Ropey Dentist Experience

YesNoMaybe

Hello,
I'm 28 and I had this old baby tooth that was fairly decayed for well over a year before I decided to have it removed. the tooth is in the lower right of my jaw (from my point of view)

So, I came here - did a wee search on 'dentists' just to get some ideas, also needed it under the medical card. I had rang up dentists I have used privately in the past but they were not inclined to treat me under the medical card.

Made an appointment, went to the dentist, and he checked out my gob. Besides the baby tooth I wanted removed, he scanned my teeth and said work needed to be done on various teeth in the upper left of my jaw. As you'd expect I went along with it, thinking he's the professional after all.
So he gives me the big ass anaesthetic right into the back of my jaw as well as the tiny ones closer to the teeth he planned to work on.

So he works on these teeth I didn't go in to have worked on, whilst the lower right of my jaw gets nice and numb to have the baby tooth removed.

After a while, he pops it out and says that's enough for the day, and re-schedules me for another appointment. I'm rescheduled for more work about a week later. Work I didn't ask to have done.


So the following week I go in, get another major anaesthetic into the back of the jaw - not just the smaller localized ones. and he works away at teeth he says need working on. Not cavities...just coatings, but yet he drills big portions of the teeth away and I can feel the work he's done has basically 'flattened' the surface of those teeth.... While my jaw is still plenty anaesthecized he ushers me out and says to reschedule for more stuff to be done.

Third time around, same thing, the major anaesthetic into the back of the jaw and he grinds away at teeth that were fine to begin with. As usual, he ushers me out of the room after less than an hour whilst the jaw is still completely numb. At this stage we are talking casually in the waiting room and in the easy going nature of the conversation he lets slip (because the waiting room is completely empty, and I had asked why we finished if no one was waiting) that he only finished up because he's not sure if someone will show up or not....

By now, I'm just annoyed that he puts me through THREE appointments with the biggest, baddest needle/anaesthesia he has, to do poxy work that could be done in one sitting. I get the impression he is milking me for my medical card.

So I'm rescheduled for a FOURTH appointment.....which I don't show up for.

About 4 weeks pass, and all of a sudden one of the teeth he worked on starts to give me major pain any time I chew on anything harder than pasta. Remember, these teeth were COMPLETELY fine before I went in there. As if by some psychic connection, his secretary rings me up and says they have my down for an appointment the following Monday. I say I'll call them back later.


Basically I'm pissed off that this assmunch is milking me for my medical card, and has created more problems than he solved. I went in there wanting a simple tooth removal, which popped out with no effort.



Anyways, I'm living in the south now and I'm from Galway, and the dentist is based in Galway city. And I'm going in there soon to explain to him I think he's an asshole and I think he's negligent and possibly milking me for the medical card. Although I'm not directly feeling the financial burden of having him work on my teeth, I still value my ****ing teeth and he seems to have damaged them. Not only that I have a responsibility to the state and it's tax payers to make sure my medical card isn't abused to line the pockets of shoddy practitioners.


Can I name & shame this asshole or what ?


Opinions welcome.

thanks for reading this far

Xiney

so, you were scheduled for another appointment that you didn't attend and now you're pissed off that you're having problems with your teeth?

Don't you at least see the possibility that if you'd gone in to have the work finished you wouldn't be having these problems?

And if you're someone who lets a baby tooth decay in their mouth for a while (:eek:) I find it quite easy to imagine that you might have needed such extensive treatment on your other teeth.

YesNoMaybe

Hey Xiney,
Why don't you just accept, for the sake of discussion at least, that I know what condition my teeth are in.
The jist of my post, seeing as you seem to have missed it, is that I felt he was creating more work than he was asked to do - and dragging it out over 3 appointments and aiming for 4, or more. Literally 1 appointment is all that was required.

I put off having the baby tooth removed for so long simply because [a] it wasn't in pain and the last time a similar baby tooth was removed it was broken out. Quite unpleasant. At any rate, my mouth was in perfect working order and without pain until I went in for a simple removal. Now, after 3 appointments when only 1 was required, teeth he worked on are in pain. There were no cavities on these teeth. He simply stated he felt they needed 'recoating' ...and proceeded to drill the enamel off, and apply some synthetic ****e onto the surface instead. Now they're in pain. The fourth appointment was to recoat other teeth, not to finish the ones he had already tampered with.

