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Injured by dentist, what should I do now?

12 replies

Seasidetrains · 04/05/2021 14:41

So i finally took the plunge with getting clear aligners (invisalign) and had my appointment on Sat morning to fit the attachments. The lower teeth attachemnts went on fine, but on the upper teeth the dentist squired something in my mouth that immediately started burning and stinging. Looking back I should have said something, but I was lying back with my mouth open, wasn't sure if it was normal, etc... and then was just in pain and waiting for it to end. Afterwards my mouth was visibly swollen (trout pout) and he seemed surprised and told me to rinse it with water and said it might be an allergy. By Sat evening it was obvious that whatever he put in my mouth had caused sores/burns, so I have burns and crusting on the edges of my mouth, an ulcer on my lip and another very painful ulcer on my tonsil where whatever it was dripped backwards into my mouth. I left phone messages for the surgery over the weekend but obvs no one was there. Couldn't eat on Sat eve, had to have smoothie for dinner. He called me this morning and was very apologetic and asked to see me. At the appt he said it's never happened before and he has no idea how it happened this time. Gave me a prescription for Difflam and said to come back in a week. I still feel shell-shocked and not sure what to do... I can't get my aligners in at the moment as can't open my mouth without the sores cracking, but don't even feel like having the treatment any more as I don't feel like I can trust him. But have the attachments all over my teeth (v painful when they rub against the sores). What should I do now?? See another dentist?? Ugh. Just want a bit of hand-holding really. I have past unpleasant dental/medical experiences and getting my teeth fixed was supposed to be a present to myself but has now turned into another source of upset/trauma...

OP posts:
Youdontknowwhatyoureonabout · 05/05/2021 07:18

Oh you poor thing. That sounds awful. Yes ideally you should have said something but I totally understand that you didn’t. You start doubting yourself thinking ‘is this normal? Is it me? Should this be happening? Do other people just get through it without complaining?’
I think you need to find out what it was, was it something that should have been diluted & hadn’t been measure correctly or just something you have reacted to?
It would probably be best to put something in writing so it is on your patient notes, maybe write to the practice manager asking for it to be investigated or recorded as a significant event and include photographs if you have any. I totally understand that you may have lost confidence in the dentist, maybe they (the practice) would agree that continuing treatment with a different dentist would be best. I hope your ongoing treatment is trouble free and it heals soon Flowers

www.dpmmagonline.co.uk/contents/item/151549-clinical-governance-dental-practice-management-dental-policy-dental-management-dental-audit

Starstruck2021 · 05/05/2021 07:24

Yes you need to know what the solution was so that you don’t have it again and it is flagged up on your notes. I had an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic at the dentist and they have to use another one now. I always remind them but it is also on my notes. I also got bad bruising and swelling on my face with another dentist at the same practice and they had no explanation for that. It does affect your trust.

Maybe a dentist on here can give you some advice.

SeaTurtles92 · 05/05/2021 07:26

I work in dentistry and unfortunately you've reacted to something. There is nothing we can test you on before Invisalign to see if you might be allergic. I have a feeling you might be allergic to etch. Have you had composite (white) fillings before?

It's just composite bondings as attachments holding your aligners on.

That being said, etch has a very distinctive taste and shouldn't be digested. It taste foul when accidentally swallowed.

It could be that you are allergic to it or the dental nurse wasn't quick to suction the etch off or had poor suction control. I say this as a dental nurse and some dental nurses are rubbish at suctioning properly.

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Geamhradh · 05/05/2021 07:27

The dentist didn't injure you, you had a reaction to the treatment. He has prescribed you medication and will see you in a week to monitor you.
He'll presumably advise you on whether to continue with the treatment or not once the swelling etc has stopped.

KnottedFern · 05/05/2021 07:39

This sounds like an allergic reaction rather than an injury. Lots of people are allergic to lots of things and don't know it until they come into contact with it. It's not really the dentists fault if that happens.
Not sure what other suggestions you're looking for but you can change dentist if you want to for any reason. You will probably have the same reaction if they use the same/similar product though.

Arrierttyclock · 05/05/2021 07:41

Im a dental nurse That solution is called Acid Etch. It should of been rinsed off immediately if it accidentally squired anywhere!!

Arrierttyclock · 05/05/2021 07:42

Was there a dental nurse there? Hope you're ok op

Alfaix · 05/05/2021 07:47

I think it must be etch too. It’s 37% phosphoric acid so if left on tissues for a while it will cause a chemical burn. It will heal and the mouth heals very quickly.
I’m sure the dentist feels absolutely terrible. I would go in and have a chat and let him apologise. See how you feel from there.

Houseofvelour · 05/05/2021 08:07

DH is a dentist. I showed him your message and this was his reply:

It's one of those things that shouldn't have happened but does sometimes. It will all heal fine. Warm salt water should help. If she sees the same dentist he will be very careful with her from now on

Arrierttyclock · 05/05/2021 08:15

He should be very careful all the time and should of checked that the tip was on properly. It's standard practice

Seasidetrains · 05/05/2021 15:06

Thanks for all the comments, it's healing a bit better today (although one of the sores seems to have set off a cold sore flare-up, fun times). To the person that said the etch tastes foul, yes it did taste absolutely foul, like it shouldn't be in my mouth, and i'm now 99% sure that's what it was. Yesterday the dentist showed me the tube of etch and said it couldn't be that because it was a thick gel that would only stay on the tooth it was put on but I distinctly felt it squirt like liquid into my mouth... I wonder if it wasn't diluted properly, or the syringe wasn't properly put together. I guess it's just one of those things, but I just wish it hadn't happened.

OP posts:
Alfaix · 05/05/2021 16:12

Personally I prefer to put a little etch on a microbrush to apply because I don’t like etch syringes.
I can’t think what else it could be (unless dentine bond?) if you were having composite bonding of Invisalign attachments.
Glad it’s feeling better.

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