Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
TheOnlyPink · 05/03/2014 10:22

No one is saying you are being unreasonable to be annoyed about the length of time it takes to get a proper appointment.

you are however being unreasonable to think that being pregnant entitles you to more consideration.

kali110 · 05/03/2014 10:23

It really sucks having tooth pain.i had two bad teeth recently. Unfortunately i think yababitu. I had a 6 week wait for two deep fillings and my surgery isnt little.

ChoudeBruxelles · 05/03/2014 10:23

Look for a new dentist

ReallyTired · 05/03/2014 10:24

Dental health often suffers while pregnant and breastfeeding. This is why all women are entitled to free dentistry during pregnancy. I suspect the OP is being made to wait until April so that the expensive work is done in the new financial year.

pianodoodle · 05/03/2014 10:24

I found the dentist didn't want to do any work while I was pregnant and preferred to wait til after the birth.

thatswhatimtalkingbout · 05/03/2014 10:25

Bornin1984, you have completely missed the point. This isn't about the treatment not being suitable for pregnant women, it is about them being unable to take a pragmatic and human approach to diary management.

I can't believe the meanness on this thread. There are two dimensions to this that you hatchet-faced scrubbers seem to be completely missing: one, that everything is harder and more difficult in pregnancy, including lugging your swollen body to places that actually you wouldn't need to repeatedly go to if people would stop dicking you about; and two, that there are very major and unpredictable things happening to the OP in the week they are offering to treat her that might make it completely impossible for her to attend. I suppose you silly old bags, making a virtue out of internalised misogyny, think that she should show up in labour and if the baby is born at the same time she would be making a fuss to expect any special care for that too

Bornin1984 · 05/03/2014 10:26

Op- have u actually told the dentist that that appt is around your due date??? I'm surprised if u have and they haven't been able to rearrange! Or why can't u ring up daily and see if cancellations

Bornin1984 · 05/03/2014 10:27

really - I don't think it matters when the financial year starts for dentisty(I probably wrong) it more sounds like that it was available appt

RufusTheReindeer · 05/03/2014 10:30

I had a root canal done while pregnant (no anaesthetic)

And was seen straight away, it was a private dentist but luckily he was happy to do it under the NHS

It is a shame they can't squeeze you in, I don't think they are being unreasonable but I also don't think you are either

Do you speak straight to the dentist or do they refer you to the receptionist each time

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 05/03/2014 10:31

OP - You shouldn't be left in pain for so long that's really unfair. I would ring them and beg for an early appointment / cancellation especially as their attempts to patch up have failed. Plus they must have some slots for emergencies, see if they could use one of those for you given the circumstances. The squeaky wheel gets the grease after all.

Bornin1984 · 05/03/2014 10:32

Actually in the original op, the op has stated that they have offered to keep repairing the tooth/issue until the baby is born! My understanding is the baby is due in April! Sounds like general practise is to wait until baby born until this type of work can/should be carried out! So yes while it's 6 ish weeks to wait for the thorough treatment the op hasn't actually said that the next appt is six weeks away! Sounds like the can accommodate her to do necessary repairs- she just chooses not to as wants the proper repair doing g which they can't at present!!

Well that's whT this hatched faced pregnant scrubber takes from the op!

My bad!

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 05/03/2014 10:32

Pregnant or not, I don't think you should have to wait that long in pain. We treat our bloody animals better than that!

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 05/03/2014 10:34

Can you attend at any time?

Its just I have had people moaning I cant give thrm appointment for weeks when they have said they can only make 5pm or a Monday.

Duckegg80 · 05/03/2014 10:34

I've had to have medical treatment while pregnant (for a non-pregnancy related accident) and I have huge sympathy for the OP. Everything was more complicated due to the pregnancy, from the treatment to the pain relief afterwards (almost non existent and vastly different to the painkillers I could have taken if not pregnant). So pregnancy is a 'special case' in my view, especially due to the pain and limited options to address it.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 05/03/2014 10:34

But thatswhat everyone else needing to use the dentist will have their own issues, hurdles and problems. They just can't fit everyone in, all the time. Most NHS dentists have got massive waiting lists because there aren't enough of them.

Bornin1984 · 05/03/2014 10:37

Op wants the full repair done wile pregnant- dentist can't...

Dentist wants to do another temp repair - op doesn't want that ......

They aren't saying wait 6 weeks for treatment. They are saying come get it temp repaired again and then we will look at the thorough repair when baby is here!

defonamechangedforthis · 05/03/2014 10:37

you got pregnant, why on earth should you be offered special treatment because of that. If i had an appointment in a few weeks time but possibly couldnt make it because of something else i had planned to do would you think i am entitled to special treatment? no!

if you dont like it then go private.

noblegiraffe · 05/03/2014 10:38

Ofcourse its possible to have a local anasethetic for dental work while pregnant or breastfeeding.

But if it's a filling, there is obvious reluctance to do mercury fillings during pregnancy if they can be postponed.

BrianTheMole · 05/03/2014 10:41

I'd see if another dentist can do it.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 05/03/2014 10:48

OP - As I understand it the dentist is prepared to do the work before baby is born it's just that they refuse to book you an appointment until you are around 39 week pg. Is this correct or are they actually saying baby needs be born before they can do full repair? These two situations are rather different.

MyLeftElbow · 05/03/2014 10:48

I don't think you're being unreasonable - you're in pain and can't take the amount or type of painkillers that non-pregnant people can take. Therefore you should be getting prompt, efficient treatment due to your pain management being different.

pigsinmud · 05/03/2014 10:52

Is it an NHS dentist? My old NHS dentist was ridiculous. You could have lost half a tooth and be in agony and they would tell you the next appointment was not for 2 months. I swapped to a private one and appointments are easily come by.

I think the fact you are pregnant is irrelevant. It would be awful for anyone who has to wait 6 weeks to get a painful tooth sorted out.

Bornin1984 · 05/03/2014 10:56

But the op doesn't have to wait 6 weeks does she!!! She's been offered temp repair and would rather not have it done that way

Original poster
buffythebarbieslayer · 05/03/2014 10:59

I'll have the temporary repair. But knowing it will come out again. And again. As it has the last three times.

OP posts:
TheDoctorsNewKidneys · 05/03/2014 11:00

Go and take the temporary repair that's been offered. You absolutely do not have to wait until April or June to get it fixed - you can go and get a temporary repair now, and then get it fixed properly when you're not pregnant.

YABU to think being pregnant should entitle you to special treatment. You already get free care, but that care has to fit in with all the other patients that already have appointments. You've been offered a solution, don't refuse it and then complain that nothing is being done.

Swipe left for the next trending thread