I appreciate you taking the time to reply, but you might as well not bother if your going to be so glib and dismissive.


PS: I see you're a mod in the 'personal issues' and 'state benefits' forums. Makes sense.

majiktripp

YesNoMaybe wrote: »

Opinions welcome.

She gave you her opinion, which you asked for. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean its wrong.

I appreciate you taking the time to reply, but you might as well not bother if your going to be so glib and dismissive.


PS: I see you're a mod in the 'personal issues' and 'state benefits' forums. Makes sense.

That statement doesn't make sense to me...

Xiney

I've also got this odd habit of trusting medical practitioner's opinions more than the layman who thinks that he can just stop treatment with no consequences.

Honestly, if he was doing work on teeth and wasn't finished, I can't believe you're surprised the teeth are now in pain!

sam34

well, very often there are problems with teeth long before the patient feels any pain. you only feel pain when the nerve is involved. a good dentist will identify these problems before it gets to teh stage of having pain.

if you're accusing this man of doing completely unnecessary work on you just to earn a bit of money, then you are making a very very serious allegation.

at every stage, you would have been free to say "i only want you to deal with my baby tooth please". if you really didnt want all this extra work done, why did you go along with it initially?


im not sure what your point is about the number of actual appointments - he would have been doing the same amount of work, so it doesnt amtter whether eh spread it over two or ten appointments.

of course he finished with you when the appointment time was up, if there was someone scheduled to come in after you. lets say for arguments sake that your appointment was from 3 to 4, and i was due in at 4. if i'm not there at 3.58, that doesnt mean he should start a treatment on you then that is going to take 20 mins, as i might well show up at 3.59 or 4 on the dot. dentists run to appointments and try and keep to that as much as possible. if his 4pm apt had cancelled, then sure, he could have continued, but they clearly hadnt done that.

YesNoMaybe

majiktripp wrote: »

She gave you her opinion, which you asked for. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean its wrong.


That statement doesn't make sense to me...

thanks for your input.

YesNoMaybe

sam34 wrote: »

well, very often there are problems with teeth long before the patient feels any pain. you only feel pain when the nerve is involved. a good dentist will identify these problems before it gets to teh stage of having pain.

Agreed.

sam34 wrote: »

if you're accusing this man of doing completely unnecessary work on you just to earn a bit of money, then you are making a very very serious allegation.

that's what I'm saying.

sam34 wrote: »

at every stage, you would have been free to say "i only want you to deal with my baby tooth please". if you really didnt want all this extra work done, why did you go along with it initially?

He didn't ask me, he just kind of informed me. During the first appointment. I had no reason, at that time, to assume there were 3 more appointments to go. We're talking about 3 or 4 teeth here, no cavities, just 'recoating'...which involves wearing them down first.

sam34 wrote: »

im not sure what your point is about the number of actual appointments - he would have been doing the same amount of work, so it doesnt amtter whether eh spread it over two or ten appointments.

Sure it matters. He's using the strongest anaesthetic he has (his words), with the biggest/strongest needle for penetrating the back of the jaw, the syringe needle is basically rigid stainless steel about as thick as a toothpick. A good practitioner would minimise the amount of times he would administer this, especially when the effects last for several hours - and the after effects for the whole day and into the night. It makes a huge difference spreading 1 sessions worth of work over 10 appointments. You see?

sam34 wrote: »

of course he finished with you when the appointment time was up, if there was someone scheduled to come in after you. lets say for arguments sake that your appointment was from 3 to 4, and i was due in at 4. if i'm not there at 3.58, that doesnt mean he should start a treatment on you then that is going to take 20 mins, as i might well show up at 3.59 or 4 on the dot. dentists run to appointments and try and keep to that as much as possible. if his 4pm apt had cancelled, then sure, he could have continued, but they clearly hadnt done that.

The appointment time wasn't up exactly, like I said, he admitted he was unsure and even said he wasn't expecting the person who was supposedly scheduled - he only volunteered this information when I was bemused at coming out to an empty waiting room. I'd have thought a sensible practitioner would wait until someone was in the waiting room before arbitrarily halting procedures on a patient just to reschedule them for more work.

