Sending this message to dentist....

[eco1636]

Have I any chance if getting what in want with below letter. She already has my £200 and is refusing to see me.

Dear dentist,
I called this morning as I would like to discuss with you the upper tray that came with my Enlighten system. Sadly you were not willing to speak to me.
Unfortunately the work around we tried on Saturday when you cut down the top part has seemed to make the problem worse, and I am feeling a lot of pressure on my right cental and lateral incisors, to the extent that I cannot sleep. These teeth are poorly aligned and crooked anyway, and I'm extra concerned if they are being pressed backwards and potentially getting worse.
In addition, the gel is simply not staying in there and oozes out all night.
When we did the impressions I should have mentioned to you that the top one did not feel right. My bottom teeth went through the clay to the bottom of the mould, but the top one was crooked and my teeth only met the plastic on the left of my mouth. I didn't realise this would translate to an off fitting tray for that side of the mouth.
All the literature says that they trays need to be snug to prevent problems, and clearly they need to be bearable for comfort - as my bottom tray is.
I would like to get a new mould made for the top teeth, and I can then pick up the gels from where I left off - I have used 3 nights of the first strength only.
Please could you let me know when will be convenient to come and do an impression for this.

I don't see why not. Maybe send it and then if it gets no results, consider a formal complaint? Why won't the dentist see you? Have you looked into whether there is an ombudsman in case you don't get anywhere?

Whilst I always recommend trying to work the issue out amicably, if you continue to have problems, tell them that you will be writing a complaint to the practice manager and will copy CQC in.
They will soon move to rectify it.

Your letter seems very reasonable and I hope it gets resolved.
Good luck OP.

Thanks. It's a private dentist and not nhs so there is another avenue - the dental complaints service.

She won't see me as she says it can't hurt as it's flexible plastic and I just have to get used to it.

Have you offered to pay for the top tray or do you think it should be done for free? If you don't want to pay, you may want to reword...

When we did the impressions I should have mentioned to you that the top one did not feel right. My bottom teeth went through the clay to the bottom of the mould, but the top one was crooked and my teeth only met the plastic on the left of my mouth. I didn't realise this would translate to an off fitting tray for that side of the mouth.

Which may be taken as an admission that this is your error and not theirs. Did they ask you if it was comfortable?

It seems odd that the dentist is refusing to talk to you. Were they with another patient? It sounds like that relationship may have broken down beyond repair. Is there other practising dentists in their clinic that you could be referred to?

It sounds like the dentist is refusing to speak to you on the phone which is fairly normal. Book another appointment. There can be a degree of uncomfortableness with trays/aligners/new dentures etc so it is a balance of making further modifications which might make them less effective vis a vis a period of adjustment

Sorry, the dentist is refusing to let me have an appointment. She's a one man band.

I don't know how much it would cost but I'm happy to pay if it's under £50. Or pay 50% of the cost maybe.

Just feels like she's got my money and doesn't care.

As an aside., how much gel are you putting in? There shouldn't be enough to ooze out in any circumstances. If you use too much, you'll get awful sensitivity.

I would phone up again and explain you want to see the dentist for reassurance. If she can't see you, then you will go elsewhere. Send the email now and explain that is what you want to discuss - I'm sure she will see you

It's oozing out as there's no seal - only on one part of my mouth - bottom row and lhs are fine....

Did you not get a fitting at the dentist to check they fit properly before you used them?

My top tray had to be made 3 times because everytime it arrived and the dentist checked the fitting, it just wasn't sitting right. I didn't have to pay for new impressions because it wasn't my fault it didn't fit properly

I would change Sadly you were not willing to speak to me. to Sadly you were not able to speak to me. Less confrontational. You want her to help you, so don't start by encouraging her to be defensive.

She's refusing to let you make an appointment? I think this is unlikely OP. Why would she refuse to see you point blank?

My OH is an orthodontist & regularly has patients ringing him up "just for a quick chat" - unfortunately his whole day apart from his lunch break is filled with seeing patients, so if he breaks off to speak to everyone that calls him this would put him behind & then more people would complain. Likely this is the case with your dentist and that's why she would't take your call.

Send the letter if you feel it's necessary, but I would try & make another appointment to discuss your concerns & possibly have another impression (explain this at the time you make the appointment so you're allocated enough time), but I think you're porbably going to have to pay for a new tray to be made rather than expecting the dentist to foot the bill.

She's obviously already made an attempt to correct the problem by cutting it down, so it doesn't sound like "she just doesn't care".

Send it but improve the English.

"These teeth are poorly aligned and crooked anyway, and I'm extra concerned if they are being pressed backwards and potentially getting worse."