Mounth in agony - dentist can't see me for a week - what can I do?

hflower74

Im not worried about the colour of my teeth at all, im just worried that my gums are receeding! My dentist has never said i have gum disease but i really have no confidence in him, when i ask a question he just ums and ahs and never really has the answers.
He wanted to cap one of my teeth the last time i went as i had been having sesitivity when eating sweet things, i cancelled the appointment because i was unsure that it was just that tooth that was causing the sensitivity as the other side was quite painful too. When i asked whether capping that tooth would sort the problem he said 'fingers crossed'. £75 is alot of money for fingers crossed!!

alison999

HC wrote: »

I wasn't registered with a dentist. I hadn't been for more than ten years - too terrified.

A couple of months ago I experienced appalling pain that had me almost climbing the walls.

Eventually I rang a local surgery, and was seen half an hour later. The dentist was absolutely lovely and not only have I registered with her, but I've gone back four times for check-ups and fillings.

Some dental surgeries are staffed by caring people who don't just see dentistry as a 'job', thank heavens.

Excuse me for having a opinion. I do care about patients, in fact a older lady was in today and is writing a letter about how "caring" I am BUT as its already been said it IS a job and if we saw everyone that wanted to be seen we'd be there all day and night, if we/i can help people than i will be there are only so many appointments available.

Toothsmith

hflower74 wrote: »

Im not worried about the colour of my teeth at all, im just worried that my gums are receeding! My dentist has never said i have gum disease but i really have no confidence in him, when i ask a question he just ums and ahs and never really has the answers.
He wanted to cap one of my teeth the last time i went as i had been having sesitivity when eating sweet things, i cancelled the appointment because i was unsure that it was just that tooth that was causing the sensitivity as the other side was quite painful too. When i asked whether capping that tooth would sort the problem he said 'fingers crossed'. £75 is alot of money for fingers crossed!!

Maybe time to look around at what else is available?

HC_2

alison999 wrote: »

Excuse me for having a opinion. I do care about patients, in fact a older lady was in today and is writing a letter about how "caring" I am BUT as its already been said it IS a job and if we saw everyone that wanted to be seen we'd be there all day and night, if we/i can help people than i will be there are only so many appointments available.

I appreciate that, Alison. I wasn't implying you're not a caring dentist. I'm quite sure you are, and you've certainly been extremely helpful in answering questions on this thread. It's always so nice to have a professional who can give us the proper answers to our questions.

But your posts have seemed so passionate, indeed so very angry, and peppered with shouting capitals.

If you read my posts you'll see that I have never demanded treatment, despite being a dentist's worst patient - a near-phobic who seeks dental treatment only when in severe pain. I could hug my dentist every time I see her, because she has given me the courage to return to her for treatment. I imagine you've had some unpleasant experiences with demanding patients and I appreciate that the juggling must be very difficult.

alison999

HC wrote: »

I appreciate that, Alison. I wasn't implying you're not a caring dentist. I'm quite sure you are, and you've certainly been extremely helpful in answering questions on this thread. It's always so nice to have a professional who can give us the proper answers to our questions.

But your posts have seemed so passionate, indeed so very angry, and peppered with shouting capitals.

If you read my posts you'll see that I have never demanded treatment, despite being a dentist's worst patient - a near-phobic who seeks dental treatment only when in severe pain. I could hug my dentist every time I see her, because she has given me the courage to return to her for treatment. I imagine you've had some unpleasant experiences with demanding patients and I appreciate that the juggling must be very difficult.

lol @ me being a dentist, i'm a front line receptionist and therefore the one that takes all the abuse from patients. i think my posts are passionate b/c im passionate about my job, ive been doing it for years and am very good at it (if i do say so myself) but it is a very very frustrating job where a lot of days you cant please anyone. i appreciate that not all patients are difficult and demanding but many of "them" are. for instance a few years ago we had a patient that needed a tooth out, the dentist offered to do it there and then but the patient was too busy, we offered him a appointment for the next day but the patient was too busy again, the next appointment was two weeks away. he went away saying he cant wait that long and will take it out himself! he then was on local tv saying he couldnt get a appintment! many patients want to be seen urgently, when there problem is not a emergency at all. chipped teeth, lost fillings, recement crowns.... they may need doing soon, but not necesarily that day. people ring and say, it'll take 10 minutes, it'll take him five minutes, but all these minutes that, in reality do not exist add up. it may sound selfish when i said that we miss our dinner hour (some days we only get 1/2 hour) but after having my ear bitten off most of the morning i need my dinner break!

HC_2

alison999 wrote: »

lol @ me being a dentist, i'm a front line receptionist and therefore the one that takes all the abuse from patients. i think my posts are passionate b/c im passionate about my job, ive been doing it for years and am very good at it (if i do say so myself) but it is a very very frustrating job where a lot of days you cant please anyone. i appreciate that not all patients are difficult and demanding but many of "them" are. for instance a few years ago we had a patient that needed a tooth out, the dentist offered to do it there and then but the patient was too busy, we offered him a appointment for the next day but the patient was too busy again, the next appointment was two weeks away. he went away saying he cant wait that long and will take it out himself! he then was on local tv saying he couldnt get a appintment! many patients want to be seen urgently, when there problem is not a emergency at all. chipped teeth, lost fillings, recement crowns.... they may need doing soon, but not necesarily that day. people ring and say, it'll take 10 minutes, it'll take him five minutes, but all these minutes that, in reality do not exist add up. it may sound selfish when i said that we miss our dinner hour (some days we only get 1/2 hour) but after having my ear bitten off most of the morning i need my dinner break!

I did wonder if you were indeed a dentist as you talked about the appointment system so vehemently but I didn't like to risk offence by implying anything else. (You're a scary lady!) In any case, you clearly have a lot of knowledge, and I'm sure we all appreciate your helpful replies.

I'm shocked that you receive abuse from patients. Surely a word with the dentist in question would be in order...? (Shudder)

alison999

HC wrote: »

I did wonder if you were indeed a dentist as you talked about the appointment system so vehemently but I didn't like to risk offence by implying anything else. (You're a scary lady!) In any case, you clearly have a lot of knowledge, and I'm sure we all appreciate your helpful replies.

I'm shocked that you receive abuse from patients. Surely a word with the dentist in question would be in order...? (Shudder)

we do but the dentists hide in the surgery (even though its their "rules" that we're implementing) and the patients that are rude to us are never rude to the dentists - its like they think we dont communicate with them. and im not a scary lady lol like i said in another post a old lady is writing to my manager to tell her how nice and brilliant i am (lol)