Madame Razz

A lot of dentists do various procedures over the course of a few appointments purely for the comfort of their patient. It isn't all that comfortable to keep ones jaw open for a long length of time, particularly if they're working on the back teeth.

I've had this done a few times whereby I was paying patient and the dentist didn't cahrge me anymore. They don't generally make money out of state patients; if anything they probably lose money as they are probably paid a flat rate similar to GPs(I've no idea how the medical card works for dentistry btw but you can be damn sure he's not making money out of it)

In any case, dentists can fleece their private patienta royally all of the time, so why do you think there is a conspiracy towards you???

I will say tho, I have been less than happy with a number of dentists I have gone to; and am currently in the middle of resolving an issue caused by a cowboy dentist. But I have to pay for this resolution unfortunately

May be you should post this on the dental issues forum and get some more learned opinions.

YesNoMaybe

Madame Razz wrote: »

A lot of dentists do various procedures over the course of a few appointments purely for the comfort of their patient. It isn't all that comfortable to keep ones jaw open for a long length of time, particularly if they're working on the back teeth.

That wasn't an option offered to me, it was done to suit himself - no patients waiting in the waiting room when he ushered me out. The stuff he was injecting into the back of the jaw is effective for about 2+ hours.
I can understand if there are cavities, or a few teeth to be pulled. But mickey-mouse recoating of teeth ? Please. Can be done so easily in one sitting.

Madame Razz wrote: »

I've had this done a few times whereby I was paying patient and the dentist didn't cahrge me anymore. They don't generally make money out of state patients; if anything they probably lose money as they are probably paid a flat rate similar to GPs(I've no idea how the medical card works for dentistry btw but you can be damn sure he's not making money out of it)

Right, and it's my intention to have this work finished without signing off on another sheet with my medical card details. He can finish the job now with the amount I've already signed off on - at least I'm going to address these concerns before deciding if I go to another dentist or not. As for not making money on the medical card ? Don't make me laugh.... You're pretty naive if you think there's no money to be made in that line. Pretty naive indeed.

Madame Razz wrote: »

In any case, dentists can fleece their private patienta royally all of the time, so why do you think there is a conspiracy towards you???

I don't think there's a conspiracy, I just think he's milking medical card holders as much as he can get away with.

Madame Razz wrote: »

I will say tho, I have been less than happy with a number of dentists I have gone to; and am currently in the middle of resolving an issue caused by a cowboy dentist. But I have to pay for this resolution unfortunately

OK cool. So you have experience with cowboy dentists and you're finding it hard to find credibility in my theory/experience ? just cos your using cash instead of the state's cash? Makes sense (not!)

Madame Razz wrote: »

May be you should post this on the dental issues forum and get some more learned opinions.

there's a dental issues forum?!....*searching*

sam34

YesNoMaybe wrote: »

He didn't ask me, he just kind of informed me. During the first appointment. I had no reason, at that time, to assume there were 3 more appointments to go. We're talking about 3 or 4 teeth here, no cavities, just 'recoating'...which involves wearing them down first..

while he should have outlined what the treatment would have involved, you also have a responsibility to ask what it will involve, how long it will take etc. for what it's worth, "wearing down and recoating 3 or 4 teeth" soulnd like major work to me, and i wouldnt have assumed it could all be done in one session, particularly as that wasnt what you had made the appointment for.

YesNoMaybe wrote: »

Sure it matters. He's using the strongest anaesthetic he has (his words), with the biggest/strongest needle for penetrating the back of the jaw ... A good practitioner would minimise the amount of times he would administer this, especially when the effects last for several hours - and the after effects for the whole day and into the night. It makes a huge difference spreading 1 sessions worth of work over 10 appointments. You see?..

nobody likes going to teh dentist. nearly all dental work involves anaesthetics and injections. it's broken down into sessions to make it more comfortable for the patient, both while in teh chair and afterwards.

and my point was that i doubt he gets extra money based on teh number of timees he sees you, he's probably paid bases on units of work done, so if he stretches that out over 2 or 10 sessions, he'll stilll get the same amount of money.

