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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To complain about this dental treatment?

25 replies

wibblyjelly · 25/08/2013 07:37

I really don't know if I should complain, or just accept that these things happen.

2 years ago I had to have root canal on one of my back teeth. I couldn't have it done on the NHS, as it was too complex, so had to pay £500. I'm on dh's dental plan, so was able to claim back £300.
About 5 months ago I was eating lunch, (a sandwich, so nothing particularly hard) and the half of the tooth in question broke away. I made an emergency appointment for the next day. The dentist said that the root canal had weakened the tooth, and that's what had caused the breakage. He advised me to get a crown fitted, and I made an appointment for 10 days time to have the impressions done, and another appointment a couple of days after this to get it fitted. In the meantime, he fixed it with a temporary filling.
The temporary filling lasted less than 24 hours, so they fitted me in again the next day, and redid it. Luckily, this one lasted until my next appointment.
Impressions were taken, and when I went back for the fitting appointment, the dentist said that he would do a different type of repair, not a crown. He assured me that it would last for years, and it was better to have this done than the crown. As he was the expert, I agreed. All fitted, but I still had to go back again a couple of days later, as the bite was too high. He did advise me that this could happen.
Here's where I'm unsure about whether to complain or not. I went for a check up on Friday, everything OK. Last night, I thought the tooth felt a bit odd. I then felt something fall off the tooth. Part of the fixing has called off, and I now have a hole in the top of the tooth. So I'm going to have to go back again to get it fixed.
Do I just accept it as one of those things, or should it have lasted longer? I'm still on my maternity certificate, so I've not had to pay for any of this. Even so, I feel it should have lasted a lot longer, especially as I wasn't eating or anything at the time of the second breakage. I just have a feeling the dentist will say, oh well, and just fix it, which although needs doing, I'm wondering if he should have fitted the crown in the first place. I'm also going to have to take time off from work, as I'm now back.

OP posts:

GetStuffezd · 25/08/2013 07:39

It really doesn't sound like they've done a good job.
My crown has lasted ten years now with no bother and the cap on my front tooth almost twenty.

WeAreEternal · 25/08/2013 07:40

That's ridiculous, you should absolutely make a formal complain.
I would even demand to see another dentist.

kalidanger · 25/08/2013 07:42

Yes, complain. This work wasn't supposed to be temporary, was it?

You're in a good position being in the certificate! Perhaps a second opinion?

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 25/08/2013 07:54

I think I'll write a letter of complaint. It's not the money side of things, as I've not paid for anything. It's just the waste of time, and now having to take time off of work after just starting back after maternity. I don't like going to the dentist at the best of times, and I feel like I spent lots of my maternity leave there

OP posts:

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 25/08/2013 08:13

The rest has just fallen out. I now have half a tooth again

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GetStuffezd · 25/08/2013 08:16

Oh GOD! That really is appalling. Presumably it's now closed until Tuesday?

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 25/08/2013 08:23

Yep, closed till Tuesday. It's a relief its gone to be honest, at least I'm not worried about it coming out while I'm asleep, and swallowing it! I knew it was going to go.

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GetStuffezd · 25/08/2013 08:27

Still, there's always something worrying about teeth falling out, isn't there?
I've got my first appt on Friday and I'm really scared. I had a bad experience years ago when a dentist did my root canal with no anaesthetic. It lasted an hour and a quarter and honestly traumatised me. Haven't been for five years and now want to really look after my teeth.

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 25/08/2013 08:35

Stuff That's awful. Did you complain?

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wowfudge · 25/08/2013 08:40

Wibblyjelly - you should give them the opportunity to fix things properly before complaining. If they don't or won't then complain away.

I'd be more concerned that the original root canal work wasn't done on the NHS as it should have been as a level 3 procedure. 'Too complex' could be a fob off by the dentist to get more money out of you than the NHS would have paid them.

It's like having a check up at the NHS price then being told you should pay to see the hygienist to have your teeth cleaned. This is a common money-making scheme: you are entitled to a scrape and polish as part of the check up at no extra cost. A level one procedure.

