Allotments 4 All

hi ya all, some advice please...... i have been to the dentist 4 times in 2 weeks, 1st time for a check up as you do every 6 months dentist said needed a filling, fair enough i think, i book appointment for that for following wk, over the wk end between the check up and the appointment to have filling done i get an abcess, fine these things happen, rings up got seen same day great, got given antibiotics for abcess fine i don't like tablets much but the abcess has to go, same wk i goes for the filling on the wed had the work done after the injection in the gum or where ever, had the filling done came home still numb as you do,got told not to eat for couple of hrs which i followed nothing to eat fine, then the filling drops out still numb not much pain,rang dentist they could not see me till friday late afternoon,i booked the appointment, well the pain i had when the injection wore off all night in pain, rang dentist again, they said sorry nothing they could do and see me friday, no advice on pain relief and no other option of being seen earlier elsewhere.....i done some ringing around in agony found out myself that they do an emergency dental unit in a local clinic, from 6.30pm and 9.30pm every evening. i rang them they let me come see them i now have a temperary filling,with no pain... now what grates me is not only when the filling fell out they should have known through experience i would be in pain and i'd not long had the local in the mouth for the filling which would wair off, but they did not advise me on any pain relief or tell me of this emergency dental unit which i could have gone to the same eve if i'd have known, oh no they left me in total agony, would you write a letter of complaint or just leave it? and be happy that i now have no pain well apart from a very sore mouth from having so much pain in one wk.......what would you do?

You could complain, but from past experience it doesn't get you too far. At least you will feel better ;D
Is there another dentist you can change to? You certainly wont have much confidence in going back for more treatment will you?

Have you arranged for your dentist to replace the filling, which they should do free of charge as it was obviously not done properly in the first place?! I would do that and speak to them face to face first, informing them of your pain and their apparent lack of concern about it. Then follow it up with a letter depending on their response.

Changing dentists may be an option but can be really difficult, is your current practice private or NHS? There are no NHS dentists in our area now, we go to our small local practice which is excellent but private...

You should write to them and also to your primary care trust.
If you don't they'll never know about it and say there is no problem in dentistry in future government reports.
I don't really believe in these reports but it's the only way to get heard.

thankyou for all ur advice and comments, i have arranged for it to be re done but can't face going any time soonish.... have an appointment in april, lady i spoke to today was very sorry for how id been treated, i think someone from clinic had phoned. the dentist that had done the work on my tooth is leaving anyway makes me wonder why! i found that out b 4 he done my tooth in first place, im just pleased im not in pain at the moment. it is an nhs/private dentist we are on benifits so i don't pay for treatment, i am seeing the head dentist next time i go in april i will voice my concerns with him directly when i see him rather than go through the dreaded receptionist.....
i had thought of writing a letter but thought where would it really get me apart from all het up. will give this head dentist one more try with me if im not happy with his work i will change, its not too bad for dentist here, but when i lived up north couldn get one for love nor money..... again thanks alot everyone. mpg