YesNoMaybe wrote: »

The appointment time wasn't up exactly, like I said, he admitted he was unsure and even said he wasn't expecting the person who was supposedly scheduled - he only volunteered this information when I was bemused at coming out to an empty waiting room. I'd have thought a sensible practitioner would wait until someone was in the waiting room before arbitrarily halting procedures on a patient just to reschedule them for more work.

somebody was scheduled to attend after you. he's not psychic, he doesnt know whether this person will turn up or not. so, even if there's 5 or 10 mins to go on your apt, he shouldnt then start work that may take longer than that, as he will the be behind schedule for the remaining patients. if he waited til they were in teh waiting room to finish up with you, he could already be late for them.

lastly, if you agree with my point that very often damaged teeth can be picked up by a dentist before they pose problems to teh patient, how are you then so sure that he did unnecessary work??

Madame Olenska

I get the feeling that the OP is looking for a place to vent and joined boards for that purpose and I expect that this person is waitin for us all to to reply with sure...why not...slate the dentist... aren't you intitled to and we'll all listen with a sympathic ear. It doesn't happen that way.

Me...and this is just my opinion....I wouldn't let anybody be it the dentist or the doctor or whomever carry out any procedure on me without fully understanding it and the known or possible consequences. This goes the same for the hairdresser who styles my hair, my mechanic who services my car, the man that fixes the my laptop when there's a coffee meets keyboard incident.

YesNoMaybe

sam34 wrote: »

while he should have outlined what the treatment would have involved, you also have a responsibility to ask what it will involve, how long it will take etc. for what it's worth, "wearing down and recoating 3 or 4 teeth" soulnd like major work to me, and i wouldnt have assumed it could all be done in one session, particularly as that wasnt what you had made the appointment for.

cool you know it all I guess, no need to take my word for it - right? I mean, I was only the person there along with the dentist. in three sessions of roughly 45 minute appointments, he spent more than half the time fannying about waiting for the anaesthetic to kick in. So, believe me, he could have done it in one sitting if he wasn't so concerned about getting me back for more appointments despite the empty waiting room. When a patient arrives, sure, wrap things up and reschedule to finish the work.

sam34 wrote: »

nobody likes going to teh dentist. nearly all dental work involves anaesthetics and injections. it's broken down into sessions to make it more comfortable for the patient, both while in teh chair and afterwards.

As I illustrated in my original post, there are levels of needle & anaesthetic. He used the types of syringes we are all used to seeing close to the teeth. needles as thin as hairs. I take exception to the major one, by his own words, being administered willy-nilly. It lasts for 2+ hours so use those 2+ hours. How is staggering the work over 3 or 4 appointments supposed to add to my comfort ? Seriously, I'm all for devil's advocate but try taking my word for it and seeing what you can contribute from that point.

sam34 wrote: »

and my point was that i doubt he gets extra money based on teh number of timees he sees you, he's probably paid bases on units of work done, so if he stretches that out over 2 or 10 sessions, he'll stilll get the same amount of money.

Again you are doubting my real life experience, why? you DOUBT he gets extra money ?...oh well thank you for your insight. I can ASSURE you he's getting money for each visit as I've had to sign off each time with my medical card details. Are you reading the posts I'm making at all ? It's my intention to have him finish the work without me signing another sheet for him - if he won't, I'll go to another dentist and report the experience to the relevant authorities because I'm sure he's milking the medical card.

sam34 wrote: »

somebody was scheduled to attend after you. he's not psychic, he doesnt know whether this person will turn up or not. so, even if there's 5 or 10 mins to go on your apt, he shouldnt then start work that may take longer than that, as he will the be behind schedule for the remaining patients. if he waited til they were in teh waiting room to finish up with you, he could already be late for them.

Sure, he might be late for them. That's why they are called WAITING rooms. And again, I was there - actually experiencing the procedures, each session took about 20 mins of actual work in TOTAL, after anaesthetic kicked in. 'Wrapping things up' upon being informed his next patient arrived would take no more than 5 mins - I'm sure of this because I've actually had the procedures done already and am familiar with the time it takes. I was there.

sam34 wrote: »

lastly, if you agree with my point that very often damaged teeth can be picked up by a dentist before they pose problems to teh patient, how are you then so sure that he did unnecessary work??

