Chickadee
member
Reged: 28/03/2008
Posts: 2783
Loc: South Wales
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my d's teeth and the "full and frank" discussion I'm going to be having with our dentist later today.
I have been trying to get my d. referred to an orthodontist for several years (she's now 16). At first the dentist said the overcrowding wasn't too bad, and we should wait and see if it sorted itself out. Eventually she said she would refer my d., but after 2 (yes TWO) years, still no appointment. Then she siad that we had been sent an appointment which we failed to keep. I don't know if that was true - but I certainly know that we never received a letter giving us the appointment. I suspect that she never did the referral.
Eventually I asked for a private referral, which she did and finally my d. had the casts and x-rays done and was seen yesterday by the consultant orthodontist. I had to work (no work, no pay...) so persuaded my ex to take d.
The orthodontist's comment was that it was aa pity the dentist hdn't been to Specsavers. From her referral he had expected to have to do some minor cosmetic work. What my d. actually has is very severe overcrowding, to the point that it is a potential health hazard. She needs 4 molars removing, braces on her upper and lower teeth and will probably have to wear a retainer util she is well into her early 20s. He offered to do the work in four parts, but my d. opted to have it done all at once, so that at least she gets the braces bit over and done with.
He's written back to the dentist to ask her to do the extractions, and says that they should be done on the NHS because it is a health issue, but I'm going to see her today to ask her to see if we can get them done at the hospital (so my d. can have a light general anaesthetic) or to refer us to another more competent dentist, even if that means I have to pay. I have heard of someone else where she did an extraction and broke the tooth, so they had a lot of problems afterwards and I have absolutely no faith in her now.
So, I have to sort out d's teeth, sort out changing dentists, sort out the financial implications of moving from NHS dentistry to private dentistry. A least now I've written it all down and had a cup of tea, I might go back to sleep - but any advice and/or ideas would be much appreciated!
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OzzieKez
member
Reged: 21/06/2008
Posts: 1148
Loc: Queensland, Australia
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Probably too late now Valaber because you would have been. Hope all went well. I have a shocking time with my teeth too so I commiserate!
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susieblue
member
Reged: 16/03/2008
Posts: 804
Loc: Devon
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If the orthodontist works for both the NHS and the private sector, there is no reason why you can't transfer over. This can be done for other specialities. Fraid I don't know how they work though.
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skippy
member
Reged: 08/01/2008
Posts: 824
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Hi Valaber- i really sympathise with your concerns. Although my daughter was referred to an orthodontist quite quickly it took ages for her first appointment(about 8 months).Then having spent 10months in braces they suddenly realised they were still baby teeth there! (dispite several x-rays) She had to have these removed by our regular dentist and now has an unsightly brace and big gaps in her teeth - just what you want when you are 16!!
She often gets very upset about it and i was worried her confidence was getting really low. The orthodontist (a young woman) is also very stroppy and dismissive with her and i really feel like telling her to take the b****y thing off and get lost. The treatment is now going to take over two years. Im not sure how well qualified these people are (i assumed an orthodontist was higher than a dentist but i don't think so) If i knew what it was going to be like i would have gone private with her - and paid in monthly installments. If this is an option for you i would seriously consider it. I hope your appointment goes well today.
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Chickadee
member
Reged: 28/03/2008
Posts: 2783
Loc: South Wales
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Thanks everyone - just writing about it helped me clear my mind and I now have a plan.
I've spoken to the Conulstant Orthodontist's secretary and if we change dentists they will simply write to whoever we are registered with. She confirmed my suspicion that there never was a missed appointment, which makes me very angry - an honest mistake is one thing, but I can't forgive such an unprofessional lie as I was told by the dentist. Once the extraction is done, the consultant, who has a good reputation, will do all the actual orthodontic work.
I have insisted on going to see our dentist today - I was told she was too busy to talk to me, but I said that if she didn't see me I would go down to the surgery and make a fuss until she does - and that I'm considering reporting her to the local Health Authority. I will ask her to refer my d. the the hospital for the extraction, but if she is unable or unwilling to do that then I have registered with a new private practice which has been recommended to me by someone I trust, and they will do the extraction.
They also have a dental care plan which is actually not that much dearer than the NHS - probably about twice what I'm spending at the moment, and one of the dentists there specialises in orthodontics, so if there are any emergency problems, he will deal with them.
So I'm stll very angry, but at least a bit less confused than I felt in the small hours of this morning. Thank you for your replies Skippy and susieb and Ozzie - I think bringing problems to the forum always helps, if only because it makes you ask yourself what advice you would give someone in the same position!
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Sella_Vee
member
Reged: 03/04/2008
Posts: 662
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Valaber, I would definitely report the dentist to the Health Authority, unless she can give you a satisfactory explanation today, if only to stop other mothers going through the same ordeal as you. You should be able to get a hospital appointment for the extractions under anaesthetic; I was offered this when MS had to have eight teeth extracted, but he chose to go to the dentist "in batches". Good luck. Big hug (( )) Sella x.
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Ameliarose
member
Reged: 05/06/2008
Posts: 433
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Sorry I can't offer any advice but I hope everything works out well.
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debenjane
member
Reged: 11/01/2008
Posts: 577
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Not much help for you in the way of advice but I hope your daughter gets through it all ok.
