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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

8 yr old son in constant pain - any dentists out there please?

46 replies

whatkatydidathome · 31/12/2010 10:24

ds (8) needs 4 teeth out (they are hypoplastic). One is completely rotten and giving him a lot of pain (he frequently wakes up at night crying). This has been going on since Sept/Oct time. Our dentist says that they need to be taken out at the dental hospital. Dental hospital has given us an appointment now but not until Feb and say that actually our dentist should do it. He is on constant pain killers and/or antibiotics whilst it is hurting (it seems to hurt for a few weeks and then dies down, then flares up again). Doctor just says that pain management in children is difficult and has prescribed codeine but appears uninterested and kept saying that the dentist should deal with it. Any suggestions? (Son is at dentist again now - we have been to our dentist about half a dozen times, the emergency dentist twice, children's A&E once (because the pain got so bad), dental hospital once, doctors twice but everyone just says that it is someone else's problem. Meanwhile we are squirting in the maximum does of ibuprofen and paracetamol, topped up with codeine at night, and son is still crying and still in enough pain to wake him at night when the cocodamol wears off.

OP posts:

differentnameforthis · 31/12/2010 11:53

I do understand what the hospital is saying. They see this case as being manageable in the dental practice, and it should be. The dentist needs to be more proactive if he/she doesn't want to remove these teeth.

There are sedation clinics available. The hospital isn't the only route.

shinyblackgrape · 31/12/2010 11:55

DO GDC etc after getting him sorted out - agree with the other posters.

The priority today is getting the pain sorted.

DP thinks A&E/dental hospital best to see one of the dentists there as it seems, for whatever reason, you aren't getting the treatment you need from the original dentist.

The practice manager can speak to the dentist and/or attempt to resolve your complaint. However, the can't (quite rightly) compel the dentist to treat you DS.

differentnameforthis · 31/12/2010 11:55

Dental reference service. Any help?

differentnameforthis · 31/12/2010 11:58

However, the can't (quite rightly) compel the dentist to treat you DS

No of course not. But they can find out why it isn't being done. Why the dentist is happy to leave this lad in pain that requires such strong painkillers. And why the dentists hasn't found an alternative to the hospital by now.

If my practice manager was dealing with this, that lad would be sorted in days. And the dentist severely reprimanded!

nurseblade · 31/12/2010 12:04

I'm a dentist, very surprised that a private dentist wouldn't extract the tooth, I would. If you can afford private I would try another private dentist.

Original poster

whatkatydidathome · 31/12/2010 12:05

tooth is now out :) dh took ds to dentist and sat there until they did something. A third dentist agreed to look and said that he would try to get it out and managed it .

OP posts:

differentnameforthis · 31/12/2010 12:05

And the private dentist you saw was crap too. There is no way anyone should be turning this lad away in so much pain!

I'm appalled at my profession!

shinyblackgrape · 31/12/2010 12:07

But the pain needs sorted out today - no?! Let's focus on that.

Not very sure how your practice works differentname but DP would NOT expect to be "severely reprimanded" by his practice manager !

That is not her role in the complaints procedure. If any of the dentists need any clinical decisions discussed with them after a complaint, DP (as the owner of the practice and as a qualified dentist) will discuss the issue with them after the information has been gathered by the practice manager.

Anyway, as DP says, let's focus on sorting the problem out. OP where are you? DP not working today but happy to see if his practice has some space or any of his friends' do for an emergency if you are in our area. He thinks you are still best to go to the hospital though if you can.

PM and I can PM you back. I am going out in about 20 mins though for a while though.

differentnameforthis · 31/12/2010 12:09

Thank heavens for that! Now, next step is to contact the practice manager (letter/email/phone) & speak to them about this. Detail what you said here, about how you have had the run around. State dates (in dr, hospital) if you remember them & what was done, where. State medications he has had.

The dentists who saw your son failed in his/her duty of care for your son. Leaving a child in pain like that for this length of time is outrageous!!

You need to get a treatment plan for his other teeth & they need to be treated asap or you will go to the links I provided.

If they won't do you want an urgent referral to a dental sedation clinic.

emsyj · 31/12/2010 12:10

That's great - has the pain been resolved now (aside from any discomfort from the actual extraction)? This is my mother's method of dealing with problems like this - present yourself in person and refuse to budge til it's sorted. Glad you had success at last.

masochismTangoer · 31/12/2010 12:10

No had problems with dentists but have with hospitals.

Best approach with a hospital is to send a letter to the top person - can usually find out on-line who that is who runs the hospital then send a recorded delivery letter. The complaint is then sent down to relevant department as as it comes from the top it is not ignored while letters directly to departments or people in departments often are. The situation is usually monitored as well. Even if they do not admit any errors it usually starts something happening.

In your case I would write a letter to both hospital and dental practice stating the position of both of them and how much pain this is leaving your son in and the adverse effect this is having on him. I would also send copies of the letters to any regulatory body and tell both the dental practice and hospital that you have done so.

The only problem with this approach is the that it will take some time and with dental pain that would not be very good.

masochismTangoer · 31/12/2010 12:11

x-post but I and glad it is sorted.

differentnameforthis · 31/12/2010 12:11

Shiny, I am sure that your dh wouldn't leave an 8yr old in such sever pain! But yes, one of the practice managers I worked for would be extremely upset over the lack of care shown to this child.

shinyblackgrape · 31/12/2010 12:11

Brilliant - delighted for you!

shinyblackgrape · 31/12/2010 12:13

No he wouldn't different and he was cross to hear about what had happened.

V pleased it is all sorted out now and I do agree with you that the OP must complain to the practice

pawsnclaws · 31/12/2010 12:15

Oh thank goodness, am so pleased it has been sorted out. Well done.

differentnameforthis · 31/12/2010 12:16

Maybe severely reprimanded is harsh. And tbh, I have never worked with a dentist so lacking as this one, tbh.

But I know she would be pissed off...lots! ;)

shinyblackgrape · 31/12/2010 12:19

DP was laughing nervously re the practice manager.

His is very competent (and a bit of a battle axe) so he was a bit worried that if he gave her carte blanche to "reprimand" him she would - often and "severely"!

differentnameforthis · 31/12/2010 12:29

Lol...the one I was talking about was/is lovely. She was very passionate about her job...but hell scary if she needed to be.

Animation · 31/12/2010 13:00

WOOOOOOOOO!!

GOOD JOB!!

Ivette · 06/01/2011 12:34

if I may offer sth - look up for Polish dentist, they are great!
you said you went to a&e - I always thought that they have to deal with each case, not send it off? Ive had my plastic surgery that way 2 years ago as gp was crap...and still is tbh

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