not sure if my expectations where right or wrong? RE: dd, cavity and dentist

[festi]

DD age 6 had a filling, it fell out on tuesday, so weds morning I called dentist, and explained that filling had come out so need to make apt for dd to have a filling. said all emergancy apts where gone that day, so to call at 9am thursday for an apt. I did this and unfortunatly same happened so receptionist booked dd in for today at 4.45pm.

The denist examined dd and confirmed she needed a filling and told me to book apt. I was a bit as in my experience of emergancy appointments they carry out treatment, as had happened when she needed the original filling. So I asked why it would not be done now and he said beacuse he is not dds usual dentist, I will need to make an apt with her own dentist, again didnt happen when she needed original filling.

I was a bit annoyed and dd was very upset as she was quite traumatised about going to the dentist and had resigned herself to having a filling and being brave etc etc.

I went to receptionist desk to make apointment and was given the next availible apt with her own dentist on the 28th may, I said that was to long to wait as dd has a cavity that needs to be treated the receptionist said the dentist had recorede dd MUST see her own dentist so thats what she had to do and she isnt sure why the dentist had stipulated that. I said I felt that wasnt acceptable, so the receptionist said she would book in with someone else but she shouldnt really override what the denist had said, so she said she would book dd in for the monday 24th, I said that seemed like a way off also so she had another look and huffily said she would book dd in on friday morning, Ok thanks I said and was on my way.

When I got home I realised the appointment was for 20th so not THIS friday at all but the following, so I called and explained the mix up and the receptionist said thats the nearest availible appointment so nothing that could be done, so explined that the apt was made for friday coming and she said she had ment the following friday. I asked why it wasnt being treated as an emergancy and she said only if it is painfull. and nothing she can do.

not sure If Im wrong in thinking this is pretty poor service and I should complain or wether im being a bit OTT in my expectations?

I can understand that it's distressing but it's very unlikely that anything bad is going to happen to her tooth before her appointment. I've left it for nearly a year and I've not had any further decay (I'm not recommending this course of action but just pointing out that tooth decay doesn't happen overnight)

An emergency appointment is for things like abscesses, not fillings, which is not an emergency, so would not be treated as such by a dentist.

Not getting at you, OP, I understand your concern for your DD - but this is why that happened.

Does sound like they mucked you about a bit. Time to find a new practice?

thats ok CrockoDuck, would not think you are getting at me, thats why I posted just wanted other peoples take on this. as dont want to kick up an unreasonabke stink with the denists.

A lost filling, if not causing pain, is not an emergency. Its likely the dentist squeezed you in between scheduled appointments today and probably didn't have time to spend with your dd to do a permanent filling. With children its so important to have time to be able to do a thorough job and to be able to take time to explain. Also its usually more appropriate for patients to see their usual dentist especially where children are involved.
I can completely understand your concern for dd's oral health but a couple of week wait in this scenario is not unreasonable.

Um, she's six and already needing fillings?! I

Sorry, not an emergency.

Dentists have very very little time for emergencies (esp NHS dentists unfortunately) so in the event of a hole that is not causing pain the most they will do is put a bit of temporary filling in it.

I understand your concern, but when you think of it, it's better for an appropriate amount of time to be allocated for the treatment, rather than to have the treatment squeezed in and rushed. If your daughter is nervous then there is nothing worse then rushing a treatment.

If your DC was in pain, totally different story. Sorry you feel messed around - many people come to emergency appointments with high expectations and steeling themselves for treatment, only to be deflated when it doesn't happen. You're not alone.
If you really feel strongly about it, change practices.

yes teeb, not ideal, but also not out of the ordinary either.

thanks for responces everyone im also reasured that waiting will not lead to anything further untoward. probably just the messing around that wasn't ideal.