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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's unacceptable dentist won't see me sooner when i'm heavily pregnant

100 replies

buffythebarbieslayer · 05/03/2014 09:58

I'm 34 weeks pregnant and a filling on one of my teeth has broken. They've done a patch up job three times and each time it's come away leaving me with a broken tooth which is sore.

They claim they can't do proper treatment until the week of my due date so high chance I'll miss that as well.

Am I supposed to live with this for the next few months?

The receptionist said they could do another patch up job but what's the point if it just comes away? At this stage of pregnancy I can't keep going in every week to get it patched up to wait until proper treatment.

She was quite rude insinuating I was making a fuss over nothing. I didn't shout or be rude to her but I was a bit teary as I am in pain.

OP posts:
formerbabe · 05/03/2014 10:01

I can see why you're upset, but I think YAB (a little) U.

I sympathise that you are in pain but don't understand your comment that you can't go in every week, unless you are having an especially difficult pregnancy.

WorraLiberty · 05/03/2014 10:02

Have they said why they can't do a proper treatment?

I'm not sure what you mean by 'At this stage in your pregnancy, you can't keep going in every week?'

Not that anyone would want to go in every week, but I'm not getting the pregnancy connection.

Original poster
buffythebarbieslayer · 05/03/2014 10:05

well I could but I can't believe they can't find a half hour appointment between now and the middle of April.

If I can't make that one then it may be June before I get the filling. That'll be six months with a broken tooth and sore mouth.

OP posts:
LIZS · 05/03/2014 10:05

yabu , you are pregnant not incapacitated. That's sort of wait isn't unusual tbh . Presumably you'd need longer than a standard appointment to do properly. Go in and have it patched up so it doesn't hurt and make an appointment to fix it a few weeks' time. did you say you were in pain ?

IWantAnotherBaby · 05/03/2014 10:06

YABU. I am 36 weeks pregnant. There is no reason to expect special treatment or to jump ahead on (non maternity releated) waiting lists just because of pregnancy. If they have no appropriate appointments sooner then are you expecting them to cancel someone else to fit you in?

EasterHoliday · 05/03/2014 10:07

pregnancy doesn't shunt you automatically to the front of every queue. Try registering with a different practice if necessary.

DidoTheDodo · 05/03/2014 10:07

There might be non-pregnant people who are in more pain than you?

I sympathise with all toothache, but don't see why you should be seen first because you're pregnant.

Is it NHS? (I only ask because my private dentist has a fabulous emergency and out of hours service - it's what I pay for!) They might have a heavier caseload if so?

Jjou · 05/03/2014 10:08

It's slightly unreasonable that they don't have many forthcoming appointments. I imagine that's true for everyone who needs one, not just pregnant people though.

Original poster
buffythebarbieslayer · 05/03/2014 10:08

I have two other children and not much help. I'm exhausted.

All the times I've been in have taken up a lot more time than the half hour it would take to do the proper treatment.

I also think it's sad that someone be left in pain and without proper treatment for that long.

Would it happen if you had a problem else where?

OP posts:
shakinstevenslovechild · 05/03/2014 10:09

Dentists have ridiculously long waiting lists for treatments, it sucks, but that's the way it is, they aren't doing it out of spite.

They have given you the option of getting it patched up so it's not like they are ignoring your problem, they seem to be doing their best to help.

I hope you feel better soon, toothache is bloody awful.

formerbabe · 05/03/2014 10:10

I had terrible pain with my tooth and the NHS dentist couldn't see me for a while. I paid a fortune to go private because I was in so much pain! It is shit but your pregnancy doesn't make you entitled to jump the queue I'm afraid.

WorraLiberty · 05/03/2014 10:11

Would it happen if you had a problem else where?

Yes, look how long cancer patients have to wait for treatment.

It does suck but if you can't afford to pay a private dentist, then it's a waiting game I'm afraid.

Pregnant or not.

Original poster
buffythebarbieslayer · 05/03/2014 10:11

I'm not precious about pregnancy. This is number three, I've moved house had a bereavement and little help. I've just got on with it.

But as I said the appt is around my due date so if I miss that one what then?

Can I keep going in post child birth with a newborn too?

OP posts:
ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 05/03/2014 10:12

well I could but I can't believe they can't find a half hour appointment between now and the middle of April.

