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AIBU?

AIBU to be upset that dentist took the wrong tooth out?

95 replies

AllDirections · 03/06/2014 10:40

Just had a horrible experience with DD2 (13) at the dentist. She was due to have 4 baby teeth removed on one side and then another 4 on the other side in a few weeks time. The dentist came into the room and didn't even know what we there for until he spoke to his assistant. He then suggested that he take all 8 teeth out which we agreed to.

DD2 had lots of injections and then he started removing teeth. I stopped him a couple of times when she obviously in severe pain and he gave her more injections. The whole thing was very traumatic, DD2 was distraught and the dentist refused to continue at one point and gave us 5 minutes alone. She nearly threw up (which has happened before) and then he carried on but he took out a tooth that the orthodontist wanted leaving in as the big tooth underneath is no good.

His rather arrogant attitude changed immediately and I could see the panic in his face. He asked if we wanted him to continue which of course we did otherwise DD2 would have had to go through it all again. He got his assistant to come back in and rechecked which teeth he still needed to remove. He mentioned to her that there would be no point trying to reimplant the tooth.

When it was over he kept asking if I wanted to talk about his mistake or make an appointment to talk about it or let the orthodontist deal with it. I just wanted to get D2 out of there so I said to let the orthodontist sort it out later. If he'd had a nice attitude throughout then I wouldn't be quite so upset but I think his arrogant manner and his lack of attention to detail caused his mistake. I'm really shaken up by watching what DD2 just went through so I'm not thinking clearly. I don't know whether to leave it or to make a complaint and I don't know who to complain to!

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CoffeeTea103 · 03/06/2014 10:43

Yanbu, your poor dd. I do think you should complain, sorry I'm not sure who to though.

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scarletforya · 03/06/2014 10:43

I would go ballistic. Yanbu.

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SomethingAboutNothing · 03/06/2014 10:46

That is disgusting behaviour for a dentist and you need to complain. If it was nhs then contact their complaints team who should guide you through the process. Your poor dd Sad

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APlaceInTheWinter · 03/06/2014 10:49

Definitely complain!

I'd be writing three letters:

  1. If there is a more senior dentist in the practice then complain to them.
  2. Send a letter of complaint to the dentist who made the mistake. Tell him you are also taking the complaint further
  3. If you are in the UK, you can also complain to the General Dental Council. They help to maintain standards.

    tbh I would't complain about his attitude (as that's subjective) but I would complain about him appearing rushed, not knowing enough about the patient, changing the planned procedure (from removing 4 to removing all 8 at the same time), and then removing a tooth by mistake.
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orangepudding · 03/06/2014 10:50

That's awful, your poor DD.

You certainly need to complain.

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orangepudding · 03/06/2014 10:50

www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1777.aspx?categoryid=74&subcategoryid=742 some details of where you can complain.

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AllDirections · 03/06/2014 10:55

We definitely won't be going back to that dentist again. DD2 seems to be recovering well but who knows what extra dental treatment she might need to compensate for his mistake. She has enough dental issues to deal with anyway.

I'm in a real state but trying to keep it together for DDs sake. I'm not normally emotional but I could really sob after watching all that happen.

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NiceCupOfTeaAndAPartyRing · 03/06/2014 10:55

YADNBU!!! Poor dd, hope she's feeling ok now at least.
You should definitely complain. Was it NHS or private?

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AllDirections · 03/06/2014 10:59

It was NHS so I will definitely complain. Thanks for the info APlace and the link Orange.

He is the senior dentist there, he might be the only fully qualified one actually. His assistant is lovely and the previous appointment was with her. His staff all seem scared of him.

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CiderLover · 03/06/2014 11:03

contact the person responsible for the practice complaints procedure

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Mordirig · 03/06/2014 11:07

YADNBU
However I am quite surprised that he thought 8 teeth in one go was suitable, I had 4 out in one go at 12yrs old before a brace was fitted and it was agony. Your poor DD Sad

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Gobbolinothewitchscat · 03/06/2014 11:09

My DH is a dentist. There should be a complaints procedure so I would phone the practice and ask for a copy of that. I would assume that there is a practice manager - they will deal with the complaint. It all sounds horrible.

