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Original poster

Is this email from dentist a bit haven handed?

38 replies

Racingadmin · 09/09/2021 17:47

Just had an email from dentist for dd(17) saying that she is overdue for dental hygienist- not regular nhs dentist appointment** as they are fully up to date

They actually talk about safeguarding and reporting missed appointment to gp . I think it's completely unreasonable to even mention that for a hygienist appointment that isn't part of nhs treatment and costs £65

It is just me ?

We have not received responses to our previous reminders and are writing to remind you that you are now overdue for your Oral Hygiene Visit appointment.
To maintain healthy teeth and gums, we would advise you that regular examinations with your Dentist and Hygienist are very important to prevent dental problems in the future.
Health professionals are required to share information about missed appointments and repeated cancellations for the benefit and safeguarding of children. Other people we may inform of any concerns include the child’s family doctor (GP), school nurse, health visitor and/or the dentist (or other professional) who referred you to us

OP posts:
Original poster
Racingadmin · 09/09/2021 17:48

Heavy handed

OP posts:
WorkingItOutAsIGo · 09/09/2021 17:48

Frankly if I received that letter I would ring them up and get myself removed from their books.

Skyla2005 · 09/09/2021 17:49

I would be ringing them and telling them to not be so ridiculous

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ichundich · 09/09/2021 17:51

I think this dental practice is run by CF's who are trying it on. If the hygienist really is so important, than why do you have to pay for it!

Original poster
Racingadmin · 09/09/2021 17:52

Don't have the luxury of getting myself removed from their books as we very fortunate to be one of their nhs patients and it's near impossible to get an nhs dentist around here .

OP posts:
KittenKong · 09/09/2021 17:53

I would call them up and ask to speak to their safeguarding lead. Because I’m sure they must have one if they are evoking safeguarding...

Bonkers.

iklboo · 09/09/2021 17:54

It's something some areas started doing after Baby P, Daniel Pelka etc to make sure all services in a child's life were aware of missed appointments & that frequent ones without a cancellation might be a 'red flag'. Part of the Lessons Learned strategies.

BUT I do agree it's very badly worded & heavy handed. Not to mention fairly irrelevant for a paid (optional) hygienist appointment. I'd be ringing & having A Word.

Geamhradh · 09/09/2021 17:56

It's a C&P from what they send out to the parents of small children I imagine. In the hope you'll fork out for the hygienist.
I'd ring them up definitely and say that you'll be in touch for the hygienist when you damn well feel like it.

fassnk · 09/09/2021 17:58

I think thats probably just a generic thing that they put on all letters to under 18's, and has been computer generated and sent to you. Obviously in your DD case it isnt relevant, but it very much is for younger children who are repeatedly not brought to appointments. Agree they should have checked if it was appropriate to send first!

KittenKong · 09/09/2021 17:59

I don’t think a dental hygienist is exactly a red flag issue (unless a child has particularly badly looked m after teeth and at risk of having some taken out)

CovidCorvid · 09/09/2021 18:00

dd has never been to the hygienist on her life. Seems very heavy handed.

AppleKatie · 09/09/2021 18:03

If you are feeling up for a fight/laugh I would ring them, ask to speak to the safeguarding lead and waste their time for 30 minutes going into depth about how important or otherwise they think a paid for hygienist appointment for a 17 year old is…

I’d prob just bin it though!

Aggy35 · 09/09/2021 18:05

As someone who had all my back teeth full of silver filling by the age of 18 (just spent fortune upgrading for white ones) I wish my parent had paid more attention to my teeth and taken up appointments that were needed clearly.Its obviously more important once the real teeth are run.

Boobieboobieboobie · 09/09/2021 18:07

Money grabbing arses!

ShagMeRiggins · 09/09/2021 18:07

Ring them and say if they have concerns about your 17 year old daughter’s welfare, they are free to pop by. Then tell them veiled threats in letters are not an effective way to encourage clients to book optional, paid services.

CliffsofMohair · 09/09/2021 18:08

Would DD not have had to give her consent to have that info shared with you?

SW1amp · 09/09/2021 18:09

All hygienist appointments were suspended at the start of the pandemic until very recently

I’ve been actively trying to get one for months, and have been told by several practices that they won’t have any availability for the foreseeable

I would love to know where this surgery is that is so desperate for hygienist patients that they have to send out threatening letters!

Call their bluff and phone up for an appointment. I bet they can’t give you one this year
Then give them both barrels about their awful letter

CorrBlimeyGG · 09/09/2021 18:10

If it's essential care, then they should be offering it under their NHS contract.

Original poster
Racingadmin · 09/09/2021 18:12

Glad it's not just me.

I'm going to send an email stating that I already rang and checked that she was up to date with dental checkups so not sure why I've had a second reminder .

I'll point out that referring to safeguarding for an optional, paid for service is unnecessary when she up to date (and always has been) with routine dental checks. Might put something about it appearing quite threatening to more vulnerable parents.

OP posts:
FictionalCharacter · 09/09/2021 18:14

They’re ridiculous.You didn’t even miss or cancel an appointment.

SunbathingDragon · 09/09/2021 18:14

We have not received responses to our previous reminders this is why it’s heavy handed, because presumably they have messaged before and not had a response.

Nordicmom · 09/09/2021 18:17

Not a nice letter but if she’s not visiting a hygienist when she sees a dentist once / twice a year she should . my 9 y old has been going at the same as to her dentist for a few years now every 6 m and they’re working up to the proper scraping they do for adults slowly . My DS 16 gets a through clean twice a year and had to go every 3 m when he had braces so having your teeth cleaned properly of of all the built up plaque you can’t remove with just normal tooth brushing and flossing is a very necessary thing to do to look after your health in the long term but I agree the letter in that tone wasn’t an appropriate way to go about it no !

chilliplant634 · 09/09/2021 18:17

Those letters are computer generated. I agree it needs to be tailored to the type of appointment missed. But seriously don't take it personally.

Original poster
Racingadmin · 09/09/2021 18:17

@CliffsofMohair - dentist emails still come to my address as dd hasn't changed the contact despite reminders from me

@SW1amp
I know about the hygienist backlog - Dh phoned to book one in July as he got a reminder - his appointment is in February

@SunbathingDragon
I already phoned and said she didn't need a hygienist appointment when we got the first reminder

OP posts:
SW1amp · 09/09/2021 18:26

@Nordicmom

Not a nice letter but if she’s not visiting a hygienist when she sees a dentist once / twice a year she should . my 9 y old has been going at the same as to her dentist for a few years now every 6 m and they’re working up to the proper scraping they do for adults slowly . My DS 16 gets a through clean twice a year and had to go every 3 m when he had braces so having your teeth cleaned properly of of all the built up plaque you can’t remove with just normal tooth brushing and flossing is a very necessary thing to do to look after your health in the long term but I agree the letter in that tone wasn’t an appropriate way to go about it no !
Where are you that your DCs have been getting regular dentist and hygienist appointments for the last couple of years?

All hygienist appointments were suspended for nearly 18months and all routine/non urgent dentist appointments for the best part of the year

I’ve been trying to get appointments for me and DC for nearly a year and am either told there are no appointments available, or I get given one which is then cancelled because the practice has used up its allocation of NHS billable work for the quarter and can’t reschedule any new appointments until the next quarter

I agree in normal times, kids should be having regular check ups but the government literally banned people from having appointments, so they can’t call it a safeguarding issue when appointments have been missed!