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Original poster

Dentists - want to cry

44 replies

amanda1 · 14/02/2006 09:33

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BradfordMum · 14/02/2006 09:51

Oh how I sympathise with you. In Oct I had a cracked tooth remover. I was told it could take a week to heal. I had intense pain for 7 days and was taking double doses of Paramol and Ibruprofen. Fortunatly, the dentist saw me an hour after I rang up, and told me I had a 'dry socket'. Basically the wound was still open and the jaw bone was badly infected. he gave me a prescription for anti-biotics and I saw an improvement within 36 hours.
Phone the dentist back and ask for a prescription from them. In fact, DEMAND one!

Hope you're feeling better soon...

Sally x

Original poster
amanda1 · 14/02/2006 10:22

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melissasmummy · 14/02/2006 11:14

If you are in pain they have a duty of care to see you within 24 hours! They have casued yuo problems so are obligied to see you. Ring back & make sure they give you an appointment.

melissasmummy · 14/02/2006 11:15

sorry, should have said, DR prob won't do alot as they have no experience dealing with dental pain.

Original poster
Amanda1 · 14/02/2006 11:42

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noddyholder · 14/02/2006 11:44

That is a disgrace they broke the tooth and now shouldn't leave you in pain for that amount of time.I would ring back and say they have a duty to see you or you will make a complaint Have you tried ringing your gp for painkillers and antibiotics You really have my sympathy xx

Original poster
Amanda1 · 14/02/2006 11:47

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FeelingOld · 14/02/2006 12:23

Last year I developed an abcess on a broken tooth over the weekend, very very painful and face and lip very swollen (I am talking huge!!). In pain all weekend, rang dentist first thing monday morning, no appointments, dh explained situation (as I couldn't talk), told to ring back next day to see if any cancellations.
Dh wouldn't accept this so took me down to dentists and told them we would sit in the waiting room until an appointment became available (ie someone not turning up for their appointment) and told them we were not leaving until I had been seen.
Finally got seen after about half an hour and dentist said good job I came down and took tooth out and gave me a/biotics.
He said they keep x amount of appointments for emergencies, but when they have been filled other people have to wait and that usually half of the people booking these appointments could have waited a couple of days and then they could see the people in real pain.
Go down there and don't leave until you have been seen, or if you really can't do that go to A & E now and explain to them that you have explored all other avenues and no one will help you. Can you take a friend for moral support?
Don't wait though, get seen now.
Good luck.

BudaBabe · 14/02/2006 12:54

I echo FeelingOld - GO DOWN THERE! Refuse to leave and cry while you are there. They really do not want crying patients putting their other patients off!

You poor thing. It sounds horrible. I had an abcess once and the pain was unbelievable.

melissasmummy · 14/02/2006 13:08

amanda, who are you speaking to when you call the practice? If a receptionist is fobing you off talk to the practice manager/ess, if no luck there then ask to speak to the senior dentsit or that the senior dentist call you asap, as you are in terrible pain & need it to be resolved.

A&E are likely to send you home with painkillers, maybe antibiotics & tell you to see your dentsit asap, they are unlikely to do much else.

They have a duty to put right whatever they did that has caused you pain!

Marne · 14/02/2006 13:09

Poor you amanda, i had one of my wisdon teath out on sunday, i had to go to hospital to see a dentist as i am not registerd with a dentist and could not get hold of one over the weekend, the hospital was full of people waiting to see the dentist as they could not find another entist that would see them over the weekend.
If i was you i would do what budababe said and failing that see if your loccal hospital has a dentist.

Original poster
Amanda1 · 14/02/2006 13:16

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melissasmummy · 14/02/2006 13:23

amanda, this is NOT right! You shouldn't have to wait until the emergency service kicks in to get seen. I have been a dental nurse for 15 years & in my experience (both of private work & NHS) you should have been offered an appointment TODAY! By not offering you an appointment they have neglected their duty of care towards you.

When you feel up to it write a letter to the manager/ess of the dental practice & tell them what you told us. Either that or ring & speak to the highest person within the practice.

Thankfully your GP helped you out, he didn't have to, they don't have specific knowledge of dental problems, but he was a good sport for giving you antibiotics. Use nurofen for the pain, bit better than paracetamol!

ntt · 14/02/2006 13:25

If this was paid for or subsidised by the NHS, threaten them with getting in touch with your Primary Care Trust - that worked for me when I had a problem with a dodgy dentist last year.

Original poster
Amanda1 · 14/02/2006 16:01

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melissasmummy · 14/02/2006 16:11

amanda, How are you feeling?

Have you spoken to any one on a higher level at the surgery?

Just wanted to check, I hope your dentist didn't charge you for taking out the one he/she broke when extracting the wisdom tooth!

expatinscotland · 14/02/2006 16:19

that's bollocks. sorry, but the hell w/'pissing them off', you have an emergency that they caused and they have a duty to sort it out. i would complain formally, in writting, to the practice manager and also to the primary care trust. it is NOT the job of A&E or your GP. What a load!

I hope you are feeling better.

Original poster
Amanda1 · 14/02/2006 16:37

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Original poster
Amanda1 · 14/02/2006 16:38

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melissasmummy · 14/02/2006 16:50

amanda, when you go in tell your dentist you have been in agony, that you have phoned 3 times (which, by the way should have convinced even the most hardened receptionist that you need to be seen) the drs phone call etc, having to wiat to see emergency dentist, tell him/her ALL.

The receptionist should have offered you SOMETHING! Even if it was a phone consult with your dentist to get painkillers/antibiotics. I am assuming the receptionist has no dental qualifications, so therefore should have checked with the dentist before fobing you off. This is totally unacceptable, I am so angry that you are being treated like this when you are clearly in much pain.

Threaten with GDC (general dental council) or Primary Care Trust.

Make sure you don't pay for the extraction of the tooth that the dentist broke, no matter what! He/she broke it, therefore is responcible for costs to sort it out.

Don't worry about pissing them off, they have neglected you & failed in their duty to care for you.

melissasmummy · 14/02/2006 16:51

ask for a detailed breakdown of costs before you pay ANYTHING! Pay for 1 extraction (may be written as XLA, do not pay for 2!

expatinscotland · 14/02/2006 16:52

I wouldnt trust those people to come w/i ten feet of my mouth again!

Once burned, twice shy.

melissasmummy · 14/02/2006 16:53

Too true expat. I bet the dentoist doesn't even know she has called 3 times in pain!

Original poster
Amanda1 · 14/02/2006 16:58

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expatinscotland · 14/02/2006 17:04

There's got to be another way, Amanda. Talk to the emergency dentist. LAY IT ON THICK! Cry hard and tell him, between gasping sobs, how mistrustful and hurt you feel and do I have to go back there, I'm afraid they're going to kill me next time and blah blah blad. Exaggerate. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.