You have trouble understanding my post. What was unnecessary was the amount of appointments, not the work. Secondly the work he DID do has only served to cause pain a month later, where pain didn't previously exist until he wore away the enamel and recoated them. Btw, the only appointment I've missed was just a week ago. It's not like he was expecting me back a month ago to finish something he started, and now it's gone wrong. He informed me of what was to happen in the next appointment, and it was recoating another tooth - not finishing the one that's now in pain.

Xiney

I don't know, I've never needed teeth recoating, but it could be that it operates under some kind of multiple coat process that requires several appointments so that things can dry or set or whatever in between.

And since you didn't finish and are awaiting the final coating, your teeth are vulnerable, possibly even some of the non-final coating has worn off, and now you're in pain.



Honestly, unless you have another dentist who says this guy screwed up, I'm not going to believe "your own experiences" since you didn't even finish the treatment.

If he'd said to you, there you go, you're perfect now! and you'd started experiencing problems then it'd be a different story and I'd be advocating burning him in effigy.

YesNoMaybe

Madame Olenska wrote: »

I get the feeling that the OP is looking for a place to vent and joined boards for that purpose and I expect that this person is waitin for us all to to reply with sure...why not...slate the dentist... aren't you intitled to and we'll all listen with a sympathic ear. It doesn't happen that way.

Me...and this is just my opinion....I wouldn't let anybody be it the dentist or the doctor or whomever carry out any procedure on me without fully understanding it and the known or possible consequences. This goes the same for the hairdresser who styles my hair, my mechanic who services my car, the man that fixes the my laptop when there's a coffee meets keyboard incident.

Thank you for your input.
I was aware of what he was doing. What I find dis-satisfactory is the amount of appointments he took to do it, and ultimately the amount of time that cost me due to the heavy anaesthetics. Secondly, some of the work he did has ended up causing more trouble down the road. So while it's great to make sure you are fully understanding what's being done to you - it's another matter entirely if that is done PROPERLY.

YesNoMaybe

Xiney wrote: »

I don't know, I've never needed teeth recoating, but it could be that it operates under some kind of multiple coat process that requires several appointments so that things can dry or set or whatever in between.

great - more informed insight (not)

Xiney wrote: »

And since you didn't finish and are awaiting the final coating, your teeth are vulnerable, possibly even some of the non-final coating has worn off, and now you're in pain.

lol....people are taking this devil's advocate thing to comical levels. He told me the tooth was finished, the following appointment was/is for recoating a different tooth.

Xiney wrote: »

Honestly, unless you have another dentist who says this guy screwed up, I'm not going to believe "your own experiences" since you didn't even finish the treatment.

Read above. The treatment was finished for the teeth involved, the extra appointment is for another tooth.

Xiney wrote: »

If he'd said to you, there you go, you're perfect now! and you'd started experiencing problems then it'd be a different story and I'd be advocating burning him in effigy.

well, he didn't use those words, but he said the teeth he had coated were done - the extra appointments were for extra teeth. Teeth he could have done there and then, what with no one waiting in the waiting room and the relatively short length of time the procedure takes (after anaesthetic kicking in)

sam34

YesNoMaybe wrote: »

cool you know it all I guess, no need to take my word for it - right?

Seriously, I'm all for devil's advocate but try taking my word for it and seeing what you can contribute from that point.

Again you are doubting my real life experience, why? you DOUBT he gets extra money ?...oh well thank you for your insight.Are you reading the posts I'm making at all ?

You have trouble understanding my post.

seriously, with that level of antagonism and that chip on your shoulder towards me, as well as similar attitudes displayed towards other posters, all of whom have only been offering their opinions, which you asked for, i just couldnt be bothered replying any further.

Madame Razz

YesNoMaybe wrote: »

That wasn't an option offered to me, it was done to suit himself - no patients waiting in the waiting room when he ushered me out. The stuff he was injecting into the back of the jaw is effective for about 2+ hours.
I can understand if there are cavities, or a few teeth to be pulled. But mickey-mouse recoating of teeth ? Please. Can be done so easily in one sitting.

Have you ever tried keeping your jaw wide open for 2 + hours??? Because it isn't fun.

