In the summer one of my upper teeth lost a piece of filing.
I had an appointment in August with my dentist. She built the filing up by placing one of those metal ring things over my tooth. She struggled to remove it when she was finished but as I was numb I didn’t feel any pain. However, after it wore off it was very uncomfortable as though my gum had been cut. DH had a look and said he could see a definite cut in the gum inbetween the two teeth. It was quite uncomfortable, I made an appointment to have it checked (three weeks later as they are always so booked up).
By then it was getting very painful especially if food lodges in there.
Attended my appointment and was told the computer system had crashed so there was little they could do. I told the dentist that I thought she had cut my gum but she denied this and said it was the position of the tooth and food was getting stuck there (I have never had this issue before and it has been filled for several years). So due to system crash I then had to wait another few weeks for an available appointment. That resulted in weeks of more pain, tried getting a cancellation but nothing.
I attended the appointment a few weeks ago, the dentist said she would do what she could to temporary fill it. Still denied it was cut even though the pain when food in it was unbearable at times and has kept me awake. The temp filing has since fallen out.
She only works part time and is also doing a part time uni course so her appointments are few and far between, they won’t book me in with anyone else and all other local dentists are full so I am stuck with her.
Booked the nearest appointment which was mid December (this was back in October). I asked if they could ring with a cancellation if any came up.
Luckily a cancellation came up for tomorrow. I have waited now for several weeks for it.
So on to today, I was on my way to a hospital procedure. The dental receptionist calls , ‘Sorry but your dentist is having childcare issues for tomorrow (won’t actually know till the morning) and there is a strong possibility she will have to cancel your appointment, so can you come down to us in an hour, today she will see you then!’
I explain that I am on my way to the hospital and can not make today. I asked if it is cancelled tomorrow when will it be moved to? Mid January.
I said that wasn’t good enough, I have been left in constant pain due to her last work and I simply can not wait till next year. I asked if there are any other dentists who can see me. I was told no and then the receptionist had the cheek to say ‘Well I am offering you this appointment today but you’ve turned it down!’
Surely, my dentists childcare issues should not be my concern. I’m now going to have to be in pain all over Christmas, if a cancellation doesn’t come up.
I have rung around all local dentists and only private ones are taking on patients. I can’t afford private dental care.
What the heck do I do now?