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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not book a dental appt in school time?

42 replies

PurplePotatoes · 25/08/2018 07:49

Took DD and DS for a dental check up yesterday. No treatment needed and I went to reception to book the next check up in 6 months. The receptionist offered me a time of 11.00am on a school day. (Its very hard to get an appointment at this dentist, I had to wait 6 months for a filling until my next check up). I explained that DD is starting reception in Sept and I don't know what the school policy is on appointments like this so could we please have an out of school hours appt time.

She then huffed and puffed and told me it wouldn't be in 6 months then and "this really annoys me as some will take them out, some won't but parents should value their children's teeth as much as their education". She then slapped a ticket in my hand for an appt in 8 months time.

So who was BU, is it the norm to take kids out of school every 6 months just for a check up ??

OP posts:

totallyliterally · 25/08/2018 07:50

Nope... my nhs dentist you book online, they text you to say you're due and you go on and choose one

treaclesoda · 25/08/2018 07:52

I've never taken my children out of school to go to the dentist. I would if they were in pain and it was an emergency, but not for a check up. Outside of school hours seems perfectly reasonable to me.

AuntieStella · 25/08/2018 07:52

She was being rude.

It's not a competition about tpwhat is valued most highly - you can arrange both proper dental care and proper school attendance.

And finding suitable appointments for patients is hejob, not some weird imposition.

Sirzy · 25/08/2018 07:53

Nope. Most schools specifically ask that routine appointments like that aren’t taken in school time.

Ds has plenty of appointments we get no say in. Dentist isn’t one so that is after school (Although we are about to be referred to a SN dentist so doubt we will get much flexibility with them!)

BringOnTheScience · 25/08/2018 07:53

It's perfectly normal for children to be out for a dentist appointment. Schools mark M for medical on the register. It's authorised. Fast forward to teens with braces and appointments every 6 weeks!

OwlinaTree · 25/08/2018 07:54

YANBU to request after school, but if your dentist is only open till 5, it does limit your choice. I'm sure the school will be fine with a dentist appointment, I would get an afternoon app, you can collect them after their afternoon mark so it won't count as an an absence.

Change dentists to one with later hours?

Ethelswith · 25/08/2018 07:55

I have always arranged routine appointments outside school days.

One DC needed extensive (NHS, hospital) orthodontic treatment, and had to miss school for those, as there was no flexibility in hen the relevant clinics were running.

GhostPerfume · 25/08/2018 07:55

Tell her there is actually little to.no evidence that the 6 month rule thing is necessary. It's a random length of.tome that has become accepted but if everything is going well and no pain/high risk factors there's no reason why it needs to be stuck to that much. (Can try and link my sources for that if anyone's interested but it's too early on a Sat to dig them out now)

Itchytights · 25/08/2018 07:57

It’s really not going to hurt is it- attending a dentist appointment

Original poster

PurplePotatoes · 25/08/2018 08:02

Thanks everyone, I thought I wasn't asking too much really but just wanted to check as it's first DC starting school so no clue about these things. If she needed treatment then obviously that would be different.

Not much chance of changing surgeries unfortunately as it took us 12 months to find a practice taking people on in this area and our actual dentist is fab.

That's interesting about the 6 month rule GhostPerfume I didn't know that.
22mo DS just rammed his fist in his mouth and refused to budge it, so hopefully in 8 months time he might be a bit more willing!!

OP posts:

mindutopia · 25/08/2018 08:28

It’s perfectly normal to take them during school hours but they should also be happy to book them in after school or during school holidays. Personally I always try to book mine in after school because frankly it’s a pain doing a midday appointment as dentist is about a 30 minute drive from school and an appointment at 11am basically means dh or I have to pretty much take a whole day off work just for 10 minutes at the damn dentist

Twotinydictators · 25/08/2018 08:38

Schools issue term dates quite far in advance and we just book for school holidays...one in August and the other in February half-term. I would take them in school time for an emergency though.

