anything nasty. I couldn’t be nasty to the receptionists at the practice as they are so lovely and were really concerned. I will be having words with the dentist though especially as I’ve just read a review urging people to look up his name on the General Dental Register before having treatment (pity I didn’t see this last week) as it says he is registered with conditions and it seems he is supposed to only practice under supervision

Alderbank

So, complaints have been made by other patients about their treatment from your dentist and those complaints have been investigated and upheld by the General Dental Council. 

The GDC have decided he can only practice under the supervision of a practitioner appointed by the GDC. The supervisor does not need to be on-site and directly observe the supervised dentist's work, but the supervisor is responsible for the overall care of patients and retains ultimate accountability for patients' care.

You might want to discuss your treatment with the supervisor as well as with your dentist.

[Deleted User]

How do I find out who the supervisor is?  It says he has to have 2 face-to-face meetings per month with a supervisor and has to do monthly audits. There are 10 pages of conditions  which started in 2022 and have been reviewed and extended every year for the past 3 years. There is also something about having all radiographs scrutinised, all record-keeping scrutinised and claims for reimbursement of dentistry procedures from NHS England scrutinised. The rest of the pages are things like notifying anyone he works with about these conditions etc