And as for 'mickey mouse recoating'; your enamel is pretty important. Now you say that your teeth are in good condition, but if you are having problems with your enamel well then your teeth won't stay in great condition for very much longer; so happen it WAS necessary work in this case despite the fact that it didn't involve anything more gruesome like a few extractions or whatever.

Right, and it's my intention to have this work finished without signing off on another sheet with my medical card details. He can finish the job now with the amount I've already signed off on - at least I'm going to address these concerns before deciding if I go to another dentist or not. As for not making money on the medical card ? Don't make me laugh.... You're pretty naive if you think there's no money to be made in that line. Pretty naive indeed.

Nope, you're pretty naive tbh. Take the GMS scheme, all GPs participating in said scheme get paid a flat rate per medical card patient based on them seeing them 6 times per annum. Some medical cards aptents see their GP 6 times per month, but the GP still only gets paid for 6 of those visits. Now while I'm not 100% sure of the Dental GMS scheme you can be damn sure that it is similar to the GP scheme in terms of its structure, and you can be damn sure that is why so many dentists aren't keen to take medical card patients; becuase it isn't worth their while

OK cool. So you have experience with cowboy dentists and you're finding it hard to find credibility in my theory/experience ? just cos your using cash instead of the state's cash? Makes sense (not!)

Yes, and between the botched job and the repair job the whole thing will cost me close on €2000, yet you don't see me whining on boards about it. Bottom line, THIS ISN'T COSTING YOU ANY MONEY SO SHUT UP AND STOP WHINING ABOUT IT. Fcuk sake, you should be bloody grateful that you can go and get this work done for free, regardless of how many bloody appointments it takes to do it.

there's a dental issues forum?!....*searching*

Its here

Please post there, I'll enjoy watching you being thrown to the lions.


I'm glad he used a big needle btw, if your attitude in person is anything like what it comes across on this forum it sounds like you merited it.

Pretty cool dentist you went to IMO:cool::P

YesNoMaybe

sam34 wrote: »

i just couldnt be bothered replying any further.

thank you

YesNoMaybe

Madame Razz wrote: »

Have you ever tried keeping your jaw wide open for 2 + hours??? Because it isn't fun.

much more fun than un-necessarily getting anaesthecised three, and potentially four times. I was there, jaw open, it would have been fine.

Madame Razz wrote: »

And as for 'mickey mouse recoating'; your enamel is pretty important. Now you say that your teeth are in good condition, but if you are having problems with your enamel well then your teeth won't stay in great condition for very much longer; so happen it WAS necessary work in this case despite the fact that it didn't involve anything more gruesome like a few extractions or whatever.

mickey mouse in terms of the time it takes. Obviously enamel is important.
Again, for the umpteenth time, it is the amount of APPOINTMENTS that I take issue with - not necessarily the work that was done. Although one of the teeth he recoated has now come to be in pain, and I can't chew on that side until it's dealt with. By a better dentist, with any luck.

Madame Razz wrote: »

Nope, you're pretty naive tbh. Take the GMS scheme, all GPs participating in said scheme get paid a flat rate per medical card patient based on them seeing them 6 times per annum. Some medical cards aptents see their GP 6 times per month, but the GP still only gets paid for 6 of those visits. Now while I'm not 100% sure of the Dental GMS scheme you can be damn sure that it is similar to the GP scheme in terms of its structure, and you can be damn sure that is why so many dentists aren't keen to take medical card patients; becuase it isn't worth their while

Nah, you're naive - or living under a rock, or perhaps both.
Do a little research dear
http://www.enniscorthyecho.ie/news/story/?trs=mhmhcwidkf&cat=news

Madame Razz wrote: »

Yes, and between the botched job and the repair job the whole thing will cost me close on €2000, yet you don't see me whining on boards about it. Bottom line, THIS ISN'T COSTING YOU ANY MONEY SO SHUT UP AND STOP WHINING ABOUT IT. Fcuk sake, you should be bloody grateful that you can go and get this work done for free, regardless of how many bloody appointments it takes to do it.

.... this isn't costing me money, but it's costing the STATE money, as I said in the first post. It's costing ME time, and if he's as shoddy as I think he is, it's damaging my teeth. Which will end up costing the STATE more money down the road. No need for the stupid allcaps and 'shut up' and 'fcuk sake' stuff. But whatever, I doubt you'll be reprimanded for it.