My ED had to have 4 teeth extracted and they did two and two and she was so brave. The braces ached every time they tightened them but plenty of pain killers and ice cream helped. One piece of advice is to make sure your D wears the retainer for the full time. My D decided that her teeth were ok and out of vanity didn't wear it as often as she should with the obvious results of her teeth slipping back slightly.
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Chickadee
member
Reged: 28/03/2008
Posts: 2783
Loc: South Wales
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Well, it appears that I am off my trolley.
The dentist only refers people "when the patient or the guardian requests it" (doh! what happened to professional advice? Anyway, I did request it!)
I requested the referral in 2005, but she warned me there was a 14 month delay. (I know maths is not my strongest subject, but I've run out of fingers and toes here...)
She could not refer my d because she was not cleaning her teeth well enough (but she did refer her, and it was only at the last check up that she actually told my daughter that she needed to improve her teeth cleaning in order to qualify for orthodontic treatment...)
No she did not tell me we had failed to attend an appointment, she merely asked whether such a thing could have happened and might be the reason why I had such a long wait and I must have got the wrong end of the stick. (Funny how she actually was quite accusing and how my d. remembers the same conversation as I do!)
No she did not say it was minor cosmetic treament, the letter of referral was a standard one saying it was non-urgent. (it is urgent)
The orthodontist is entitled to his opinion but she knows better.
However, she will refer my d. to a clinic for the extractions. Something resembling an apology might have won me round as I'm not a vindictive person. What Mrs - sorry Dr - Dentist (she's always been Mrs until now, but today has become a Dr.) has earned herself with this afternoon's little display of self-justification is a formal complaint to the Health Authority.
Jane, thanks for the idea about ice cream - that's a good one!
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nowcemsi
member
Reged: 24/06/2008
Posts: 93
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when my daughter was young she had (and still has) an overbite, too many teeth and a nickname at school "Goofy" the dentist referred her to hospital for light anesthetic and removal of 8 teeth. She after that point had a phobia and I couldnt get her to the dentist.
She is 23 now and has perfect white teeth, a wonderful smile and the overbite is not unsightly indeed "marry me and have my children" is stated when she walks past anyone of the male gender with a pulse.
What i am trying to say is her face grew around her teeth, as when she was 14 thru to 15 her teeth were the largest aspect of her face.
Now she has teeth like a supermodel, attends the dentist regularly and smiles all day long........
Things will be ok for your daughter
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lizalou
member
Reged: 01/02/2008
Posts: 350
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I can only sympathise with you about your awful dentist-- it has been worth every penny to see our lovely dentist privately.
However, I can reassure you and D with the orthodontist treatment. My OD (now 16) had 4 teeth out (she is very lacking in confidence and a complete coward), but the dentist was so good with her that she was actually looking forward to having the 2nd pair out , for the sympathy and the day off school.
She then had top and bottom braces fitted-- lots of paracetamol, icecream and sympathy needed, but visible movement seen within a few days (the pain always seems to tie in with noticeable shifting)
The whole process has dragged on for 2 years, last appt a few days ago, still needs a retainer, but beautiful straight teeth now.
To reassure you even more, I had a brace when I was 26!
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skippy
member
Reged: 08/01/2008
Posts: 824
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Valaber, i think 'missed appointments' and lack of cleaning are their standard cop out clauses as we had exactly the same thing said to us (untrue) Good for you reporting them!
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ChrissiFi
member
Reged: 28/06/2006
Posts: 1100
Loc: Somerset
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Since when has referring a CHILD not been possible because they're not cleaning their teeth properly!!! If it was an adult maybe but not a child. And as the orthdentist said the overcrowding to the extent that it's a potential health hazard surely that could be why the teeth weren't as clean as they could be? It's difficult to get teeth properly clean if you can't get in between them. I'd complain - is there an institute of dentistry or something that dentists have to be a member of? If there is I'd complain to them as well as the local authority.
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OzzieKez
member
Reged: 21/06/2008
Posts: 1148
Loc: Queensland, Australia
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Good on you Valaber for making your complaint formal. Bringing this woman to the attention of the authorities may prevent others from being mistreated by her!
When we were kids in the country, the dentist was addicted to whatever the pain relief was back then, and never administered it to children but used it himself. He left a generation of the town folk "dental phobic".
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dbverycherry
member
Reged: 24/02/2007
Posts: 3082
Loc: Kent UK
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Like others have said make sure your daughter cleans well with the brace and always uses the retainer once the brace is removed. My son in his early teens had a top and bottom brace and I had an upper brace when I was in my early 30s.
So it is never to late but may be will cost you more like it did me!  Take heart and best wishes to you Val and of course your daughter no gain without a little pain 
P.S Practice learning to smile as one will want to show the new you off
dbverycherry
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wispa
member
Reged: 16/01/2008
Posts: 1622
Loc: Suffolk,
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Complain to the Health Authority.
I had problems with a dentist when I moved to this area. he did a filling which fell out after 2 weeks and took half the tooth with it, and I had to have a crown. He wanted to charge a fortune, I said it was his fault in the first place. I complained to the Health Authority, and it turned out I wasn't the only person who had problems.
They also asked about my treatment (it was NHS), and he had charged them for a lot of work I hadn't had done, including 2 more fillings, root canal work and a 2 stage clean and descale. He closed down shortly after that.
The dentist I have now is wonderful, knows I'm terrified and is very supportive. And the orthodontist my daughter and son used was excellent, so there are some good ones out there.
..wispa
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