To think that this isn't normal for a trip to the dentist, is it?

[UltimateDentalPhobic]

Have namechanged as I've told a couple of friends about this today and don't want to be identified.

I had a phobia of going to the dentist for many years. About 3 years ago I finally plucked up the courage to go again. I go to an NHS dentist and had first one lovely dentist then a second one when they left, both of whom did a range of work on my teeth; fillings, composite layers and root canal, none of which had any problems and I really started to get over my phobia and started to feel at ease with going to the dentist.

A few months ago my normal lovely dentist left and I had a check up about a month ago with a new dentist at the surgery. I found her a bit abrupt but ok. She decided I needed 2 fillings and so I went today to have those done.

She started drilling at a tooth and cleaning it out with a spray, but there was no suction used by the dental nurse, whilst my other 2 dentists have always used suction to get rid of the excess water. It was like someone was running a hose pipe into my mouth and my mouth was wide open so I couldnt' really swallow easily and it started to make me feel panicky. I had to keep spitting the water out and it was making me gag and the dentist started to get very irate with me. I was apologetic and said that I am sorry, I used to be a dental phobic and that this was making me feel quite upset and scared, and could she use the suction as it was like having a hose pipe running into my mouth. She said "This is the way ALL dentists do this, it's very unusual to feel the way YOU do" and carried on. I felt like I was going to be sick, there was literally water everywhere, it was splashing out of my mouth the flow was so much and in the end she reluctantly drilled with no rinsing but she was very huffy and puffy whilst she did it. I asked again after the treatment why she didn't use the suction and again she got very annoyed, so I said "Ok well I will mention it to the practice manager, thank you anyway" cheerfully and went out.

I mentioned it at reception and the receptionist said the suction should have been used, and I said I've had so many treatments there, even root canal, and was absolutely fine, and for this to happen over a small filling seems a bit ridiculous and I feel as though it's set my phobia back a bit too. The practice manager is going to phone me on monday. The receptionist said the dentist is a locum dentist and will only be there for several months but that they will change me to another dentist if I wish for my next check up in 6 months or so.

It is normal for a dentist to use the suction when they're rinsing isn't it? She made me feel like I was being a bit of a wimp but it was awful, all this water, I couldn't possibly swallow it all. My throat actually feels a bit sore from swallowing some as it was at such a force.

Does anyone know if it is just water or if it has anything in it? My throat is really hurting now, it's almost as if I've swallowed a load of swimming pool water.

I don't think that the FOCUS of your complaint is the suction - it is your confidence in the abilities of dentist. Irrespective of how the practice manages your complaint, this is not the dentist for you - you need to change dentists.

I can't begin to tell you how much dental work I have had done over the years. However I will not trust my teeth to a dentist I don't like and trust to do a good job. If I'm not sure I will go elsewhere for a second opinion, and if I don't like my dentist then I will keep asking friends and colleagues for recommendations for a new dentist until I find one I am happy with.

It's actually very dangerous that she wasn't using suction for a few reasons. Firstly because your mouth was wide open, like you said, you couldn't swallow so water could easily have escaped into your windpipe, making you cough and causing her to slip. Also there would be bits of drilled tooth in the water (yuck) which could really cause problems if it got down your windpipe and into your lungs and obviously isn't very nice if you're swallowing it either. Like another poster said, without suction it would be very hard for the dentist to see what she was doing and she could let the drill slip.

It is seriously odd that she refused to use suction.

She kept telling me not to move as her drill kept moving but I couldnt' help it, I felt like I was drowning

It sounds horrific Ultimate.

Write down everything that she said that was unprofessional, and make sure you cite it all to the practice manager.

Then you can show that it wasn't just you being scared - not that matters, because you have every right to feel at ease when you visit a dentist (or any HCP), but it shows that it was not only you feeling ill at ease, but also her for talking crap.

