Shall I complain about the receptionist at the dentist ?

[Lolared]

I had a bad experience with the dentist receptionist about 2 weeks ago , I was going to complain and looked into doing it properly through a company who deals with NHS practice complaints. the person I spoke to said I was totally in the right and to 100% go through with a complaint .

I cooled down and reevaluated the situation and this is a dentist I want to attend long term so thought best to let it go for everyone’s sake to save future awkwardness.

I went back yesterday for an appointment with my son, it was hard to act completely like nothing had happened but I was polite and smiled and it felt ok. After the appointment when I was booking another , he added he’s reflected on the previous conversation ( which I was thinking wow he’s going to apologise) and then adds more to the argument we had basically saying he’s gone off and thought of 1 more thing to chuck into it , then saying we will draw a line under it though , leaving me speechless, as I had already drew a line under it silently trying to be the bigger person .
I then left feeling like no I don’t want to draw a line under it even though I agreed with him and left politely. I’m furious. How dare he ? Why keep it going ? Why hold on to that for 2 weeks and wait for me to come back and have to still try and belittle me.

The conversation with the complaint people I spoke to in the beginning said if I was to go ahead I would need the managers details so after coming home I began finding the managers details (without calling the dental practice to not make the receptionist aware )

It turns out the receptionist is the manager/ owner! He’s photo came up when I was searching , he and he’s wife both own the practice she does dental work and he used to specialise in banking for 15 years so I assume has taken the role as receptionist.

Now I don’t know what to do , I don’t want him to think he can say some sly comment every time I go and I have to be the bigger person and take it on the chin and ignore it. It feels so unprofessional and I honestly just want to go to my appointments and go home.

Shall I just put up and shut up?

tia xx

You don’t want to upset the dentist who has sharp tools on your mouth so I wouldn’t complain about her husband!
Either find another dentist or keep quiet about it.

It's very hard to get a dentist these days.

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Professionally though they aren’t allowed to do this or anything if I have complained surely?

Ask for their complaints policy. They have to have one, it’s something they get CQC inspections on.

It was so hard 😩😮‍💨

I think I'd just move on and try to forget, dentists are hard to get into currently.

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i wouldn’t risk it though. Dentist appointments are unpleasant enough without any additional pain or discomfort

Do you think this would antagonise him though even me asking ?

if you complain they'll kick you off their list anyway

shouldnt happen and normally I would be guns blazing but in this situation I would just smile and nod. And seethe 😂

If we knew what happened might be able to advise

I guess if you think you can move on and carry on OP then that's what you should do. Obviously you haven't said what the problem was but if it was that bad that you feel traumatised or it it was something illegal then pursue it with the relevant complaint procedures. But then you'll have to find another dentist of course!

I’m imagining this situation, I make a complaint and then something happens to my teeth while in the chair . She would lose her job and I would sue the crap out of them! Legally they would be in tatters

What Madam Vastra said. Smile nicely and carry on. Spaces at any dental practice are like hen's teeth, at the moment.

"I’m imagining this situation, I make a complaint and then something happens to my teeth while in the chair . She would lose her job and I would sue the crap out of them! Legally they would be in tatters"

I think you're taking this way too literally.

Thank you this is exactly where I’m at and just confirms it for me . Hopefully he does actually draw a line under this as I’m back on Friday and getting anxious 😮‍💨😬

Totally unprofessional! I appreciate how hard it is to find a dentist at the moment but would suggest you try and get yourself on a waiting list for somewhere else. You should not be made to feel uncomfortable going there!
The set up(man/wife owners, she’s the dentist)sounds like a practice I know well?!
Ive had the odd patient be very rude to me but in a professional capacity you just have to move past it. I’m as pleasant and helpful to the rude ones as I am to the lovely ones. It’s my job!

Don’t really understand what you hope to achieve. Not if it’s somewhere you want to go back.

They’ll just remove you from the list…

I think you need to get over this dentist thing, you were a little embarrassed, he was wrong. Just draw a line and get over it

You would go back after your complaint?

I feel like OP has tried to move past it but the receptionist just won’t let it drop. It’s rude and highly unprofessional.

No I said I was imagining. Iam not taking it literal.
the comment that the dentist could basically sabotage my teeth because I made a complaint , I highly highly doubt would happen .
to go to university and study and get your own dental practice I’m sure wouldn’t be worth throwing for .
the comment was something imaginary to me so I imagined back.
ty

It depends on what you want the outcome to be.

Complain - have to find a new dentist. Might be unable to find another one.
Don't complain - get dental treatment, which can prevent or stop horrendous pain.

Up to you. I know which outcome I would prefer in this dental shortage.

Lolared, this wouldn't be in a village beginning with W, by any chance?.....