Dentist said he'd report me

Please report the dentist and demand that a trust has learning disabilities awareness training. This is unacceptable

It’s interesting that the poll shows that only 4% think the OP is unreasonable. Well, that’s a very vocal 4%!

Personally, I say YANBU, OP. I remember having braces in my teens. If I’d been asked whether I would like braces, I might have said no. But I wasn’t asked, I was told that they were needed to straighten my teeth. I accepted the word of the dentist and agreed to it.

I think it’s too much responsibility on a 13 year old to be asked whether they consent to have braces. The dentist should have taken time to explain to the OP’s DS why braces were necessary, and he would have agreed to it. The OP actually said that he had agreed that he would wear a brace. He was just answering the question he’d been asked in a literal way.

GDC are absolutley not the body to contact here. The practice are the first port of call. If the practice receives a complaint about a clinician - the clinician will usually be advised to speak with their indemnifier to draft a letter explaining why something happened or apologising for what happened.
If you are not satisfied after this, then NHS England. The GDC is reserved for the most serious cases. Think fraud, sexual misconduct, very poor clinical work, things that risk a patients health or their colleagues.
I’m not sure you’re aware how much damage an unjustified GDC referral can cause a clinician. People have committed suicide whilst waiting for hearings. They’re an overly aggressive regulator, though recently are trying to be more balanced in the way they govern dentists

I would report the dentist! And say you want the braces, but with another dentist for reasons stated in your report.

That’s awful. Definitely make a complaint and pursue. And try to move dentists?

Incidentally, my friend’s son with ADHD has some similar teeth to what you describe and their dentist was rude to her about it as if it was her fault.

The GDC governs dentists - General Dental Council, it is their regulatory and statutory body, similar to the GMC for doctors and the GNC for nurses.
It would be pointless reporting him to the practice manager, as they are probably an employee of the practice and the dentists, there to ensure that the practice runs smoothly. The practice manager has no jurisdiction over the dentists. If you feel so strongly then the GDC is the body to contact, or indeed, as someone has already mentioned, PALS if your son is an NHS patient.

The guidance also states that professionals and parents should work together on this to achieve best outcome, this does not appear to have happened.

I feel really sorry for you op. Please complain!!

I remember being asked if I wanted braces by the orthodontist at age 15, I said ‘no’ and he encouraged me to have them. This guy is completely out of order, threatening to report you!

This dentist should have given you space and time to speak to your son so he could process what you discussed.If anyone needs reporting its the dentist for lack of understanding.

I understand your frustration but braces and asd can be a horrendous combination.
One of my sons got them and quite frankly he thought he was being tortured. It was a distressing experience for all involved.

My other son needs them but i am waiting until he really wants them and really understands that it is painful from time to time and uuncomfortable most of the time and that he needs to be rigorous in his oral hygiene.
13 yo with asd may be too young.

The dentist has discriminated against him because of his disability - he knew about the boy's needs but failed to make reasonable adjustments. I suspect the dentist thought the boy would be 'difficult' because of his communication needs and just didn't want the hassle. It is appalling.

Then the OP needs to stop posting here and raise a concern about this. Time is of the essence.

Do you have any experience of neurodiversity? Because you don't sound like you do.

Some people take questions very very literally. They literally don't understand what you mean if you don't phrase it exactly right. That means, in this circumstance, that the son was not able to consent/withhold consent.

The dentist has discriminated against him because of his disability - he knew about the boy's needs but failed to make reasonable adjustments. I suspect the dentist thought the boy would be 'difficult' because of his communication needs and just didn't want the hassle. It is appalling.

Shocked!! I'm so sorry that you are going through this,it's ridiculous!!! You have to politely take it further,I'm sure online will have the chain of people to contact...after you explaining, he should have took a few minutes to chat with your son. My daughter had braces five years ago,she was never asked.And even if it's now protocol, there has to be some common sense around surely. You explained, another chat should have took place if he didn't want to take your word for it...there surely must be some protocol to for patients with extra needs...my son has autism, luckily his current dentist is good with him,and explains everything she's going to do...Please do search for where to talk about the situation to take it further. Good luck

I get that. But he needs them. Would he 'like' them? Of course not, why would anyone. They would rather just have been born with straight teeth.

For dentist to threaten OP in this manner is bang out of order.

That is rediculous, he asked the wrong question. Nobody “wants” to have braces. Don’t be scared about being reported - let him report you. But you should take this further as it will be too late in 5 years. I think you have been unlucky with this dentist, obviously he needs to get consent but he hasn’t asked in the right way and a different dentist would probably deal with the situation in a different way.

If OP want to make a disability discrimination claim, she’ll need to show DS's impairment meets the Equality Act’s definition of disability.

However, she wants to go down that route, that's her choice

That sounds like an a**hole of a dentist and totally unreasonable on his part. I would certainly be complaining about his lack of professionalism and understanding around your son. He has nothing to report you for unless you were aggressive or rude ( which it doesn't sound like you were!) .

I could very easily be you in a few years with Autistic DS...

Is there any mileage in, maybe with GP support (that's probably insane but there might be someone helpful) helping your DS to write to the dentist/practice manager?

If he said words to the effect, "I am autistic and I don't want to be denied treatment due to my communication differences. I want to have this treatment but you asked me if I would like it not if I wanted to have it. Liking something means .... to me so I said no but I do want to have the treatment. "

Just thinking perhaps there's a slightly more ameliorative way to approach the situation

Obviously ignore me completely if this isn't helpful. Good luck (from the midst of an EHCP nightmare)🍀

Your son would pass the gillick competency tests as having adhd and autism doesn’t stop him from knowing his own mind and being able to make informed decisions. I work in a dental surgery and can tell you the dentist is following the rules. You can ask to be referred to a different practice

Hi @Shmee1988 was this a high street dentist with an NHS contract or an NHS only CDS community dental service dentist? That is referral only. Sounds with his needs that your son should be with CDS for this care, it also sounds like your DS dentist is trying to bounce him. You can and should complain with the GDC, that dentist has NOT shown he’s aware of the Oliver McGowan training as a minimum and has breached the standards required of him. You should also complain and ask for a different dentist if competent of the practice partner owners, and you should absolutely complain to your ICB and NHSE commissioners who manage this contract. Other dentists would be happy to be paid to deliver this care, sounds like their contract should be revoked to me. Your MP may also be interested

If a patient isn’t super keen and motivated braces can be a total disaster - I’ve seen cases where the patient hasn’t been motivated with cleaning and ends up stopping half way with holes in every tooth!

the orthodontist has been super sensible!

It does feel a lot like ‘well this will cut the waiting list down a bit’ doesn’t it?

Surely most teenagers if asked if they’d like braces would say no! But that isn’t what informed consent is! Informed consent is discussing the pros and cons and allowing a young person to take time to consider their decision. Not saying ‘well you’ve said no once so you’re off the list’ ffs!

It not the dentist's job to make assumptions based on their own unclear language and refuse necessary treatment either but it doesn't seem to be stopping them.

He just couldn't be arsed with the work. I bet if you paid him private price, he wouldnt be turning you away with such haste.