AIBU to complain after NHS dentist did filling for my 16 year-old?

But from the OP he went in for a check up, not expecting treatment. He felt pressured to consent, that is not legitimate informed consent.

If a woman was saying she went to the GPs and felt pressured to consent to a smear test the response would be very different.

But how would you and all these people know you didn’t need the procedures?

Unless you get a second opinion or third opinion then how would you know that a medical professional who has trained for 5 years and practiced for many more is wrong.

Obviously some are more cautious than others but I’d say it’s way more likely to be the opposite saying that you don’t need treatment when it’s free on the NHS, than saying that you do need treatment.
Like normal healthcare, you hear a lot of stories about the people not being taken seriously but very, very rare being given the wrong treatment.

With my DC we came up with an excuse of what she could say if ever in a similar situation.

I feel sorry for DS if he felt pushed into it but I assume the dentist assumed he was able to give consent if his mum felt confident allowing him to go alone.

GPs and hospitals are ripped apart usually because they dismiss symptoms.

If DS went in complaining of toothache and the dentist dismissed it, then we’d be saying that it was unprofessional etc.

There was a thread about an emergency dentist refusing to see the OPs son because it wasn’t bleeding and every single person said how ridiculous it was and no one stuck up for the dentist.

I find it really interesting that GPs and hospital staff are regularly ripped apart on this forum but you can’t entertain the thought that a dentist could ever be wrong. I did 11 years of training for my career, but I can admit that I am sometimes wrong. Human nature isn’t it.

With regards to my experience one was that twenty years ago I was told I needed a wisdom tooth extraction and the dentist could do it there and then. Like OP’s son I felt uncomfortable about that, said i was busy and didn’t rebook. 20 odd years later and I’ve never had a single problem with my wisdom teeth, never needed an extraction and it’s never been mentioned by any of the many dentists I’ve seen in the intervening years. So though I haven’t specifically sought out a second opinion, and even without a degree in dentistry, I feel confident to say that had I had the surgery that day it would’ve been unnecessary. His motivation for his advice? No idea! Genuinely thought it was best practice? Bored? Fairly newly qualified and wanted the experience? I can’t answer that.

I’m not lying or a conspiracy theorist. I can remember three occasions where I’ve been advised I need dental treatment that wasn’t necessary. Over the past twenty plus years I’ve had odd conversations with others who have similar stories. Obviously these are anecdotes and I have not way of going back and verifying claims but that’s not how conversations work unless you’re on Mumsnet.

How would you know whether it was necessary or not? Do you have the 7 years training to become a dentist, plus the however many years experience? You can only know that one said it was necessary and one didn’t. You cannot know which one was right. Or maybe it’s subjective anyway, or the one who said it was necessary was right, but you’ve just been lucky to not have any further problems, yet. You don’t know.

I’m not lying or a conspiracy theorist. I can remember three occasions where I’ve been advised I need dental treatment that wasn’t necessary. Over the past twenty plus years I’ve had odd conversations with others who have similar stories. Obviously these are anecdotes and I have not way of going back and verifying claims but that’s not how conversations work unless you’re on Mumsnet.

Dentists do not profit when it comes to free NHS treatment- that’s why so many go private and it’s so difficult to get an NHS dentist.

There is literally no benefit to a dentist doing this.
No one would choose to do a procedure and do extra work, instead of having an extra break or catching up on paperwork etc.

And this isn’t a fun, rare procedure - it was a standard filling that dentists do almost every day of their lives.

You and your family/friends sound like conspiracy theorists because it means every single one of you would have to go to the dentist and then go to 2 more dentists to get their opinions (you would need at least 2 more opinions as the 2nd dentist could be ‘lying’ too) - no one would go to multiple dentists unless it was a big, risky procedure.

Sorry but you are lying if you say that you and your family/friends have all regularly got the opinion of at least 3 dentists for every procedure they suggest.

But when you go to the dentist you KNOW that there is a chance of having some sort of procedure.

It’s like going to the gp or A&E - if you have a problem they’re going to run possibly quite intrusive tests and give you treatment.

As a parent, you would speak to your child beforehand and discuss what might happen.

If you don’t think your child can consent then you go in with them.

This is on OP for not preparing her son.

What’s next - complaining that the nurse at A&E put someone’s broken arm in a cast because they were out of it on pain relief?

We can only go by what OP has said, that’s the nature of MN/social media. She says son felt pressured into having the procedure. Pressurised consent is not informed consent. You know that. Obviously we know most dentists understand how to consent someone for procedures, but we also know that some healthcare professionals (like everyone) are just a bit rubbish at their jobs. And others enjoy procedures for whatever reason and will do them anyway.

As an HCP you will know that we can cut through the crap of this post and say this -

Consent is not valid if the following apply. And if they do apply (which only OPs son and the dentist will know) then a complaint is absolutely appropriate.