I can actually believe this. This seems to be the norm at my surgery too. If it is an emergency they will try and see you or send you to the dental hospital. I don't think this is classed as an emergency though.

LIZS · 05/03/2014 10:12

I have two other children and not much help. I'm exhausted. With respect that isn't actually their problem . What about your dp/dh ?Presumably you haven't had to have a single 30 minute appointment before now and could have asked when they did the first or even second patch up to make a longer appointment to do it permanently ,which would have happened before now. They are not leaving you in pain , you could accept the shorter treatment sooner - your choice.

noblegiraffe · 05/03/2014 10:13

Dentists are very reluctant to do 'proper treatment' on pregnant women.

I also had a broken tooth that was patched up because they didn't want to do the filling/root canal/extraction (in the end it was an extraction) till I had the baby. So I ended up in the dentist chair quite a lot when DD was a newborn.

Wingdingdong · 05/03/2014 10:13

YABU to think it's got anything to do with pregnancy. YANBU to be surprised that they haven't got anything within 6 weeks.

I'd phone around and find a new dentist. I'd also point out, very cheerfully, that you'll accept the new appointment the week of your due date but a) you may have to cancel without any notice b) you may turn up with a newborn baby they'll have to look after and c) [possibly] you may be breastfeeding which means they won't be able to do any treatment requiring an anaesthetic... For x months...

I had a dental emergency in late pregnancy and whilst I wouldn't have expected any special treatment, the receptionist was fantastic and fitted me in within a couple of days precisely to avoid the baby/childcare and anaesthetic issues. I'd not even thought of them. So there are decent dental practices out there...

Cuddlydragon · 05/03/2014 10:15

I think everyone has been a little hard on the OP. if you're like me OP I wouldn't want or be able to take the same amount/kind of pain relief when im pregnant that I might take when I'm not. Tooth pain truly sucks and its crap. Can you speak to the receptionist and offer to take a cancellation or something?

Wingdingdong · 05/03/2014 10:16

Cross posted with others - really, no appointments for 6 weeks?! I phoned up yesterday to make an appointment and have one early next week. Not a lot of choice over time, but they're not totally full up for weeks. Wow. Maybe I won't move house after all!

saintlyjimjams · 05/03/2014 10:16

are you sure they don't just want to avoid mercury amalgam fillings during pregnancy?

Corestrategy · 05/03/2014 10:17

YANBU I agree with Wingdingdong.

Bornin1984 · 05/03/2014 10:18

I'm also pregnant and need a root canal and was told because of the treatment and anaesthetic needed I have to wait until baby comes before they can sort that! Well that's fine, I am going to be sedated for it as I hate well actually have phobia of dentist!! And she's
Told me I need a couple of temp fillings until this is done!!

Sounds like u are being unreasonBle and needy! They have offered to keep repairing it, it's u that's declined!!! Dentists had terribly long waiting lists!!!

In a nut shell..... Put up and shut up or go get it sorted like they have encouraged u to do so

Original poster
buffythebarbieslayer · 05/03/2014 10:21

I know on mumsnet there is little tolerance for pregnant women expecting above and beyond normal treatment.

And I agree mostly. Of course there are others worse off.

But all I asked was could they see me sooner as I may miss that appt and didn't really want to be stuck with this until June. Especially when I'll have birth and newborn to get through.

OP posts:
thatswhatimtalkingbout · 05/03/2014 10:21

FFS I totally think the OP INBU.

It has everything to do with being pregnant in the sense that unavoidable and unpredictable events (labour and childbirth) are likely to force her to miss the appointment she is being offered and other events (having a miniature human being living off her body; and perhaps recovering from injury or surgery) are going to make it hard to reschedule afterwards. It is totally obvious that the thing to do is just push things around now to get this job done asap.
Anyone who wants to make out she is being a prima donna needs to readjust their world view. it would actually be less inconvenience to everyone concerned, including the people who work at the surgery, to just take a sane view of this and move some stuff around.

ReallyTired · 05/03/2014 10:21

I think its shocking that the OP has to wait 6 weeks for her tooth to be fixed. Ofcourse its possible to have a local anasethetic for dental work while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Has the OP tried to find another dentist?