Dentist keeps challenging my nhs choices review?

[WombatStewForTea]

Over the last year I've had a shit run with my teeth and dentists. I feel I was treated badly by my last dentist.
I had months of unnecessary dental pain whilst I was referred to the dental hospital for tests which they said were totally unnecessary and sent me straight back. Then I had a tooth extracted only to be told afterwards that a root canal was an option but this wasn't offered as an option at the time. That probably wouldn't have bothered me as much but for the fact that I then had dry socket (granted not their fault) and a week of the worst pain I have ever experienced.
The final straw was when I was told I needed another extraction and when I challenged this time about a root canal I was explicitly told that I couldn't have a root canal for a molar on the NHS and I would need to go private as they "have better equipment". Never did the dentist say that they wouldn't perform one on the NHS, but that it couldn't be done. This was obviously bullshit as I found a new, amazing dentist who did the root canal and saved my tooth. I posted about it at the time and was told that dentists aren't allowed to recommend going private as they have better equipment as it's against their code of conduct.
Anyhoo, I left a negative review on nhs choices. Mine wasn't the only one. Then a few months ago I happened to check my junk email and I had an email from nhs choices saying the dentists were challenging my series of events and if I didn't respond to confirm my review would be deleted. It's only by luck I saw this and responded. When I checked back on the page every single other negative review was gone. NHS choices conformed my comment and it has stood. Until today. The dentist has challenged it again. They want me to contact them to "discuss it".

Aibu (and a bit of a wimp) to not want to get into it with the dental practise? I feel like they'll just deny everything and there's no proof of the comments she made about root canal and going private. I think I will have to contact them to end.

Any dentists on here, am I bu to have written a negative review about those issues? Maybe I am but I honestly feel they didn't do what was best for me, just what was more cost effective.

[DogMa1]

Not a dentist but I think you are not being unreasonable. They are trying to bully you into withdrawing your complaint. If no one complains then things don't get fixed! As a patient I think what you have done is great and you should be very proud of yourself. Just say that you do not wish to have any discussions with them and that you stand by your version of events.

[Sixweekstowait]

Complain to the GDC - keep the emails as part of the evidence. PM me if you want more info

[Sixweekstowait]

And yes- the dentists breached their professional standards

[zeezeek]

You are perfectly entitled to write what you want on NHS choices ( obviously keeping it professional etc). Complaining about an NHS contractor does not ever effect your treatment and so to threaten you is highly unprofessional and you need to report to the GDC.

[Mrsmorton]

Sorry, may have misread the OP. can't see where she's been threatened?

OP, if you stand by what you said and are happy for the practice to be put under the spotlight by the CQC and potentially lose their NHS contract then just reply and say exactly that. If you're telling the truth (which I'm certain you are) then of course YANBU to write the review and stick to your guns.

You could report them to the GDC, you won't personally achieve anything but the dentist may get suspended for several months while they decide whether to investigate or not. They may then lose their career.
Again, if you think that's the right thing to do to protect people then YWNBU to do it.

[Marynary]

If your review was truthful I would leave it at that. Do not contact them or discuss it with them.

[VimFuego101]

YANBU, and it makes a bit of a joke out of the ability to 'review' a dentist if they are allowed to challenge and have any bad ones removed.

I wouldn't bother to contact the dentist to discuss - the most I would do is to write back to them and state that I stood behind what I had said, based on a second opinion from another dentist who managed to do the procedure that they'd claimed was impossible.

[Mrsmorton]

The issue is that dentists have no right of reply on the site. I got a bad review for not seeing someone who was drunk and abusive at my emergency clinic. His mum thought we should have been bending ourselves out of shape to fix the cosmetic problem he'd caused by fighting.

I couldn't say that as his name was on the review and it would have breached his confidentiality.

I could have contacted him to discuss my failings but instead added it to the pile of reasons I used to make a career change and not run the emergency clinic any more.

Some patients are vindictive and it's right that we can challenge them and it's also right that they can stand by their comments if they're true.

[WombatStewForTea]

I haven't been threatened. I'm just worried that if I contact the dentist then they will make me out to be in the wrong and deny it happened. In which case what's the point of contacting them.

I've no desire to make a formal complaint about the dentist or the practice itself.

If I'm honest I've questioned whether the dentist did anything wrong and that maybe they are allowed to say that certain treatments aren't available etc. That's what is stopping me from complaining.