Madame Razz wrote: »

Its here

Please post there, I'll enjoy watching you being thrown to the lions.


I'm glad he used a big needle btw, if your attitude in person is anything like what it comes across on this forum it sounds like you merited it.

Pretty cool dentist you went to IMO:cool::P

cool. Well, i'm glad you're out 2000 euro I guess. (to stoop to your level)

thebman

YesNoMaybe wrote: »

cool you know it all I guess, no need to take my word for it - right? I mean, I was only the person there along with the dentist. in three sessions of roughly 45 minute appointments, he spent more than half the time fannying about waiting for the anaesthetic to kick in. So, believe me, he could have done it in one sitting if he wasn't so concerned about getting me back for more appointments despite the empty waiting room. When a patient arrives, sure, wrap things up and reschedule to finish the work.



As I illustrated in my original post, there are levels of needle & anaesthetic. He used the types of syringes we are all used to seeing close to the teeth. needles as thin as hairs. I take exception to the major one, by his own words, being administered willy-nilly. It lasts for 2+ hours so use those 2+ hours. How is staggering the work over 3 or 4 appointments supposed to add to my comfort ? Seriously, I'm all for devil's advocate but try taking my word for it and seeing what you can contribute from that point.



Again you are doubting my real life experience, why? you DOUBT he gets extra money ?...oh well thank you for your insight. I can ASSURE you he's getting money for each visit as I've had to sign off each time with my medical card details. Are you reading the posts I'm making at all ? It's my intention to have him finish the work without me signing another sheet for him - if he won't, I'll go to another dentist and report the experience to the relevant authorities because I'm sure he's milking the medical card.






Sure, he might be late for them. That's why they are called WAITING rooms. And again, I was there - actually experiencing the procedures, each session took about 20 mins of actual work in TOTAL, after anaesthetic kicked in. 'Wrapping things up' upon being informed his next patient arrived would take no more than 5 mins - I'm sure of this because I've actually had the procedures done already and am familiar with the time it takes. I was there.



You have trouble understanding my post. What was unnecessary was the amount of appointments, not the work. Secondly the work he DID do has only served to cause pain a month later, where pain didn't previously exist until he wore away the enamel and recoated them. Btw, the only appointment I've missed was just a week ago. It's not like he was expecting me back a month ago to finish something he started, and now it's gone wrong. He informed me of what was to happen in the next appointment, and it was recoating another tooth - not finishing the one that's now in pain.

The bigger needle is always used on back teeth. I was getting fitted for a crown the other day and my dentist asked me did I want it because it would take a few hours to wear off so since I had to go back to work which involves being on the phone, I said I'd rather not have it if possible and he said to talk up if I felt any pain or changed my mind.

Madame Razz

YAWN!!!!!!!:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Congratulations Yesnomaybe; you're the first person to go on my ignore list. And I hope the rest of the dental treatment hurts like hell:P

YesNoMaybe

thebman wrote: »

The bigger needle is always used on back teeth. I was getting fitted for a crown the other day and my dentist asked me did I want it because it would take a few hours to wear off so since I had to go back to work which involves being on the phone, I said I'd rather not have it if possible and he said to talk up if I felt any pain or changed my mind.

thanks for your reply, and maybe proving my point.
as the work was carried out on teeth at the front.

YesNoMaybe

Madame Razz wrote: »

on my ignore list

Thank you, very much.

pleasant Co.

YesNoMaybe wrote: »

Thank you, very much.

She can't see your reply, you're on her ignore list, this means she's ignoring your posts by them being invisible to her. By my quoting of your comment she'll be able to see what you've said.

YesNoMaybe

Mactard wrote: »

She can't see your reply, you're on her ignore list, this means she's ignoring your posts by them being invisible to her. By my quoting of your comment she'll be able to see what you've said.

She only said she put me on her ignore list, but people that childish (giant letters, frustrated exclamations like SHUT UP etc) can't usually be taken at their word. I merely thanked her for the sentiment. Thanks for quoting me though - just incase she really did add me. For which I would now be doubly grateful.

pleasant Co.

No worries, have a nice day.

