Facial aesthetics at the dentist- would you expect a dental assist to be there?

[MyOldTeddy]

I recently had a consultation at the dentist- one I have used for years for dental treatment, but not the same dentist who does facial aesthetics.

I was surprised that during the consultation, there was a dental nurse/ asst in the room. I felt slightly uncomfortable as I expected it to be 1:1.

I've been going to another very up-market cosmetic clinic previously for some time (where the practitioner was also a former dental surgeon and a qualified doctor too) and that was very much 1:1. It became very expensive which is why I've looked elsewhere.

I don't know if the asst was there as she was already in the room, or if she'd be there when treatment was being done.

It felt less intimate and and to be honest I didn't really want her listening to the conversation!

Yes , I probably would. The assistant does the admin bits , sorts the rubbish , sharps bin . The practitioner might be used to working with another member of staff supporting them .

I suppose that's the type of question you could ask at your consultation.

I've already had the consultation.

My previous fillers were done in Harley St and it was very much just me and the Dr in the room which is what I'd expect.

There isn't any admin really - it's not the same as dental treatment.

There's a lot of looking in the mirror and agreeing what to do, then the Dr taking the syringe and getting to work.

Dentists are advised by their indemnity and the GDC that they should NEVER work without an assistant in the room. Dental nurses are highly trained and subject to the same strictures re confidentiality that a dentist is.

I am surprised that your original practitioner doesn't have a nurse with them to be honest. They provide an extra pair of eyes and hands but also protection for both of you.

I would be horrified if there wasn't someone else in the room.

Can’t quite work out why you wouldn’t want another person in the room?
You had all your clothes on?
I would have thought it was very normal practice to have an assistant in the room.

What on earth - I'd be alarmed if there WASN'T anyone else there

I'm surprised that you think there ought to be someone in the room.

The clinic I went to previously, is one of the best rated in the country, staffed mainly by former dentists and doctors (it's the Cosmetic Skin Clinic which has won numerous awards ) and there is never an asst in with you. It's very personal, the discussion, and there is no physical need for an asst. They take huge care of clients with a massive questionnaire beforehand (to rule out people who may have body dysmorphia and other MH issues.)

The practitioners are not working as dentists, but as cosmetic doctors.

My only reason for looking elsewhere was the cost and their waiting list.

Why?

It's not an intimate examination.

Protection from what?

I can see why you wouldnt need someone there if its just a verbal consultation but most places have someone else for treatment.
Both to provide assistance to the medical professional and to protect them from claims of misconduct.

"It felt less intimate and and to be honest I didn't really want her listening to the conversation!"

What on earth did you want to discuss that was secret? She works there! It's not like she crept in off the street to spy.

I've never had fillers or Botox but I would expect a dentist to have a dental nurse with them for all appointments, yes.

You go to a dentist for these treatments because of their professional expertise so I would expect them to be working within the same parameters as dental treatment.

I have Botox by a consultant plastic surgeon in a hospital and there is always a nurse in the room - it is standard practice. Doctors are advised to have someone in the room with them in case you faint or have an adverse reaction to the injection - i don't see why it would be different for dentists. The nurse is a healthcare professional, what does it matter if they hear the consultation?

Looking at it at the cosmetic skin clinic you were working with doctors who are used to working on their own. Now you are using a dentist who always work with a dental nurse

The only reason for 'protection' is to protect the patient (and the doctor from false accusations) during intimate examinations.

A cosmetic skin clinic is not the same as going to see a GP and having treatment in the surgery. You can't compare.

I have friends who have had Botox in very small one-woman clinics (where the person offering Botox is a former nurse) and no one else is there.

The clinic where I went before is mainly staffed by doctors and dental surgeons (now working in facial aesthetics) and the owner is a former consultant anaethetist. The lip fillers (not a treatment I've had) there are done by nurses (alone) - not with another nurse in attendance.

I can see that a dentist may always have someone else in the room, but I guess I prefer the more less 'medical' setting of a skin clinic dedicated to what they do.

I would argue that is is irresponsible to do any treatment without a trained second person in the room.

What happens if there is an anaphylactic (catastrophic allergic) reaction to the contents of the injection? This requires not only very swift medical intervention with appropriate drugs but also the ambulance called at the same time. If the worst happens resuscitation requires at least two people. This is certainly against every guideline that there is not to have a second trained person available .

Both lip fillers and Botox treatment have the potential to cause problems from relatively minor to life threatening , but even without treatment the general public can have any type of medical emergency that is not necessarily related to their treatment and if the medical professional has not got the necessary kit and back up to treat they will be found negligent.

The reason there needs to be a trained second person is for medical emergencies , the same reason you need to have a full medical emergency kit. Second is to protect both sides against allegations from eg not getting informed consent , incomplete medical history etc.

I don't know but I am really struggling to understand why it bothers you

I have Botox at my dentist. There’s never anyone else in the room but I wouldn’t be bothered if there was.

I can see that a dentist may always have someone else in the room, but I guess I prefer the more less 'medical' setting of a skin clinic dedicated to what they do.

If I were getting something injected into my face, I'd want the setting to be as medicalised as possible, it's not a facial or massage.

I go to the Cosmetic Skin Clinic too and am also staggered at the prices - but they are good.
I’m not to lo bothered if someone else is in the room, my dentist always has a nurse present

Surely it's as simple as this?

I wanted to update this.

The reason for the dental asst being there (she was a young trainee) is that the dentist doing the facial work was using one of the usual dental rooms. I was under the impression (from some of the website images) that there was perhaps a different room assigned only to facial aesthetics. At one point she needed another pair of hands, although obviously it's possible to do it without, as my other work was done 1:1.

It was obviously a different experience to before which was very much a luxurious clinic doing only cosmetic procedures (although the rooms there are 'clinical' but not remotely like a dental room.)

I was satisfied with the work done, but it didn't feel so relaxed, as it's a room where I've had dental work done , so those vibes and all the paraphernalia of a dental room are always there!

If the practice had the space, it would be more pleasant for them to do cosmetic work in a room dedicated to that simply to make it more relaxed.

You seem very um.... I don't know... particular? Specific? I'm not understanding the degree to which you find these details so bothersome.
It's Botox/fillers. Not a luxury spa type treatment. It's clinical.

If you don't want the experience to include being in a dentists room then don't go to the dentist for your non dental treatments