Dismissed by dentist
Discussion
I've been having root canal work done on one of my teeth by me NHS dentist (I've been with the surgery for years, but this dentist is new)
It's not gone well, I've been for several appointments totalling more than five hours of work and thought it was finished. Went in to have a crown fitted, and mentioned that i was still getting mild pain despite several weeks since the last treatment. The dentist took an Xray and after looking at it for a few minutes suddenly turned and said: "Sorry, but it looks like there is another root that we didn't see on the previous X-rays. We've done three of them, but I don't think I can do this one. I will refer you to a specialist." at which point i was ushered out and told the specialist would get in contact with me.
The specialist rang this morning and has booked a consultation - at a cost of £85 - to look at the various options available, all of which are going to be expensive.
I'm not sure where this is going. I've paid the NHS charges to my dentist for a job that they haven't finished, and will now have to pay vastly more money (which i can ill afford) to get the treatment finished by a private specialist. Is that allowed? can the NHS dentist just say its too complex and you'll have to go elsewhere?
It's not gone well, I've been for several appointments totalling more than five hours of work and thought it was finished. Went in to have a crown fitted, and mentioned that i was still getting mild pain despite several weeks since the last treatment. The dentist took an Xray and after looking at it for a few minutes suddenly turned and said: "Sorry, but it looks like there is another root that we didn't see on the previous X-rays. We've done three of them, but I don't think I can do this one. I will refer you to a specialist." at which point i was ushered out and told the specialist would get in contact with me.
The specialist rang this morning and has booked a consultation - at a cost of £85 - to look at the various options available, all of which are going to be expensive.
I'm not sure where this is going. I've paid the NHS charges to my dentist for a job that they haven't finished, and will now have to pay vastly more money (which i can ill afford) to get the treatment finished by a private specialist. Is that allowed? can the NHS dentist just say its too complex and you'll have to go elsewhere?
I've had quite a bit of Root Canal work over the years and a couple of times my usual dentist has said it's too complex for him and referred me to a specialist.
In speaking to and then having the work done I can see the complete difference in what they're capable of doing and the tools they have to do it.
As I couldn't find an NHS dentist to take me for standard work I was paying for everything so can't help on that side of things.
In speaking to and then having the work done I can see the complete difference in what they're capable of doing and the tools they have to do it.
As I couldn't find an NHS dentist to take me for standard work I was paying for everything so can't help on that side of things.
Retired dentist here. Yes it’s perfectly reasonable for the dentist to refer you for treatment which they feel is outside of their ability to carry out, in fact they’re obliged to.
Not every area has a hospital with a Restorative Dentistry Consultant and even those that do don’t always accept referrals for root canals.
Not every area has a hospital with a Restorative Dentistry Consultant and even those that do don’t always accept referrals for root canals.
Manchester area has no NHS Endodontist specialists to refer too.
The only option for specialist treatment here is private. Perhaps that's the case in your area too.
The fault lies with the NHS and therefore government rather than the dentist. We always get the complaint letters though.
Similar situation as expecting your GP to do complex surgery that he isn't trained to do.
The only option for specialist treatment here is private. Perhaps that's the case in your area too.
The fault lies with the NHS and therefore government rather than the dentist. We always get the complaint letters though.
Similar situation as expecting your GP to do complex surgery that he isn't trained to do.
Had root canal work done earlier this year. Hours of work and multiple appointments.
Filled two canals with much pain (to me not her), then decided there was as a third canal on the xray but after hacking more off the tooth she decided she couldn't actually find it, decided there wasn't enough tooth to add a crown and offered a filling over the top instead.
Will not be using her again going to change dentist.
If I ever bother with a dentist again.
I'd gone in with toothache from the top, she butchered a tooth on the bottom and I suffer still with toothache, now from the very back at the bottom.....
Filled two canals with much pain (to me not her), then decided there was as a third canal on the xray but after hacking more off the tooth she decided she couldn't actually find it, decided there wasn't enough tooth to add a crown and offered a filling over the top instead.
Will not be using her again going to change dentist.
If I ever bother with a dentist again.
I'd gone in with toothache from the top, she butchered a tooth on the bottom and I suffer still with toothache, now from the very back at the bottom.....
For the NHS charge you paid him he did a stellar job! NHS dentistry is a bargain really. Many NHS dentists don’t even bother with attempting although they should. I can’t blame them it’s poor pay for that type of work on the NHS. Comes down to less than £50/h gross which if the guy is an associate gets 40% or less so your dentist did all that work for getting paid £20 an hour... what do you expect?
Badda said:
boyse7en said:
can the NHS dentist just say its too complex and you'll have to go elsewhere?
Would you rather he had a go himself? What a ridiculous question. Your sense of entitlement absolutely stinks. Next step is calling him snowflake. I’m still baffled how free dentistry treatment was separated from free healthcare and you have to pay for NHS treatment.
No, I don’t work for the NHS, and TL:DR your attitude stinks, not his.
Skyedriver said:
Had root canal work done earlier this year. Hours of work and multiple appointments.
