Private dental care and a possible emergency……..

[Jennysnothere]

I’m fully expecting to be told I am being unreasonable and even entitled but maybe I need telling.

moved 2 years ago to an area where can not get nhs dental surgery so signed up with a private dentist. Chose one with good reviews and several (8 i think, maybe more) dentists. Allocated a dentist and had check ups etc. so far so good.

on Monday I started getting some tooth pain. Took ibuprofen, seemed to settle it a bit but not completely, by Wednesday I was feeling run down and blamed that for my toothache. By Thursday (yesterday) morning I woke up feeling a bit better but my whole lower side of face has swollen up. Pain at this point was, admittedly, quite low but fearing an infection or abscess.

I rang dentist to be told my dentist doesn’t work Thursday or Friday and would I see another one. Yes, I said. Gave details of what had happened to be told I would be triaged and someone would ring if appointment was available.

no call yesterday. Woke up this morning pretty much in same position as yesterday re: pain, not too bad and manageable but face still swollen. Ring again to be told same as yesterday. So still sitting here waiting for call.

am I being unreasonable to expect to at least be seen today. I’m more than happy to pay private prices but really expected prompt treatment. What do I do if something happens ( burst abscess?) or do I just need to suck it up.

YABU.

I don't know why the previous poster said YABU. You are entitled to see a NHS dentist for a dental emergency - which this is - even if you are not registered with one for routine care. Look up the Emergency Dental Helpline for your area or call 111. You should be seen today.

YANBU, but you're expecting too much from a private dentist. Mine wouldn't even offer an appointment with another dentist, I would have to wait for the allocated to me to be available. That defeats the point of choosing a practice with multiple dentists, as I realised afterwards, but they can run their business the way they want.

For emergencies you should contact 111, they'll help get an emergency appointment on the NHS if they assess that there is a urgent need.

I think that as a private patient will possible infection they should have fitted you in yesterday.
I am with an NHS dentist and last year had an abscess and called them at 8.30 and was seen by 11.00 with antibiotics and had to go back a few days later to have the gum cut to drain, back again twice more for antibiotics. All of these were with another dentist and not the one registered with. If I was private I would expect similar.

That is very poor from the dental practice. My private dentist keeps open appointments every day for emergencies, and if he wasn't in I'm confident the practice would offer an appointment with another dentist.

Why? Just because you can? Pointless and immature.

Go to the surgery and say you need to be seen as it's now an emergency. My dentist would fit you in one way or another if you were in pain. Even a quick look and prescribe antibiotics if it's an infection.

Any private dentist should accept you for an emergency appointment, it doesn’t have to be the one you’re registered with, so contact other local surgeries. As HelenaWaiting advises, you can also contact 111 to be referred to an NHS dentist if they agree you meet the criteria, though have to be prepared to travel if necessary to one who can offer an appointment.

Swelling could make this an emergency. Yes I think it's reasonable to expect to be seen same day.

My private dentist is usually available same day for emergencies/dental pain and weekends too for emergencies (never had to use weekends, dread to think how much that would cost!)

I think that's poor. We've been with private dentists for about 25 years now - a few different ones due to us moving or them retiring. They have all seen emergencies on the same day or the day after and they have a rota with other dentists in the aea for out of hours cover. Even for non routine stuff that's not really an emergency there's not a long wait. For instance last year I knocked quite a big chip out of my front tooth. It wasn't painful but I still got seen and had it fixed within a few days. And it's only a 2 dentist practice in a small town.

My private dentist would have seen me the same day. No problem.

I would call the again, or try somewhere else, because a tooth abscess can be very serious in some cases (if it bursts into your bloodstream it will cause sepsis). I would never wait it out.

Thanks for all your advice. I’m glad I’m to hear the majority don't think I’m being unreasonable.

since posting here this morning a couple of things have happened.

i rang 111 and went through all the questions etc.. and they said they would get my GP to ring me back ( for a dental problem? Eh? But what do I know)

GP rang me back and advised me it’s dental issue not a GP issue (no sh*t Sherlock!) and to ring back 111 and insist on seeing a dentist FFS.

OK, here’s where it get really funny…..

I ring 111, go through the whole rigmarole, same questions etc….and insist I get a dental appointment.

and just guess who they gave me an appointment with…..none other than my own dentist! Later on today.

Even funnier, when i originally rang my dentist yesterday they said if they could fit me in there would be a minimum emergency cost of £135 plus any treatment charges. 111 said I would only be required to pay an NHS charge of £27.50.

Honestly, you couldn’t make it up. I’m just expecting now to arrive at Dentists and for them to know nothing about it.