I went to the dentist today , it’s my 3rd appointment since registering as it took me so long to find a dentist that accepts NHS patients and understand how hard this is for everyone.
I had an emergency appointment in November because all my gums hurt ridiculously I was taking pain killers every 2-4 hours and felt like I was taking way to many. I couldn’t eat properly I even blended a dinner to eat something other than soup . I saw the emergency dentist she said for my age (33) this was bad I shouldn’t have problems like this. I had them cleaned after having anaesthetic in my lower gums because it hurt so much i couldn’t even do it and was in tears, she said that I needed regular every 3 months deep cleans .
I got antibiotics and have taken my dental hygiene very seriously since and the problems have subsided. I found a regular dentist and had my first check up that’s required when you register. Been told everything else I need done along with needing a hygiene clean to maintain the gum disease as it can’t be cured just kept at bay to remove the plaque that was still there , so I came out and made the appointments.
i had my hygienist appointment I took the very first one I could get to get this sorted and never ever experience that pain again . The lady was lovely and even though it hurt she done an amazing job removing plaque and I didn’t need anaesthetic just numbing cream thankfully .
when I came out I went to reception to book my son an appointment. the man at the reception was typing into the card reader , he said that’s £55 please and I was so confused I said I get nhs treatment he said it’s not covered by nhs because it’s a hygienist appointment so I’ve said ok I’m so sorry I can’t even pay it today I’ve literally paid out everything all my direct debits have come out as well I’m waiting until my next pay day , he said well we all have bills to pay and I felt so humiliated as if I’m trying to not pay. Which yes I completely understand we all do have bills to pay on time etc but I had no idea and I would have kept the money aside if I had known , I was so embarrassed with people all behind me in the waiting room . I said I can pay on such and such day and he said I would have been told asif I was lying about not knowing I said I wasn’t told by the dentist when she told me to book , by the receptionist when I did book and also nothing was in the confirmation email and the 2nd confirmation email I got prior to attending. I said this is 4 opportunities I could have been told and wasn’t he was then saying the receptionist is very good and she wouldn’t have forgotten to tell me which was implying again I was lying , I said clearly she’s not because I wasn’t told 🤷🏼♀️
I made the appointment I needed to apologised did a promise to pay which then the charge was added to my account and left .
I then rang the nhs dental helpline and asked what treatment I’m actually entitled to and asked about hygienist appointments. He asked if I had booked the appointment myself which I had and he told me that it would then be cosmetic, I explained further that 2 dentists had told me to book this and he said sorry about the confusion it does come under clinically necessary for the heath of my gums to prevent me from having even severe issues and that it’s the dentists that have said it . I asked what can I do about this owed payment and he said call the helpline when I next go and they will explain. I was still outside so said can I go back now and you talk to him so I did and the receptionist was saying it isn’t clinically necessary but he will waver it this time . He wasn’t happy at all and once off the phone he said to me he’s wavering it because I wasn’t told about it not because I’m supposed to have it and even the man on the phone agreed with him and laughed as if I was stupid . I said going forward how am I supposed to have this done every 3 months I’ll have to pay? He said yes Its not necessary etc etc just being rude the whole time I said the dentist here said it and he said I must have got confused it was advised not necessary. I asked how does he know that and he said he will ask the dentist but I feel like he won’t and just wanted rid of me . he added that every time I come Iam late which isn’t true I said I’ve only been here 3 times , the first time I was a few minutes late as I got the bus dragging my 2 kids with me using Google maps to find the place but it wasn’t by a lot . The 2nd appointment my son had one at 2:20 and mine was at 2:50 , me and my daughter ran for the bus made it but my son didn’t he was 2 far behind and missed it , he’s 12 so I said get the next bus . I got there about 2:16 I explained to the receptionist the same man that my sons appointment is 2:20 and mines 2:50 he’s running late can I swap them around he said oh I understand I have children it gets harder as they get older and was very chatty telling me he’s children’s ages , he said it’s fine I’ll change them and then I waited , just as I went in to the dentist before I’d even sat down my son got there so she saw him and then me like it was supposed to be , today I was on time exactly at 3:30 . So said I’ve not been late he said the first time I was 6 minutes late , I was just in shock that he’s mentioning this and then he said and yesterday I said no I switched the appointments he said oh yes I remember . I couldn’t believe I was trying about this with him.
I left and rang the first dentist I saw the emergency one and explained that I was told it was necessary is that on the notes or anything or anyway I can contact that dentist for proof about it , she read out the notes and said yes. she said you need this every 3 months as I have gaps in my teeth from receading gums plaque and gum pockets it needs to be maintained. I’ve emailed the manager at this practice for a copy of these notes to prove myself to this receptionist .
this felt so unfair how I was treated and since leaving I’ve thought if I now ignore the 2 dentists that have said to do this and take the receptionists word in 3 6 12 whatever amount of months this is goih to come back and be painful again worse case scenario my teeth fall out because I haven’t done what I needed to do . I felt gaslighted like I was making it up to get free treatments or something like a scum bag who’s on Benefits trying to get things for free and not pay or something . I wouldn’t have booked the appointment in the first place if I wasn’t told to do so .
I don’t know what to do from here it’s knocked me down mentally so much I feel humiliated and embarrassed I even started to cry at one point , all in front of my 8 year old daughter .
is he right ? Am I just causing problems I’m so confused. I completely understand any lateness or missed appointments are unacceptable as the demand for nhs Denist’s is so high but to bring it up into this felt like I was being attacked trying to defend myself while staying calm and quiet in front of the other people , I didn’t say bye to him when I left the day before and I don’t know if that’s pissed him off after he was so chatty 🤷🏼♀️ I’m trying to think every possible reason here and can’t figure it out