Dentists grrrrr whats that all about!!!

[dot.hawkes]

I have been to register with the doctor in my new village, but trying to change my dentist is like shovelling it uphill!!! I have had the same dentist for 19 years , I am not an NHS patient, i pay a private dentist, but even then i can;t get registered anywhere!!!! I have just had the most confusing conversation about NHS databases and waiting lists for registration, what has any of that got to do with looking after your teeth!!!! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[MrXLA]

By the way there is good reason for regular check-ups and the 'recall interval'isn't necessarily 6 months its based (or should be!) on previous clinical findings.
I have not had a formal oral health screen/dental exam. for over five years (and I should really) however:
- I have a diet low in refined fermentable sugars
- I have a very good oral hygiene regimen
- I do not and have never smoked
- I have only one dental restoration
- I am medically fit and well and take no medications
- I demonstrate no evidence of dental parafunction
- I have a stable occlusion

therefore I am 'very low risk' for any dental or oro-facial anomaly, disease or malignancy however the above rarely applies absolutely to most of the population in the UK.

[MrXLA]

By the way whilst there are numerous complicated factors why there is an inability so find NHS dental care and to a lesser degree private dentl care, the overall reason is very simple:

- An ever expanding population/essentially 'a never ending demand'
- a limited number of dentists
- a limited amount in the 'dental budget' leading to insufficient NHS dental contracts being available

[MrXLA]

Turning up late and citing the fact that you have been kept waiting in the past is never an acceptable exuse I'm afraid (whilst I appreciate it was probably a big inconvenience to you). Nor does it change the reality that it simply may not be possible to see you.
For instance even turning up just a bit late might preclude you from being seen because the slot may have been double booked due to high patient demands. Also the dentist may have naturally assumed that you are not coming (which is reasonable since many people actually show up prior to an appointment not 'dot on' or after its begun) and began a procedure with a patient that would otherwise have been deferred.

[MrXLA]

or the dentist might be running very late already due to previous patients turning up late (although clearly first thing in a morning thsi couldn't actually apply!) and I think you will agree (or not I don't know really) that its unreasonable to those patients that do show up on time to be kept waiting any longer than is necessary.
Nor is it fair to expect the nurses and reception staff to go home late.

[MrXLA]

Some of the comments made here are very interesting, I can see why some people feel and act the way they do, but it does not seem that many have the ability to rationalise the actions of others.
It makes me wonder with regards to dentistry as it�s the topic of discussion, what assumptions are made in order to form an opinion, for instance you must assume:

- That the receptionist's function is to annoy and inconvenience you in every way possible
- The dentist is refusing to accept the rest of your family and street for treatment because they are evil and cruel it has nothing to do with his/her list already being double booked
- The dentist is sat upstairs reading a magazine, deliberately keeping you waiting despite having a waiting room full of people and home to go to
- Even though you have waited 2 weeks (or much longer!) for your current appointment due to the high volume of patients you cannot have another one for at least 1 week, 'why not tomorrow' this is done to inconvenience you (it must be as surely there aren't other patients coming in tomorrow?)
- The dentist is on holiday this week (again this is purely to inconvenience you) despite having been there for the previous 51 weeks, why would they need a holiday, surely they live in the practice and there life is fulfilled by the practice of clinical dentistry isn't it?
- You are billed for a missed appointment as per practice policy as stated on posters on the walls and the letters you receive, you are able to rationalise not paying because you were kept waiting a long time for an appointment
- You feel that you have been treated inappropriately so will storm out and not return, that will teach the dentist (who already has more patient�s than they know what to do with and is probably unaware of the problem you have had?)