LoopyGremlin · 25/08/2018 08:42

I think you were being very reasonable to ask if there was the possibility of an after school or a school holiday appointment. I would never take my children out of school for a routine check up!

Glumglowworm · 25/08/2018 08:43

YANBU

It’s a routine check up, it doesn’t warrant missing school

Obviously if DC was in pain or having issues then you take the first available appointment but a check up can wait

Slartybartfast · 25/08/2018 08:45

i always book after school, or if absolutely necessary an 8.00 am one, they are very reasonable and accommodating.

Cauliflowersqueeze · 25/08/2018 08:47

It’s absolutely fair enough wanting it outside of school hours and it should be as far as possible. You are right.

wildewillow · 25/08/2018 08:48

I would only take my kids out of school for an emergency appointment not just for a check up. Will she be doing half days in reception?

I'd be inclined to mention the attitude of the receptionist to your dentist as well. She was rude and condescending and it's none of her business to comment on parenting values regarding teeth and education. As the front face of their business I think they would appreciate the feedback.

tactum · 25/08/2018 08:49

I also got into the routine of end of august and Feb half term - never been an issue at all.

When you get orthodontic treatment for Teens on the NHS in a practise taking private patients as well you pretty much get what you're given and schools know this so that's not an issue either

dementedpixie · 25/08/2018 08:51

I always book outside of school hours. Dd has orthodontic treatment and I also make those appointments after school too

Littlebluebird123 · 25/08/2018 08:56

I wouldn't say it's 'Normal' to take kids out of school for a check up.
My dental receptionist automatically looks for the after school appointments when I'm booking mine in.
I've only taken mine out of school for pain appointments or hospital/clinic appointments as it's either a necessity or really hard to reschedule due to inflexible clinics.
It's not the end of the world to miss school for a medical need. As a pp said, they just mark it in a medical. However, the school can ask to see the appointment letter/card (as some people say it's a medical reason just to avoid fines).
I try to save my absences from school for unavoidable reasons. No point in trying to rock the boat tbh. :)

Littlebluebird123 · 25/08/2018 08:59

Oh and for ds, it's good just to keep taking him even if they don't get a look in. I did with all of mine and by the time the dentist did need to see their teeth it wasn't a problem. :)

TeenTimesTwo · 25/08/2018 09:03

I've 2 teens and I've never taken them out of school for a routine check up. After school, half terms, holidays, and INSET days have always been sufficient. We seem to end up going about every 7 months.

We have had to miss school for orthodontist appointments at secondary but have normally managed them to miss a less valued/enjoyed subject.

MissCharleyP · 25/08/2018 09:06

I used to work in a sixth form college; some of the pupils travelled quite a distance to attend. They refused to class routine dental appointments as an authorised absence for EMA (although I think that doesn’t exist anymore), same with GP appointments. They did authorise orthodontist or hospital appointments. Refused to accept that due to distances involved that there was sometimes no alternative. One lady used to do exam invigilating and brought her daughter’s dentist appointment card in before she started work. The attendance officer refused to authorise and said she should make appointments outside of college time. It got a bit heated and the parent said their dentist was always booked for months in advance for appointments before 9 and after 4 as adults who worked were given priority for those.

lozster · 25/08/2018 09:10

I thought it was absolutely normal - not least because getting an nhs dentist at all round here is a labour of Hercules. Using the same rule of work (try to get first thing or last thing) I was quite pleased to get 9.00am. Got back for 9.20. Recorded as absent - ok an M absent but still absent. I’d been a bit naive but when I was a kid it was totally normal to go out of school for check ups. In fact, my childhood dentist was a children’s clinic so it wouldn’t really have functioned if no one came out of school!

So she is being unreasonable and a bit rude but you may need to lower your expectations too because after school times work better for people who work too so they are going to be in demand. If you can sync up to get holidays (and you are always available for holidays ie not working) then grand. Oh and also hope you aren’t unlucky like my sister, plan your holiday around a coveted summer slot then get cancelled a week before as the dentist is on holiday.

PamsterWheel · 25/08/2018 09:12

I always like a 2.30 appointment 😁

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