IneedAsockamnesty · 25/08/2013 09:00

Sounds like your dentist is a bit of a scamer but lots of the, do this so it can be seen as normal

Just like wow said with the hygienist thing loads do it and they shouldn't.

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 25/08/2013 09:02

I hadn't considered that fudge. It was 2 years ago, probably too late to challenge it?

OP posts:

maddening · 25/08/2013 09:09

I think the dentist would repair it for free. Have you called and spoken to them? Ask for the crown you would have had.

I don't think you can complain about the root canal - it sounds like the tooth itself was weak - if the root canal had failed you would be having it out.

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 25/08/2013 09:27

Can't speak to them until Tuesday. I'll give them a call then, and see what they say

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wowfudge · 25/08/2013 11:22

It's horrible when things happen to your teeth - seems to take over; hope you get it sorted.

The business with dentists asking patients to pay for things which the NHS actually covers was exposed in detail in a documentary about 18 months ago - I think it was Dispatches on Channel 4. Basically lots of 'NHS' dentists feel that the money the NHS gives them doesn't cover the amount of work involved so they ask patients to go private for particular items, as it is more lucrative for the dentist.

I was registered with one such dentists' practice and they look great because they always have vacancies for NHS patients, but they bump you from their list if you don't make regular appointments for check ups (they don't send reminders btw). They were always asking you to see the hygienist privately for cleaning and polishing. My current dentist is great - everything done by him with no messing around and making multiple appointments or paying over the odds.

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 25/08/2013 11:29

They said I had to see the hygienist last check up. £35 for the appointment. I booked it once, she only did my bottom teeth, and then said I needed a second appointment, again at £35!

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eggsandwich · 25/08/2013 12:41

I would insist on having a crown fitted, as the other options clearly have not worked, I have had my crown for 15 years now which cost me £250 at the time, and I would say it's money well spent, even the dentist at the time said I should get about 10 years out of it. I would tell them you want it sorted once and for all.

northernlurker · 25/08/2013 12:52

I had a root filling on a back tooth a few months ago. My dentist then topped it off with a filling. This promptly fell off and she said straight away we would go for a crown. I think you need to go back and insist on a crown - the cost of which should be reduced due to whatever you've spent on this rubbish restoration so far.

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 25/08/2013 15:03

I'm definitely insisting on a crown this time round!

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LondonMan · 25/08/2013 15:27

My NHS dentist said they were willing to "have a go" at my complex root canal, but strongly suggested I go to a private specialist, which did indeed cost over £500. I did look it up at the time, and it turns out that complex root canals are a specialist job that ordinary dentists aren't qualified to do. (With hindsight I also wish I had also taken her advice to have a white crown done privately, I returned to the NHS practise and got a NHS gold one, which shows more than I expected.)

(Incidentally, the private specialist had high-tech computerised X-ray equipment that produced much better images, and showed a fourth root which hadn't shown up on the NHS X-ray.)

unlucky83 · 25/08/2013 15:53

When my NHS dentist (in Scotland) thought a job was more than they could deal with referred me to the Dental hospital ...no mention of private treatment...(seemed like I might have broken my tooth under the gum)
Thankfully all was well - it cost nothing...in fact they only charge for things like cosmetic implants at the Dental hospital...

solarbright · 25/08/2013 16:00

You can contact the General Dental Council www.gdc-uk.org and they'll talk it through with you, as to whether or not the work is up to standard.

BaldricksTurnip · 25/08/2013 16:07

I recently had a very difficult root canal done-took 6 appts to get it finished! Then had half the tooth break away, so had crown made and fitted which has been perfect. All done on the NHS by my lovely dentist. I would go back to original dentist and insist on the crown if I were you.

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 25/08/2013 16:07

Thanks Solar, will check them put. It's why I posted here, as I don't want to make a fuss over nothing.

OP posts:

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 30/08/2013 20:59

I'm getting a crown. I have a temporary filling, and going back in a couple of weeks to get the crown impressions done. They were going to charge me, until I reminded them I'm on the maternity exceptions. If I wasn't, I would be arguing my case for not paying!

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