I would say you need to make a formal complaint about both the incompetence and the attitude of this locum dentist. Sounds to me like they need to get a new locum!!!
I too used to have a phobia about dentists due to some horrible experiences with 3 different dentists as a child/teenager. When I found a lovely dentist I stayed with her even when I moved house (traveling 25 miles each way just for a check up). When she retired I found another lady dentist closer to home. She was fantastic as she could tell I was nervous. She used to say - just raise your hand at any time if you want me to stop. That feeling of being in control helped greatly. She also talked my very anxious DS through his 1st filling (without an injection - his choice) by gradually introducing the noise and feel of the drill to him (without the drill bit in) then putting it in his mouth and telling him each time that she would count to 5 then remove it, next time 10 & remove and so on. Boring story I know but what I am trying to stress is there are some fantastic dentists out there - you just have to find them - but you don't have to take the sort of crap you put up with.

I'm a dental nurse and have been for 10 years. NO WAY should a filling be done without suction unless the patient and dentist have discussed it prior to treatment, a lot of patients dont like the suction so some just spit out when the mouth is getting full of water,if this was not your preference then it should not have been done like this, the nurse should have stepped in and explained to the dentist that a suction was needed, it would say on your notes that your a v nervous patient, find out if the nurse was qualified.

       You could also ring PALS. If it's a corporate company ring the head office and complain to the complaints manager. 

the water used in dental practices should always be purified water so shouldn't cause any problems, however if purified water wasn't used this may be why, ask the manager re this.
Was the locum English? We have currently got 2 locums in my practice from abroad and they need to be shown and spoke to by the nurse with regards to policy's ect as europe have a very different approach to these things, which is why it's always the qualified & experienced nurses that nurse for our locums.
Any questions just ask.
P.s sorry you had an upsetting experience.
X

Thank you again everyone for the fantastic advice! Much appreciated.

OfCourse yes she was English. Shes the only English dentist at the surger though.

What annoyed me too is that she got really angry when I wanted to spit the water out, it was like I'd had a mouth full of mouthwash when I spat it out each time but she didn't seem to understand why I wanted to do this and thought I was being awkward.

I think it's a chain of practices so I might try and get hold of their head office number and give them a ring tomorrow as the practice manager of that surgery won't be back at work until Monday, I assume she's on holiday this week.

Quick update: I got a call from the practice manager yesterday but was out and tried many times to return the call but it went straight to answerphone. I phoned the surgery this morning and she is off again. So I asked for their head office phone number and phoned up the complaints department.

The man I spoke to was very nice and understanding of my complaint and asked me to email it through to him, which I did, and he is going to speak to the area manager and the practice manager today to get the complaint underway.

I know this is an old thread but though I'd pop on with an update; I received a letter about 3 weeks after the complaint not offering any explanations but saying that they are sorry I was dissatisfied and that I would receive a refund for my treatment. I didn't receive the refund so I called head office again today and apparently there was a miscommunication so they've now refunded me, but I said also I was concerned as they didn't address the issue of the suction and didn't reassure me that suction will be used in future. The woman from HO spoke to the practice manager who said it was basically my fault as I wasn't used to suction and they will give me the option of using suction or not in future, which basically indicates that she hasn't even read my complaint or seen that that wasn't the issue at all. I said to the woman at HO that I want them to address the issue properly and acknowledge what happened to me or I will be taking the matter further to the ombudsman.

I can't remember, was it NHS or private? We don't really have an ombudsman but if you let me know then there will be someone you can contact.

It's good to update, we are often left wondering what happened. It does sound like they haven't even read your complaint properly. I would be furious.

This does not sound totally satisfactory op.
You had a horrible experience and apart from 'good dental practice' the dentist needs to learn some manners, respect and people skills.
I am looking for a new dentist as mine has gone back to Germany [how very dare he!]. I will go on word of mouth as I am a nervous patient.

I would look around for a new dentist to be honest. (I'm lucky I have had a molar removed, but a wisdom tooth has moved in to take its place; any dentist who doesn't spot that isn't worth going to in my opinion.)

I actually felt quite panicky just reading your post ultimate and I am not phobic about the dentist. I think the receptionist said it all when she told you that this was NOT normal behaviour. I hope you have some joy with the practise manager on Monday.

As a nurse I don't even think it's safe not to use suction with that amount of water being sprayed into the mouth because you may inadvertenly breathe it in and water and lungs don't mix We have to use suction on people who have chest infections sometimes. Suction is very important.