• patient felt pressured to consent
• patient did not understand the risks/benefits (this is different to dentist did not explain risks/benefits, and I wonder whether the dentist documented that the checked understanding rather than just explained.
• patient did not know of, or understand, alternative options available (which can include watch and wait, composite, rebook for amalgam another time)

Anything else is unhelpful waffle. The above, if present, would form the basis of any complaint.

I’m think you’re being a bit naive. Ask around, plenty of people will give examples of dentists who have inappropriately recommended fillings. I don’t know the benefit, payment? Practice bonus scheme? Power? Who knows? But I would say it’s not a rare occurrence just from chats I’ve had with family/friends regarding just this over the years.

I do actually - and have more than my fair share of fillings. My point still stands.
And dentists get paid more for doing a filling than for a checkup so yes there will be some (a minority) that will do things needlessly.

100% different and you know it.

Indeed. Let’s burn her at the stake for not realising this might happen.

100% different and you know it.

Same if a 16 year old girl wants to go on the pill? They should check with her parents and discuss options with them because she might not understand?

Indeed. Let’s burn her at the stake for not realising this might happen.

Then maybe it would've been an idea to actually discuss this possible scenerio before going to the dentist. At least say " don't agree to anything you are not 100% about u til you've talked to.kw"

Do you not understand how decay works?

We can only go by what OP has said, that’s the nature of MN/social media. She says son felt pressured into having the procedure. Pressurised consent is not informed consent. You know that. Obviously we know most dentists understand how to consent someone for procedures, but we also know that some healthcare professionals (like everyone) are just a bit rubbish at their jobs. And others enjoy procedures for whatever reason and will do them anyway.

As an HCP you will know that we can cut through the crap of this post and say this -

Consent is not valid if the following apply. And if they do apply (which only OPs son and the dentist will know) then a complaint is absolutely appropriate.

• patient felt pressured to consent
• patient did not understand the risks/benefits (this is different to dentist did not explain risks/benefits, and I wonder whether the dentist documented that the checked understanding rather than just explained.
• patient did not know of, or understand, alternative options available (which can include watch and wait, composite, rebook for amalgam another time)

Anything else is unhelpful waffle. The above, if present, would form the basis of any complaint.

I’m a dentist. I commented already early in the thread. However it’s been such an interesting discussion that I can’t help myself and want to come back to address a few points that have been made. all are valid by the way!!!

why on earth should the dentist be asked to cover the cost of the white filling? There is absolutely no reason to request this. The dentist had a patient in the chair, was of the legal age to consent.

We don’t know because the OP has not come back to the thread but hopefully the dentist has taken good notes and possibly radiographs. you can diagnose caries without the need for radiographs and it’s always best to only take them if really necessary. But they do help to justify decisions in cases like this.

I would assume a conversation took place. I would hope that the reason a filling was required would have been explained and documented. Options would have been given. The OP needs to establish that all of this occurred before becoming “fuming”

The dentist will not have profited from this procedure at all, ( added this as a few posters have suggested this) The reason they offered to this straight away was just that this was the most efficient use of time.

a private white filling would have been more than £100 most likely. Personally I would have advised a 16 year old to have a think and come back another time when they could have a chat with mum, who would be the one paying. But I still don’t think the dentist did anything wrong.

regarding the comments about amalgam on this thread. Dentists have been using versions of amalgam for two hundred years. Yes, of course there are issues around mercury toxicity but modern amalgam is not toxic to humans, else why would it still be used? Modern amalgam is encapsulated, fast setting, uses high volume aspiration, safe disposal measures and good ventilation to remove and place safely. Plus it’s great! Easy to use, works well and can often last up to 30 years with no issues!!

The main concern with amalgam is quite rightly the environmental impact. See the Minimata convention. It has already been banned in the EU and has been phased down with the plan to remove completely by 2034. I’ll be retired by then!
The issue really just now is to find a cheap, hard wearing alternative. Composite ( white) fillings are very expensive, slower and technically challenging to place, don’t last as long as amalgam and are not suitable for very large cavities. The government are concerned how to incorporate posterior composite fillings into the NHS and how that will work.

But back to the OP, it is worth providing feedback to the practice. I would maybe speak directly to the practice manager rather than relying on ChatGPT. I would ask for the facts first, however they may be unwilling to speak to you without your son’s consent. Advise them in future it is best practice when faced with any 16 year old, to give them the option of a white filling, and that they should suggest to the patient to check with the bill payer! However also acknowledge that you weren’t actually there, and in hindsight, the situation arose because of that reason.

ps I have two full time trainee dental
nurses working alongside me in practice. They are hardworking, sensible and can make decisions for themselves really well. I don’t need to phone their mums before arranging their hep B vaccination. I trust them to be able to make informed decisions regarding their own health