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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want an NHS dentist open over the weekend?

25 replies

CSIJanner · 07/12/2013 14:56

Total first world problem, but it's just that. Nothing much. They could even rotate it so that they could have Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday off so they still have two days together. Or even better, if its a dental group, they could rotate it around the surgeries so that they only need to open one weekend a month. Just so klutzes like myself can be seen should they lose a bit of tooth when partaking in a bit of lunch.

There is a purely selfish reasons for this hitting home today - I've chipped my right central incisor crown and now look a touch gappy. I say a touch gappy - I'm petrified that I'm going to smile like Sloth from the Goonies over the Christmas period, but even more so, I can't afford the £150 call out fee for the OOH dentist, nor the £600+ for a new crown as it will be private fee cost as it's OOH. I'm hoping they could mend the crown on Monday as opposed to DH's solution which is offering to fix it with some polyfilla. Emergency dentist is out of the question at the moment as thats via the OOH emergency doctors and I wouldn't want to waste their time. Plus that's for people with real tooth ache, smashed or broken teeth with nerve endings exposed etc as opposed an un-ouchy crown thats asthetically unpleasing.

I'm going to end up walking around with a closed mouth smile and feeding on soft/blended Christmas dinner, aren't I?

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 07/12/2013 15:00

My new dentist opens until 7.30pm one night a week and 9-12 on Saturdays. I was very impressed-makes sense to me.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 07/12/2013 15:05

If you need a new crown they can give you a temporary one until it comes back from lab :)

complexnumber · 07/12/2013 15:08

I travelled 130 miles to a dentist when living in Botswana, he gave me the option of an extraction there and then, or a trip down to Gabarone (the capital)

I went for the extraction (as persuaded by 3 blood loving women hovering around my head at the time)

Once it was over, the dentist recommended three beers to help ease the pain.

You just don't get that sort of advice on the NHS

Original poster
CSIJanner · 07/12/2013 15:11

Complex - okay. Consider me slapped it of self pity. Please as you had some sort of pain relief bar the beer?

OP posts:
bananananacoconuts · 07/12/2013 15:19

Have you looked at emergency dentists on the nhs website?

specialsubject · 07/12/2013 15:36

this is purely a cosmetic problem from what you say and is in no way an emergency.

Original poster
CSIJanner · 07/12/2013 15:54

Entirely cosmetic which is exactly why I'm not calling the emergency dentist. Ours is routed through the emergency doctors, and TBF they probably have bigger and more worrying problems than my vanity.

DH has broken out the Halloween vampire fangs. I despair Xmas Hmm

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 07/12/2013 15:56

Was my post invisible? You won't be left with a gap

GilbonzoTheSecretPsychoDuck · 07/12/2013 16:00

They used to do weekend rotas but then the government introduced a dental version of ooh doctors. Basically, you phone the number, tell them your problem and get told to visit a&e. Another resounding success.

Believe me, the NHS dentists I know (including my dad) preferred it the old way.

Original poster
CSIJanner · 07/12/2013 16:08

Fango - sorry. Am now on the phone as the tablet needed charging so missed it. Am hoping they can see me Monday - how are the temporary crowns? Sturdy? I had to wait a month in Japan for my crown before. Mind - it lasted over 15years though and cost a bottle of saki

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 07/12/2013 16:13

Temporary crowns should last a few weeks at least..if it comes off it can easily be replaced too :)

NoArmaniNoPunani · 07/12/2013 16:14

You'll be lucky to get a new crown fitted before Christmas now. Our lab stops working on the 20th and it's a 2 week turn around for a crown.

Original poster
CSIJanner · 07/12/2013 16:16

NoArmani Really? Bollocks Xmas Sad

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 07/12/2013 16:17

But should be ok with a temporary :)

NoArmaniNoPunani · 07/12/2013 16:18

Yeah, NHS temporaries aren't great but you could go for a private one to see you over Christmas

Original poster
CSIJanner · 07/12/2013 16:33

My NHS dentist does private as well, so might have to ask.

Husband has just joked that this really does mean that for Christmas I really do get my front tooth. He'll be laughing on the other side when he sees the bill!

