Implant aftercare problem

[lostpatient]

I had an implant a few years ago at my NHS registered dentist, but privately. After surviving safely for a year, I thought it was the the end of the story. The guy who operated on me left the practice and I got a new person, who spotted it was a little loose at 6 monthly check up. He did not deal with implant and also left the practice soon after. good on him, at least he spotted the problem. After a long wait and several cancellations, I finally got to see a specialist in the same practice and it was sorted.
Last week, I developed a pain in the gum. I went to see yet another dentist in the same pracice and was told he would not do anything with an implant and the lady who helped me before left the practice. I have a double problem. One on the Left with NHS, normal tooth and this one on the Right, implant and private. Left pain started a week before and was told not to chew on that side, which caused the pain on the gum on the right with the implant. Now the right has more severe pain. The dentist will not treat with Left NHS teeth for 3 weeks.
I had struggle to find a specialist elsewhere who treat the right gum with implant. I needed urgent attention I can't eat on either side, causing sleep problem.
It is very difficult to find one, who treat the implant patient who had been operated elsewhere initially. Some receptionists said their dentists might have a look but not necessarily treating it and the person would be off until September. One said I would have to register with them and need to pay for 6 monthly check ups privately.
After phoning everybody for 2 days, searching on website and phoning dental advise line, I finally found one in not in my city but in the neighbouring city to see one next week.
And so, beware, dentists come and go very often. After you had an implant, if you move or dentist moves, you may have a problem when you need an urgent attention.
Somebody could advise me what else I could have done.

 

[comfortdentist]

I don't have an answer but rather advice for others. It is best to find if possible a well qualified ethical doctor and stay with them for all procedures which the doctor performs. For the procedures that the doctor doesn't perform see the doctor(s) that you are referred to. Why? Because the "chief" dentist is the person in charge of your care from a comprehensive approach. Since you would be seeing the other doctors that regularly plan and work with each other they know what each other's talents are and can even "pressure" one of the team members to retreat if needed. There will occasionally be poor outcomes so everyone needs to know that their doctor(s) will be there for their care.

 

[carole]

That might work in the private side of dentistry but here in the UK especially using the nhs we don't get that choice. Dentists go into the nhs when they qualify and the good ones end up leaving when they gain their practical skills over about 3 to 4 years. They then either go and join a private practice or further their knowledge and go abroad.

Even in the private sector a lot are not as good as they like us to believe and when we are referred on they are lucky if they get a note saying what has been done.

I see what you are saying and I have heard of a dentist working with others but that is very rare here. Even when they do it isn't consistent.

I don't have any knowledge of implant care or implants other than what I read on here but lostpatients story is very familiar.

Shame we don't have you over here

 

[comfortdentist]

Thanks for the explanation Carole. I thought it might bee somewhat that way but didn't realize it was that bad. My post was my position of what I thought was optimal care. In general for patients who receive what they believe is optimal care from doctor(s) that they have had a good relationship the anxiety is tremendously reduced.

 

[carole]

This is also very true, to be able to see one dentist all the time is a must for us nervous folk. I am very lucky at the moment in that I see a lovely young lady dentist. Although she is off until Feb next year after having a baby, the owner is covering her patients and he is very nice but I feel much better seeing her. He isn't as fussy although he does tell the two lady dentists to do for the nhs patients whatever they need so he is very generous but although he was very nice I don't know him, or him me and between having to look at my notes and fit in a check up it felt like something was lacking.

My dentist is very warm and friendly and it feels like going to see a friend. So he has a hard act to follow even though he is much more qualified than her.

There is such a quick turn over of dentist in the practices here especially in the chain ones that it is hard to get a trusting relationship with them. You can see one on one visit then another the next time you go. It is very un-nerving.

It was also much better when the dentists could charge per treatment like they do in the private practices but the get very little financial reward for doing things such as rct's etc that a lot of them decide to extract rather than offer the correct care. There are still a lot that will go the extra mile and put the patient first which must be hard when they have targets to meet and are underpaid for a lot of the treatments they do, within the nhs. I think some think of working in the nhs as practice until they can go private