To change dentist for ruining my teeth

[JustMyLuckItsHappened]

Hi, has anybody changed nhs dentist within the same surgery? If so, was it awkward, and how did you go about it? There is probably no capacity to change anyway, I realise getting an nhs dentist in the first place is like gold dust atm. I have completely lost faith in my dentist after numerous failed treatments.

I’m in the same boat. The NHS dentist we’ve been seeing for nearly 20 years is now a miserable bugger, unhappy with the management change, and seems to be taking it out on patients.
I’m in constant pain and one tooth now looks awful. My self confidence is shattered and I’m so miserable being in daily pain but there is no point going back to him (he’s looked at the issue 5 times already and has pretty much said that it’s all fine) but there is only one other nhs dentist in the practice and they don’t have any availability to take other patients 😕

I left my NHS dentist because every treatment I had (same tooth) had complications and I ended up needing root canal on it. It was just a series of unfortunate errors. But the practice used newly qualified who used it as a stepping stone to a private practice. My Mum stayed but complained - similarly she had someone routine that became protracted she sees the practice manager now.

I could never get in for a routine check up. I’d book 6months in advance, be moved, moved again, cancelled. I just wasn’t being seen.

@DentalDisaster it is horrendous that you have been left in constant pain. I know what you mean, I am now so anxious and distrusting of dentists; the whole saga is making me feel nauseous. Is there no other practices in your area? It sounds very distressing. And thank you, yes i am definately scared if I stay with this dentist I'll gradually loose teeth. I have fillings from previous dentists that have lasted for years. Any new ones this dentist does seem to fail sooner or later, and he under treats. I have had to point out cavities that have been missed during regular check ups. Some have become larger due to his negligence. No idea what is the point of the check ups when he is failing to spot issues.

I see the practice are taking on new patients but i'd need to move dh and dcs across too. I am really anxious about changing and him finding out, or the practice being awkward.
I am also in the middle of a treatment that has failed and needs redone, so no idea what will happen with that.

@Morningcoffeeview this is exactly what is happening to me at the moment, I am in the middle of treatment and want to change. I'm so nervous that if I let this dentist do one more treatment I'm going to lose the tooth. I think they forget how much not only your physical but mental health can be affected by it all. Everything I eat I get scared bits of tooth/filling will fall off!

lose*

I thought about asking if I could change dentist but decided moving to another practice would be better. I phoned around and was on the verge of giving up when I found a practice who would take me on mid treatment. So glad I found them. They saved my tooth. And they have taken my son on now.

Thanks twonkyboo, I'm sure it was a relief to find a new dentist. This practice is the only one in my area.

I have paid for dental treatment that has failed, that he is trying to "put right." Does anybody know if a different nhs dentist can finish the treatment without me losing the 12 month guarantee?

Some teeth just cannot be saved, yet they go through filling, large filling, huge filling, root canal, extraction, implant. The process takes years and is uncomfortable at best, and very expensive if private.
Next time I get (another) one of these that gets to stage ‘you need a roof canal’ I’m jumping straight to the extraction.

Understandable C4tastrophe, they should have been honest from the start with risks etc rather than putting you through all of that. I have never had an issue with any other dentist, it is this one who seems poor, I have spoken to people who have said the same thing.

The practice aren't taking on any new patients, does anybody know if you're changing dentist would that open a slot up? As technically they wouldn't be taking on a new patient.

Yes the issue I had was something routine escalated and I had a complication each time. I didn’t start out needing root canal. Never had a complication with any other treatment - but had 3x treatments with 3x complications each time.

i went private. I’d rather be skint than toothless.

It is so stressful isn't it. I have gotten to the point where I don't trust the dentist, this is causing a great deal of anxiety. I don't want to lose any teeth.

Did you get a refund from the failed treatments before you went private? I am considering a pay monthly private denplan, can you pay monthly for treatment too?
Otherwise I want to change dentists within the same practice if it doesn't count as a new patient, ad they're not taking on.

**@Morning@Morningcoffeeview@Morningcoffeeview

Sorry forgot to tag you, for some reason my phone is going berserk when I am tagging.

i had to see a specialist after my NHS dentist changed a veneer id had donkeys and filed my original tooth down again so the pulp was exposed and the tooth died. Another NHS dentist tried and failed to fix it so in the end I need a specialist to save it and I still with that private dentist over a decade later.

I prioritise my teeth over most other things so the money I spend on them is always worthwhile and I’m grateful private dentistry exists. In your case I’d leave the dentist in a heart beat and not look back. My kids are still at the practice but if they ever need work on their teeth beyond a check up and fluoride varnish I’d go private for it.

Thank you davyjohnshere I just worry that I'll initiate it then they'll not let me change, and I'll have to go back to the same dentist knowing I've complained (I hate confrontation).

Maybe i should just not give any personal details and ask if change is possible first and which dentist/s can be changed to. I suppose it is possible for them to say the dentists have no capacity (they have already said they are taking on private patients though.

I got warranty works for the crown. I’d paid £500 to upgrade to zirconium and they replaced it for free. The fact it was poorly fitted is what caused the issues as it had fallen out and the tooth had decayed underneath. When I went in when it fell off they said “Who fitted this the wear is all uneven and it’s let the decay in” and I said “you” which meant they had already admitted their error. Although new dentist said my crown looks porcelain - she didn’t know and was going through my teeth to her assistant and I said no, it’s zirconium. She said no the light reflects off it like porcelain. So I think I might have had a cheaper replacement.

I still would have had to pay for some of the treatment but was on maternity leave so fortunately didn’t.

I pay £18 per month which gives me two check ups, two hygienist visits per year, X-ray every other year and 10% of treatments. I had a white filling and it was £80.

I couldn’t get in for a check up at all NHS, they moved it 4x! I just felt I wasn’t looking after my teeth and needed to because they’re not great anyway and think prevention is better than cure.

I have paid a lot of money and only afew weeks ago, and I'm not sure how to fo about getting a refund, if I go private I could afford the monthly denplay payments and a filling but not larger treatments. I feel I've hit a road block.

My NHS dentist was awful. I switched to private (who was affordable!) and they had SO much to repair.

It was worth it. I was literally working extra shifts in the evening to pay for my treatment. I'm no longer in pain and thankfully now just have 6 monthly checkups.

I also don't understand how this dentist does private on the side, when nhs patients are unhappy!

Mine was the same! The owner did private and his minions and newly qualified did NHS - says it all.

Exactly @Morningcoffeeview I bet the NHS only dentists were better! I don't know who on earth would pay for these dentists privately. I'm hoping that they will let me change and just aren't taking on new patients. I have already paid and need the treatment redone.

**@Piffle@Pifflepuffin@Pifflepuffin@Pifflepuffin@Pifflepuffin

Sorry no idea why my phone going crazy with the tagging!

I only wish I could afford larger treatments privately; it is awful when you can't trust your dentist. He will do a check up and say everything is fine, then I have to point out obvious cavities!

Yes my NHS dentist broke a tooth through poor filling and I believe didnt help quickly enough to get my gum problems sorted out and I now have terrible gum recession.

The first NHS dentist couldn't communicate properly in English so I had no idea how serious the recession was at the time and so didn't go ahead with cleaning plan quick enough. The second error was by a newly qualified dentist who drilled a hole too big for my filling causing it to break.

I have now gone private and had no problems in over three years.