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 07/12/2013 18:23

Massively entitled. NHS dentists are private businesses, you'd be more reasonable to expect teachers to work on weekends.

If you don't like it, write to your MP and ask for the old system back. Let us know when you've done that, I do it every six months because I'm fed up of working Sundays to see rude people who lie to me and complain about paying £18 to see me and having to drive for 11 miles or having to wait 20 whole minutes. It's a fucking joke.

Original poster
CSIJanner · 07/12/2013 19:49

MrsMorton - "Entitled"?

I think if you read back, I wasn't demanding dentists to be open on the weekend. Just that some flexibility would be nice. I've never complained about NHS charges (just the OOH charge of £150!!) nor do I complain if the wait is too long as I think x number of minutes with a patient is too statistical for the bigger picture. I'm not one of those people who walk around doctors/police etc demanding they do as I request as my taxes pay their wages. Far from it! I have enough friends and family who work within the public services to know how overstretched it all is. We're all human and need a break.

AFWIW teachers do work the weekends. It's called planning lessons, setting coursework, marking papers, double marking papers, paperwork, OFSTED requirements etc etc.

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 07/12/2013 20:14

And dentists do what? Courses, CPD, accounts, GDC requirements etc etc. yes, some flexibility would be lovely, you don't need to tell dentists that when they're threatened with fines for finishing early on Xmas eve.

Original poster
CSIJanner · 07/12/2013 21:48

MrsMorton - I feel that I have touched a nerve, which is ironic given the root canal I went through for the aforementioned crown. Which incidentally is looking worse but thanks for your concern.

From your posts, I take that you're in the dental profession? Yes - there is a lot of extra work entailed as with other professions. My point was that your example of teachers working the weekend was a poor one. And I do agree, employers tend to want blood from the stone out of their workforce and the Government bodies threatening with fines is very heavy handed. However if you are contracted to work until eg 1600 on Christmas Eve, then that's the contract. We've all done it - we just resent a little bit inside, wondering where the goodwill everyone is singing about is when is comes to Christmas.

I'm sorry if you've had a harsh day today and even more disgusted that you've been on the receiving end of abuse in the workplace from clients. That's just wrong.

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 07/12/2013 21:55

noarmani what do you use for temps? I always use Al and IRM For anything distal to 4 but for anteriors, protemp/quicktemp is my preference. Tell me what you use for NHS and PVT please.
Also, tell me why you won't give me an implant on the NHS Wink

NoArmaniNoPunani · 08/12/2013 10:35

I use Venus for all. I don't do NHS any more, except for children. Too much stress for too little thanks

Mrsmorton · 08/12/2013 11:30

Very wise, looking forward to the day I do no NHS. I'm here again today!

NoArmaniNoPunani · 08/12/2013 14:02

Why don't you switch to private practice? It's the best thing I've ever done. It's so nice to see people who are pro active about caring for their teeth and appreciate and respect what you do.

I totally identify with the frustration at people complaining about having oh spend £18 on a check up. You couldn't call a plumber out for £18, why do people expect cheaper service from a dentist?

TeacupDrama · 08/12/2013 14:20

hi

another dentist, we used to do saturday mornings but stopped as the FTA ( fail to attend) rate was higher than during the week, also the staff often want more wages for saturday work and the NHS do not pay more, most dentists are self employed so unlike a doctor on call on sunday who would get monday off we can't take monday off as patients booked in etc,

I used to do on call on the old system in our practice it worked out as all weekend from 5pm friday to 9am monday every 4 weeks, in general there were not many call outs but you had to be available even under the old system most practices triaged and would not have seen you at weekend as no pain and no trauma/bleeding/swelling, this is definitely a within normal working hours emergency a temporary crown should last to after christmas most lab turn around time is 2 weeks

unfortunately clients / patients are often rude and grumble about paying small amounts for huge amounts of work,,, I did not devise the NHS charge system or the benfit system which decides who pays, I do not really want to check whether you are on means tested or contribution based JSA/ESA but i have to so please don't give me a hard time because of DHSS

I still work for NHS and it's a thankless task mainly

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