The GDC will generally not consider a complaint until the complaint has been dealt with by the practice so best you send the complaint there first and given them a chance to investigate and respond.

I'm a bit confused about this as my reading of this is he only removed baby teeth? I am absolutely not a dentist and don't have any specialist dental knowledge. However, do you know why the orthodontist was advising that a baby tooth stayed in? It would always have fallen out in any event, eventually, whatever the condition of the tooth to come through. So that baby tooth wouldn't have been permanent

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BecauseIsaidS0 · 03/06/2014 11:09

8 teeth in one session is pure madness. I had six removed for my orthodontics and they did two sessions of three, and that was pretty horrid.

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LangenFlugelHappleHoff · 03/06/2014 11:11

This might sound odd but book another appointment with another dentist soon just for a check over.

mainly because as a child I had a bad experience with adentist and ddidn't go back for a long time. Now I'm terrified of all dentists and it is a huge problem every time I need even the smallest thing done.

Good luck with the complaint, obviously your/dds treatment was not on and it needs to be looked into.

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LangenFlugelHappleHoff · 03/06/2014 11:12

Sorry about the

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LangenFlugelHappleHoff · 03/06/2014 11:12

Typos..

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Gobbolinothewitchscat · 03/06/2014 11:15

8 teeth in one session is pure madness. I had six removed for my orthodontics and they did two sessions of three, and that was pretty horrid.

I just can't work out what happened re appointment times etc. as I have said above, I am absolutely not a dentist and have no specialist knowledge but I know that DH quite often refers children who need large numbers of extractions. But I don't know.

Plus, the guy must have booked at least, what, an hour out of his book to do this. So why was he confused as to what DD was there for?

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AllDirections · 03/06/2014 11:16

It was a baby tooth that was removed accidentally. DD1 (17) still has a baby tooth because there is no big tooth underneath. DD2 has the tooth underneath but on the Xray you can see that it hasn't formed properly. That's why the orthodontist wanted it leaving in. DD2's baby teeth are solid, they just won't come out even though she has most of her adult teeth already. So that baby tooth probably would have stood the test of time. But now it's gone Sad

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AllDirections · 03/06/2014 11:18

We were there for 30 mins Goblin

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Gobbolinothewitchscat · 03/06/2014 11:20

So that baby tooth probably would have stood the test of time. But now it's gone

Oh that's awful - poor you and poor DD. I really feel terrible for you both.

Just thinking about this, I think I would actually try and go to the orthodontist ASAP if I were you. I would ask him/her to give you (if you don't have it) a copy of his correspondence with the dentist where presumably he/she pointed this all out. Then, in your complaint, you can refer to that letter and enclose a copy

It might also make you both feel a bit better if you could discuss options with the orthodontist now.

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AllDirections · 03/06/2014 11:22

When the dentist came into the room he was asking DD2 how he could help and what we were there for. At first I thought he was just making conversation but it became obvious that he really didn't know. It should have rung alarm bells but I was too busy trying to make sure DD2 was ok. Bloody hell, I've really failed her. I feel like shit

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Gobbolinothewitchscat · 03/06/2014 11:25

all. No. You haven't. You're perfectly entitled to assume that a professional know what they are doing. You musn't think that you have.

You can really help with the aftermath now though. Do you think you could call the orthodontist now? I would really hope they might see you today so you can talk through what has happened and look at options etc

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PheasantPlucker · 03/06/2014 11:28

Crikey that's awful, your poor daughter and poor you

I do think you should take this further, it sounds horrendous all ways round

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SistersOfPercy · 03/06/2014 11:41

Eight in one go is way too many and dentist should never have agreed to that. Having two out is traumatic enough leaving you bruised and sore for days but eight? I feel for her I really do. She'll feel battered and bruised tomorrow I'll bet. I'd stock up on painkillers for her op.
Poor kid.

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orangepudding · 03/06/2014 11:43

You haven't failed your DD, the dentist failed her. He should have looked at her notes before starting treatment,

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