This the thunderdome?

girlingalway

Hi. As a dentist I just wanted to chip in my opinion. Firstly as another poster pointed out-ofen patients believe that all of their teeth are fine when they go to the dentist and can be surprised when they are told that they need a number of fillings. Decay does not cause pain until it is very close to the nerve-and even at that point it is often just sensitivity to hot/cold/sweet which alot of people ignore in the hope that it will go away! If you are having pain in a tooth or if there is an actual visible hole in the tooth quite often the tooth is too damaged for a filling and a root canal treatment or an extraction is needed. Your dentist ofen takes x-rays to see if there is decay in teeth. Feel free to ask the dentist to discuss this with you.

In your case it sounds like your dentist was treating acid erosion (just an educated guess, not definite) which occurs as a result of having alot of fizzy drinks, sparkling water, fruit or fruit juices. This is actually very difficult to treat and quite time consuming. I underatnd that it is unpleasant to be numb for a number of hours after each appointment but unfortunately anaesthesia is a necessary evil for dental treatment. Ask anybody who has had fillings abraod whithout anaesthetic and they'll tell you which they'd prefer!!!!

Also, as a dentist who provides treatment for medical card patients, I can guarantee you that your dentist DOES NOT GET PAID PER VISIT. He would get paid the same wheter he did all your treatment on one day or on ten days.

There seems to be an attitude out there amoung some people that dentist "fleece" their patients. No doubt there are a minority (as in any walk of life) but most dentists take alot of pride in their work and in the care they give their patients. Your dentist is trying to fix damage that you did to your own teeth. You need to accept responsibily for your diet and oral hygeine practices. I would welcome discussion with any patient who was concerned about the treatment I was providing for them but you should speak to him first and give him the respect and opportunity to explain everything to you rather than "name and shame him". Would you like it if he named and shamed you as a person with rotten teeth or bad breath? I don't think so. He probably assumed that you understood the treatment that he was proposing. All dentists are guilty of assuming that patients understand as much about teeth and decay as we do! And sometimes we just need to be asked to slow down and explain things a bit more clearly.

biko

Well this has Dental forum written all over it.
OP I suggest you do not name the dentist.

Jemmy

Xiney wrote: »

And if you're someone who lets a baby tooth decay in their mouth for a while (:eek:) I find it quite easy to imagine that you might have needed such extensive treatment on your other teeth.

My dad is in his late 40s with a baby tooth and there are no problems with it so they don't always need to be removed!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Jesus, thank for moving this to Dental Issues !!!!!.

This thread is totally insane, OP take some responcibility for you dental condition. Your dentist is getting paid the same tiny ammount wheather he does it all one day or takes multiple visits. Infact the extra time he is taking is cutting his profit (fewer patients seen). Medical card pays on a per proceedure basis not by time. Also your dentist has to show x-rays to the HSE if asked showing this treatment is required.

You are getting free dental treatment, a thing most people have to fork out of their own ever emptier pockets for, and you are giving out that its taking too much time? What else more important do you have on? You value your time more than the dentists cause you wasted it by not attending an appointment? Would you rather no anaesthetic? Would you rather one single 4 hour appointment and a totally numb face?

Big_G. where are you should we lock or delete this rubbish?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Me right one, on the dental issues forum we dont swear, troll or flame. Maybe on other forums this type of inflamatory behaviour is tollerated but not here. I am deleting your posts along with my replies. I am infracting you and a ban will follow if this continues.

I am afraid that things posted that a just totally incorrect cannot be allowed to stand as forum fact or the basis for an arguement. This thread is a mess and not in keeping with our forum charter, I will await my co-mods input as how to tidy this up.

po0k

YesNoMaybe wrote: »

She only said she put me on her ignore list, but people that childish (giant letters, frustrated exclamations like SHUT UP etc) can't usually be taken at their word. I merely thanked her for the sentiment. Thanks for quoting me though - just incase she really did add me. For which I would now be doubly grateful.

You're acting like a spanner, stop.

ballsymchugh

fitz, lock before he slanders someone!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

ballsymchugh wrote: »

fitz, lock before he slanders someone!

Its like John and Edward....I know it should end but I am fascinated to see where the spanners will go next :eek:

Thread locked....Big_G let me know what you think?

ballsymchugh

who are john and edward?? is there something you'd like to admit to us all now??