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Original poster

Why do people attend routine dental appointments when they’re really ill??

96 replies

DontWantToGetSick · 23/12/2025 10:27

I’m a dental hygienist. It’s two days before Christmas. Just had a patient in who I could hear coughing and spluttering before I even called them in. (Busy waiting room so I’m sure all the other patients loved that). Asked them if they are ok when I called them in, they said yes but feel like crap. Really sore throat, slight temperature, feel achy etc. I suggested we should rebook the appointment in the new year. Nope! Patient has a New Year’s party and they need their teeth clean for that! If I won’t see them they’ll write a complaint in as they’ve had this booked for months and I’m “not allowed to discriminate”. Lovely. So yes I can wear a mask, as we all know from Covid times they aren’t fully protective esp when you’re only 6 inches from someone’s face and they are coughing directly at you for a full half an hour. Not to mention the residual aerosol in the air for the next patient or two. That’ll be nice for me and everyone else to get sick just at Christmas. Merry Christmas.

OP posts:
BoarBrush · 23/12/2025 20:15

Our dentist asks us on the reminder call the day before if we or anyone we live with have cold, flu, or covid symptoms and they'll reschedule no problem.

If you cancel a lot barring actual disabilities etc then you should be dropped quite rightly.

Daaaaahling · 23/12/2025 20:05

I cancelled my routine dental appointment when I was unwell out of consideration for the dentist, and as a result the practice removed me from their NHS list and blacklisted me from ever signing up as an NHS patient with them again. So, that's one reason.

AgnesX · 23/12/2025 20:05

I feel like hell on 2 feet and cancelled mine today. The next appt is mid Feb. That's probably why people turn up.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 23/12/2025 20:02

Our Nhs dentist always says not to attend if unwell. They don’t charge either.

winterbluess · 23/12/2025 19:58

I've cancelled before for this reason and been warned I'm getting a black mark against my name 🙄

Daftypants · 23/12/2025 19:52

I recently cancelled a dental appointment which wasn’t routine ,it was for necessary work .
I wasn’t coughing but felt generally unwell so phoned then the day before and told them
Now they can’t see me for absolutely ages and I have a very sensitive tooth 😭

motherofdragons11 · 23/12/2025 19:45

I honestly think that dental treatment is that hard to get, and people are genuinely scared of losing their place on the patient list that many feel obliged to attend.

Sorry you have to deal with this, right on top of Christmas.

Elmspringwater · 23/12/2025 19:41

Well this didnt go how op thought it would go.

beAsensible1 · 23/12/2025 19:09

because it takes 6 months to get a new one

Blipette · 23/12/2025 19:08

When I got the flu, my first symptoms was at 2am and by 7am I could hardly get out of bed. If I had a dental appointment and rang at 9am to tell them I’d be charged.

GAJLY · 23/12/2025 18:31

ffsrealy · 23/12/2025 10:44

Because you charge us the full price of the appointment if we cancel, you charge through the earth and remove people from your books if we don’t come to appointments.

Exactly this👆🏻
I saw a lady come into the dentist to explain that she was unwell with flu, and could she postpone the appointment. She looked like death. The receptionist replied, no and that she’d have to still pay. The lady said she’d stay for the appointment. The receptionist watched her blow her nose and cough, then changed her mind and postponed her appointment!

pollymere · 23/12/2025 18:22

My dentist is covered in horrific warnings of being de-registered and being charged if you don't cancel with enough warning. And I think you're only allowed two cancellations before being de-listed... Maybe this is why?

Butchyrestingface · 23/12/2025 12:05

Cadenza12 · 23/12/2025 11:49

I've been thinking the same thing. Some eople are just inconsiderate.

Are you still wondering this even after posters have repeatedly stated the same reasons on the thread?

Cadenza12 · 23/12/2025 11:49

I've been thinking the same thing. Some eople are just inconsiderate.

DriveVerySlowlyPastNumber23IWantThemToSeeMyHat · 23/12/2025 11:42

Why? Because at my dentist, if we cancel with such short notice due to illness, we're charged full price AND threatened with being banned.

Elmspringwater · 23/12/2025 11:39

I cancelled an appointment 24 hours before said appointment once because I woke with the flu.
I got knocked off the list told to find a new dentist.

Got new dentist they cancelled an appointment due to staff being unwell, but I got the blamed for cancelling it, and got k locked off the list.
Even though I had proof I didnt cancell.

I now have a wonderful dentist after years of being in pain.
I could be dieing and still walk in for my appointment, as I can't afford to be knocked off again.

JHound · 23/12/2025 11:25

My dentist charges for cancellations within 48 hours.

So if I fell sick within this window I would still show up.

madaboutpurple · 23/12/2025 11:19

I would do my best to re-arrange appointment as I don't like to go anywhere if I am ill but I understand I might get charged.. Luckily we are treated with great consideration as DH was once left in agony by a dentist that didn't get their contract renewed and DH got free treatment as the manager admitted he could have sued and that would have cost a fortune .We get treated very nicely when we go along.

vanillalattes · 23/12/2025 11:19

SillyNavyTiger · 23/12/2025 11:16

neither are the answer, so what is?

Don't charge, people mess you around
You charge, they turn up sick

So what's the solution?

Show quote history

I’m not claiming to know all the answers, just pointing out that the system isn’t working the way it is.

SillyNavyTiger · 23/12/2025 11:16

vanillalattes · 23/12/2025 11:05

But it’s clearly not the answer because then people like OP’s patient turn up when they should clearly be at home in bed.

Show quote history

neither are the answer, so what is?

Don't charge, people mess you around
You charge, they turn up sick

So what's the solution?

MrsSkylerWhite · 23/12/2025 11:12

DontWantToGetSick · 23/12/2025 10:48

Well I’m aiming to be out of dentistry within the next year anyway. I’ve had enough!

That’s such a shame. Why? I don’t know much about the profession but the hours, for example, and salaries seem pretty good. Is it just the patients?

Butchyrestingface · 23/12/2025 11:11

ffsrealy · 23/12/2025 10:44

Because you charge us the full price of the appointment if we cancel, you charge through the earth and remove people from your books if we don’t come to appointments.

Yes this. My main motivator however would be the fact it takes MONTHS to get a new appointment.

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 23/12/2025 11:10

Because you would get struck off the list- at least at my practice

Housewife2010 · 23/12/2025 11:08

I was booked in for a filling last year. Cost of £200. I had a bad cold & cough so rang up the day before to tell them & see if I could rebook. I was told that if I cancelled I would still be charged £100 so I had to go. I would definitely have preferred to cancel. It was very difficult to suppress my cough!

Onelifeonly · 23/12/2025 11:05

DontWantToGetSick · 23/12/2025 10:56

Well as I said I’m hopefully going to be changing career soon. I would much prefer a job with a salary and other benefits. Instead I don’t get sick pay, holiday pay, pension, I don’t get paid if a patient doesn’t turn up or cancels, I get complaints if I come in sick or turn someone away who is sick, I got complaints even when I took time off for my mums funeral, and I have no control over how or when the patient pays. I only get 30% of what the patient pays, and I get ZERO of any deposit they pay or the fee they pay if they don’t turn up. I only get paid for a patient I actually treat (and who pays. They walk out within paying or refuse to, I just worked for free).

Guess that's why they keep telling me I need to return in 3 months. I once left it 4 years and the appointment only took slightly longer than usual, with no teeth falling out or any significant gum issues in the meantime.