Can i complain to a higher authority

Hootanany

My Daughter was told that she needed a root canal by our local dentist,
She went to a different dentist for a second opinion as she is only 20 yrs old
and he did a ice cube test on her teeth and she winced turns out she did not need Root canal after all,
I would like to complain about this dentist trying to make work for himself.


Many thanks in advance

ct89

I hear this dude is good:

Hootanany

ct89 wrote: »

I hear this dude is good:

Dont get it

Hootanany

I dont get it im serious

ct89

Well hes a higher authority isnt he?

Hootanany

I mean Lawyers have the law society etc etc.

ct89

Ah I see, sorry I do think our saviour is your best option

Big_G

Can I just say before I give you the name of the authority that you can complain to that diagnosing a tooth problem can be a very tricky and very subtle thing to do and that two different dentists can very easily have two different opinions on this.

That is why we make the option of second opinion available, so that you can see is there an alternative, you have exercised this right. Why do feel the need to complain about the first dentist who may not have had sinister motives at heart? Most dentists don't even like doing root canal and it is a time consuming procedure that may not make as much money/hr as tooth extraction might (which is the other option in the case of a confirmed tooth pulp infection).

There are no definitive tests in the case of a pulp infection. Cold can activate pain fibres outside the tooth as well as inside them and so can give a false result. We use a series of tests to build up a picture overall of pulpal health and then make a diagnosis based as much on scientific evidence sometimes as empirical wisdom.

If on the other hand, you are convinced your original dentist was just out to make a buck, you can complain but that is a very serious accusation. If you still feel strongly enough, you can contact the Dental Council of Ireland at http://www.dentalcouncil.ie/

I might point out that nobody was hurt. You can ask him for his consultation fee back I suppose.

Hootanany

Thanks for reply but it is not the first time he has told my family that work needed to be done that was on a second opinion deemed not needed. I will think very strongly about your reply Many thanks again

ct89

May the Lord be with you

coylemj

Hootanany wrote: »

Thanks for reply but it is not the first time he has told my family that work needed to be done that was on a second opinion deemed not needed. I will think very strongly about your reply Many thanks again

So why do you (the extended family that is) keep going back to him?

He is a service provider, if you're not happy then take your business elsewhere.

Hootanany

coylemj wrote: »

So why do you (the extended family that is) keep going back to him?

He is a service provider, if you're not happy then take your business elsewhere.

We have now

btkm8unsl0w5r4

I understand where you are coming from however you basically want to complain that the diagnostic opinion of two dentists differed at two separate points in time. Either dentist may be correct only time will tell, maybe the tooth does not need a root canal or maybe it does as its only partially dead. Either way without all the information I cannot make any judgement over what you have told us

While it would be nice to have certainty in dentistry and medicine, unfortunately dealing with diseases and biology can be tricky and often judgement call are made. This leads to unfortunate differences of opinion such as above but is really not an injustice or negligence.

Best of luck

fifofum

As a first line measure, would you consider writing to your former dentist to outline your concerns, and allow him the opportunity to respond in writing to these concerns?
If you remain dissatisfied with the response, then by all means, continue with the higher authority route. Sometimes it's worth going straight to the source first& finding out what the persons' reasoning was, instead of bringing in a middle man.

coylemj

I had to have treatment in a US hospital many years ago and before they treated me they made me sign a disclaimer. The first sentence of the disclaimer read....

I recognise that medicine is an inexact science.

That's what fitzgeme is telling you in the previous post.

coylemj

fifofum wrote: »

As a first line measure, would you consider writing to your former dentist to outline your concerns, and allow him the opportunity to respond in writing to these concerns?
If you remain dissatisfied with the response, then by all means, continue with the higher authority route. Sometimes it's worth going straight to the source first& finding out what the persons' reasoning was, instead of bringing in a middle man.

Rightly or wrongly, he made his decision based on his training and clinical experience, you can't expect him to outline the reasons for the decision he made to a medical layperson. What you're suggesting will achieve nothing.

fifofum

It will not achieve a sanction, if that's what you mean- I realise that. But it will give the poster more information before jumping the gun and using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, re gaining information.
It will clarify what his reasoning was, in coming to that decision. It will avoid a lot of faffing about with letters between 3 or 4 different people, versus 2.
Just because the poster is a "medical layperson", doesn't mean he isn't entitled to a clear response to his queries.
Dentists, especially if asked directly by a patient, must definitely justify& explain, in laymans' terms, their reasons for recommending treatment.
PS: just noticed your daughter is 20 years of age, OP, so is considered an adult; she would have to either write for herself, or possibly write a cover note authorising you to act on her behalf.

coylemj

fifofum wrote: »

Dentists, especially if asked directly by a patient, must definitely justify& explain, in laymans' terms, their reasons for recommending treatment.

No they don't. It isn't always possible to explain in layman's terms why a particular course of treatment is recommended. You can go so far in a lot of cases but in many instances the expert makes the decision and it cannot be reduced to the level of The Ladybird Book of Dentistry.

As a medical layperson the OP will be in no position to judge the merits of why the original dentist came to the opinion he did. The dentist may try to explain why he came to the opinion he did but the OP is in no position to judge whether coming to that decision was justifiable based on current dental science or not, that's why I say that exploring that avenue will achieve nothing.

Hootanany

Thanks to all I think i will leave it and just take my business elsewhere, again many thanks for all your input