Filled two canals with much pain (to me not her), then decided there was as a third canal on the xray but after hacking more off the tooth she decided she couldn't actually find it, decided there wasn't enough tooth to add a crown and offered a filling over the top instead.
Will not be using her again going to change dentist.
If I ever bother with a dentist again.
I'd gone in with toothache from the top, she butchered a tooth on the bottom and I suffer still with toothache, now from the very back at the bottom.....
I had a long spell where I didn’t go to the dentist, 7 years I think it was. I decided that I ought go and get a check up, went and had a few x rays and got the all clear. Filled two canals with much pain (to me not her), then decided there was as a third canal on the xray but after hacking more off the tooth she decided she couldn't actually find it, decided there wasn't enough tooth to add a crown and offered a filling over the top instead.
Will not be using her again going to change dentist.
If I ever bother with a dentist again.
I'd gone in with toothache from the top, she butchered a tooth on the bottom and I suffer still with toothache, now from the very back at the bottom.....
6 months later back for a check up, another x ray and this time it’s all doom and gloom. One tooth apparently is rotting for the inside out, root canal more than likely is needed. This had happened in 6 months despite being fine before that.
The dentist decided to completely drill the inside of my tooth out and stuck a temporary filling in to see how I got on.
5 years later the temporary filling is still there, albeit with half the tooth now missing because the middle had been drilled out. No issues with the tooth pain wise and I now don’t trust dentists!
Wacky Racer said:
Badda said:
boyse7en said:
can the NHS dentist just say its too complex and you'll have to go elsewhere?
Would you rather he had a go himself? What a ridiculous question. Your sense of entitlement absolutely stinks. He asked a perfectly reasonable question (imo)
I had a similar experience with a youngish dentist in my practice, he was pretty open about the possibilities of it not solving the issue. I could tell it was not going well from his demeanour and the nervous glances from the nurse. I think he did the right thing. I haven't followed up the next treatment as it is £600 and my insurance won't cover it all. I will have to get it done eventually I guess but for the moment it it is manageable.
ChevronB19 said:
Don’t think you’re quite grasping this here. Picture this: you live up a country lane and pay your council tax. Bin men won’t pick up your rubbish because it’s too difficult to get up the lane. Is that ok? We have an NHS (best invention in the world), pay taxes to fund it, and yes, to use your magic ‘trigger word’ we are entitled to the correct treatment.
Next step is calling him snowflake. I’m still baffled how free dentistry treatment was separated from free healthcare and you have to pay for NHS treatment.
No, I don’t work for the NHS, and TL:DR your attitude stinks, not his.
I don’t need an analogy thanks. The OP has a complication to his jaw that a regular dentist can’t fix and he needs specialist skills, he is angry about this and wonders if he can insist that the normal dentist does it. Next step is calling him snowflake. I’m still baffled how free dentistry treatment was separated from free healthcare and you have to pay for NHS treatment.
No, I don’t work for the NHS, and TL:DR your attitude stinks, not his.
In your scenario you insist that the bin men come to your house and then scratch all the cars on the lane and damage your bin once they arrive.
boyse7en said:
I've been having root canal work done on one of my teeth by me NHS dentist (I've been with the surgery for years, but this dentist is new)
It's not gone well, I've been for several appointments totalling more than five hours of work and thought it was finished. Went in to have a crown fitted, and mentioned that i was still getting mild pain despite several weeks since the last treatment. The dentist took an Xray and after looking at it for a few minutes suddenly turned and said: "Sorry, but it looks like there is another root that we didn't see on the previous X-rays. We've done three of them, but I don't think I can do this one. I will refer you to a specialist." at which point i was ushered out and told the specialist would get in contact with me.
The specialist rang this morning and has booked a consultation - at a cost of £85 - to look at the various options available, all of which are going to be expensive.
I'm not sure where this is going. I've paid the NHS charges to my dentist for a job that they haven't finished, and will now have to pay vastly more money (which i can ill afford) to get the treatment finished by a private specialist. Is that allowed? can the NHS dentist just say its too complex and you'll have to go elsewhere?
Root canal work can be complex, the dentist has referred you to a specialist who can do it. Rather than thinking of binmen it would be more helpful to think of going to your GP who treats your symptoms but fails to cure what you have, so refers you to a specialist at a hospital who has expertise in that area.It's not gone well, I've been for several appointments totalling more than five hours of work and thought it was finished. Went in to have a crown fitted, and mentioned that i was still getting mild pain despite several weeks since the last treatment. The dentist took an Xray and after looking at it for a few minutes suddenly turned and said: "Sorry, but it looks like there is another root that we didn't see on the previous X-rays. We've done three of them, but I don't think I can do this one. I will refer you to a specialist." at which point i was ushered out and told the specialist would get in contact with me.
The specialist rang this morning and has booked a consultation - at a cost of £85 - to look at the various options available, all of which are going to be expensive.
I'm not sure where this is going. I've paid the NHS charges to my dentist for a job that they haven't finished, and will now have to pay vastly more money (which i can ill afford) to get the treatment finished by a private specialist. Is that allowed? can the NHS dentist just say its too complex and you'll have to go elsewhere?
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