AIBU to be annoyed with the dentist?

[MaggieFS]

I really don't know what to make of this. I'm fortunate to have an NHS dentist, I rarely need anything doing and pay for my check ups twice per year.

I last saw the dentist in October, was due to go in April which was postponed understandably to June, and they've just called to say they can't see any non urgent NHS patients until September.

They are open for urgent treatment or would happily see me privately.

I am pregnant and won't see a dentist at all therefore during this pregnancy (due late Aug). I thought it was important to be checked whilst pregnant which is why you are entitled to free NHS treatment during pregnancy.

I think I'm annoyed because it feels like the latest in a long line of moves to try and push out NHS patients (fewer dentists working fewer hours on NHS, least convenient times only etc).

I'm aware that lots are not yet open and also that I have an NHS dentist at all, but given that, the fact is they are open, I'm annoyed. AIBU?

Aren't you also entitled until the baby is a year old?

YABU O.P. - I’m also pregnant, as are thousands of other women. I think I recognise your name from a lot of your other threads, I do hope you decided to seek help for your anxiety and pregnancy related worries as it does seem you’re still overthinking things.

It's no big deal unless your in pain . Many people have been in a lot of pain and not been able to see a dentist. The dentist will have a backlog too .
Just be glad your teeth are fine and that you get it free , it's until the dc is 12 months old isn't it so plenty of time .

I will accept with good grace IABU.

As I have said upthread, but not sure everyone had RTFT, I had not realised there were such issues throughout with urgent care.

I'm also going to read up on how it works for dentists to offer NHS and private treatment, because it isn't something I fully understand. I hope that if my dentist has such short notice appointments available for private patients that they are equally as available for urgent treatment and not wasted. Many thanks for the informative posts.

Mine is a rotten wisdom being removed in next few days. Op its probably urgent cases at moment. I do get your frustration. Some dentists near me are emergency only (Dublin)

urgent appointments NHS are being taken immediately - as always.

Yes YABU

I would have thought that after emergencies, next priority should go to those with most need of a check-up. I rather hope that dentists, while they are waiting for lockdown to end, are going through their records to work out who to call in for checkups first.

Nope. The order is emergencies, then the lost fillings, outstanding treatment etc. Checkups are not even being considered at the moment especially due to the shortages of PPE.

OP, I have 4 impacted wisdom teeth and take painkillers daily. I am not classified as urgent and still have to wait for an appointment and surgery which was due to happen before lockdown.
I'm sorry, but you come waaaaaaaaay down the list

YAB totally unreasonable.

www.fgdp.org.uk/news/covid-19-updated-guidance-and-resources-lockdown-eases#Return%20to%20practice

Have a read of this little lot. Confused? So are we

I'm pregnant too OP, but can't get an appointment despite having been in excruciating pain since Friday. My dentist phoned me and has said he thinks it's a dying tooth but seemingly can't see me until the end of the month. Pre-COVID nhs advice for that was to see a doctor immediately before any infection spread. Now I'm in COVID limbo. I can only have paracetamol and I'm one sleepless night away from taking the pliers to the damn thing 😩

*dentist immediately

You're missing 1 check up, so really you need to get a bit of a grip

YABU. And many people consider one check up a year to be sufficient. If you had to pay for it, had no dental troubles, would you seriously pay for twice yearly check ups?

Horrendous jaw pain here. Saw an emergency dentist In March after my dentist had shut. Need a specially fitted mouth guard. Can't get one. Living off anti inflammatory medicines and as much soft food as I can stomach since. Dentist "might" open in July.

I'm pregnant too. A tooth filling came out last week and a few days later, despite not being in pain, the dentist saw me and put in a temporary filling. She didn't check the general state of my teeth (other than very briefly) or for any pregnancy related issues as they aren't allowed to. They weren't even allowed to do drilling to put in a proper filling, they've told me to hope that the temporary one will last until August when they hope to be allowed to do procedures again.

Dental care in pregnancy is great but it's not essential during a pandemic. And frankly I didn't want to hang around in a dental surgery longer than strictly required to deal with my lost filling.

Sorry but you are BU. My family are with a private dentist and our check ups have been cancelled. It has been a huge problem that dentistry has been put on hold during lockdown even for emergency cases.

Mine and your routine checkups can wait whilst dentists treat people in pain and need for urgent care.

I do sympathise with you OP. I have some minor but strange dental issues and am already months overdue a checkup and worried things are getting worse. Kicking myself for cancelling my March (pre lockdown) appointment.

I’ve had an infected wisdom tooth since April, it’s been hideous. Of course it decided to emerge at the start of the pandemic and then got impacted.

For a month all the dentist could do was prescribe antibiotics and tell me to go a&e if I was developing signs of sepsis it was a very unpleasant time. Finally on Monday I had the bugger taken out, never been so relieved.

So yes YABU to expect nhs check ups during a pandemic

Wow you sound so selfish. You do realise there has been a pandemic and dentists were forced to close. Obviously they are only seeing emergencies and people in pain. You think because you are pregnant you are so entitled to your little check up never mind all the others in the same boat. What a joke, sort it out.

Most can only provide some temporary relief for those in pain. They can't do any drilling, and can only use hand descalers. If you need a very urgent appt, they can direct you to a practice where full PPE is available and aeorosol generating procedures such as drilling can be done

I am pregnant and won't see a dentist at all therefore during this pregnancy (due late Aug). I thought it was important to be checked whilst pregnant which is why you are entitled to free NHS treatment during pregnancy.

When pregnant, dental treatment generally won’t be anything more invasive than a scale and polish. Even if you need dental treatment, it’s almost certain you’ll be asked to wait until you have given birth.

It’s quite typical for pregnancy to weaken teeth or cause problems, hence the fact you get some free dental treatment for the year after your due date.