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Original poster

Dental drama - what can I do?!

37 replies

hereismydog · 25/03/2025 10:30

Bit long and boring, sorry!

I lost a filling recently and had a temporary one done by an emergency dentist as it was quite painful (excellent service) and was advised to see my own dentist ASAP for a new permanent filling, she didn’t think I would need a root canal as it wasn’t deep.

I booked in with my dental surgery as advised and was seen yesterday by a ‘dental therapist’, which seems to be the dental equivalent of a physician associate. She took an X-ray and announced that she couldn’t do the filling because she thought it was too deep and that I needed to book in with a qualified dentist for a second opinion as I might need a root canal. She couldn’t book me in for this so asked me to speak to the receptionist, who couldn’t offer me anything prebookable until the end of May and told me to call at 8am today to ask for an emergency appointment. I called at 8am and was told I couldn’t have an appointment because I wasn’t in pain. I politely asked why I had been booked in with someone who could not undertake the treatment required and that I was concerned there was no continuity of care as I was being asked to sort it out myself, the receptionist was quite rude and snippy and told me that they had offered me an appointment and it ‘wasn’t her problem’ if I didn’t want to accept it. I explained that I was concerned the temporary filling wouldn’t last 8 weeks and that it would become an emergency that may cause me to lose my tooth entirely. She told me again that I couldn’t have an appointment because I wasn’t currently in pain. I asked if she was telling me I needed to suffer before they would resolve the mistake they made and she hung up on me 😯

This is quite stressful for me as I have quite bad dental phobia (they know this because it’s all over my records and I sometimes get a bit tearful just giving my name when I book in at the desk!) and I’m petrified of having to be in pain before they will help me. WIBU to lie and tell them I am in pain? I hate lying but I don’t know what else to do as I’m so worried I’ll end up losing my tooth altogether if I have to wait 8 weeks.

OP posts:
LatteLady · 25/03/2025 15:46

OK, @hereismydog you have been misinformed. A dental hygienist, although often qualified to take radiographs, is not qualified to fill teeth, their role is to show you how to clean teeth and to remove calculus and to clean teeth and polish teeth. Dental Auxilleries are allowed to fill primary dentition but are not permitted to give an ID block but may give very local anaesthetics, their work is under the supervision of a qualified dentist, they do not touch secondary dentition.

You need to ask for an appointment with a dentist for a filling... and yes, you are in pain as you have a temporary filling.

Northerngirl821 · 25/03/2025 15:40

Take the 8 week appointment. If the filling falls out or it starts to hurt in the meantime then you can phone for an emergency appointment instead.

I had a temporary crown last nearly a year!

Original poster
hereismydog · 25/03/2025 15:38

LollyLand · 25/03/2025 15:27

You might have been seen as argumentative and removed as a patient.

I always take what I am offered. My own appointment has been pushed back 5 weeks due to my dentist being away but I’ve sucked it up and thankfully I’m having no problems but I would just ring at 8am if I developed pain.

They record all their calls so if that is the case and the dental practice manager wants to listen to the recording, there would be no evidence of me being argumentative because I wasn’t 🤷🏼‍♀️

As far as I knew, I had booked an appointment to see a dentist as there was no mention of them using these cut-price ‘dental therapists’ when the original appointment was booked. I wanted to know why I had been booked in to see someone who was not qualified to treat me, and what they were going to do to ensure I could access the treatment I had asked for without having to wait to be in pain.

OP posts:
Mrbay · 25/03/2025 15:35

Temp filling should be fine for a good while, mines nearly 3 years and only now needing to be replaced.

LollyLand · 25/03/2025 15:27

You might have been seen as argumentative and removed as a patient.

I always take what I am offered. My own appointment has been pushed back 5 weeks due to my dentist being away but I’ve sucked it up and thankfully I’m having no problems but I would just ring at 8am if I developed pain.

statetrooperstacey · 25/03/2025 15:24

As long as you stay away from toffees the temp filling should last a good while. If it falls out then call them and take it from there. You’re not likely to loose your tooth.

Original poster
hereismydog · 25/03/2025 15:23

andHelenknowsimmiserablenow · 25/03/2025 15:17

Are you entitled to free NHS dentist treatment OP?
If not, could you consider going private instead for this? It costs so much for NHS treatment at the moment, I found it isn't so much more to go private, also it's a lot easier to get an appointment! They may also help more with your treatment anxiety.

I am at the moment as I’ve just had a baby. I had awful pregnancy gingivitis and brushing my teeth made me sick for most of my first trimester so my teeth aren’t in great shape at the moment, which is probably why my filling came out!

I might look at going private if they can’t/won’t sort it out, although when I went private before I saw a horrible dentist who treated me so nastily and spoke about me to DP in front of me like I was a child, saying I was being ridiculous and that DP would have to take me home if I didn’t calm down Sad I hate being so afraid of anything being done to my teeth as it’s so embarrassing, I really do try to keep a lid on it but sometimes I just can’t. The emergency dentist I saw last week was so lovely to me despite the fact I was sobbing while she had needles in my mouth!

OP posts:
itsleviosa · 25/03/2025 15:18

I would take the pre bookable one, then if the filling falls out, ring up and tell them

andHelenknowsimmiserablenow · 25/03/2025 15:17

Are you entitled to free NHS dentist treatment OP?
If not, could you consider going private instead for this? It costs so much for NHS treatment at the moment, I found it isn't so much more to go private, also it's a lot easier to get an appointment! They may also help more with your treatment anxiety.

NotHavingAFunTime · 25/03/2025 15:00

Pain isn’t even considered an emergency at our dental practice, I can’t imagine what is if they don’t consider being awake all night in agony to be worthy of emergency treatment!
Sorry op, that sounds awful, I hope you can get sorted.

Original poster
hereismydog · 25/03/2025 14:56

Hoppinggreen · 25/03/2025 10:31

I am sorry OP, sounds tough but NEVER EVER tell an NHS Dentist you aren't in pain.
Maybe it has now started hurting quite a lot?

I think it might have to suddenly start hurting 😫 I suppose the receptionist can’t just tell me she knows I’m lying, can she?! I just feel a bit icky about lying to them, even know it would only be a preemptive lie because it is going to start hurting for real soon, and the thought of losing the tooth terrifies me.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 25/03/2025 10:31

I am sorry OP, sounds tough but NEVER EVER tell an NHS Dentist you aren't in pain.
Maybe it has now started hurting quite a lot?

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