who do i complain to?

[wozzle]

Is there a governing body for dentisty in the UK, I am with a private dentist in Bedfordshire and believe serious mistakes have been made amounting to £1600, a missed holiday and genreally feeling miserable and in pain for nearly 6 months?

 

[brit]

Dental Complaints UK

Making a complaint about a dentist and/or dental treatment (UK)

www.dentalfearcentral.org

The above is a link to an intermediary service re private dental care complaints to resolve things for consumers. https://dcs.gdc-uk.org

The GDC is the governing body for all dental professionals in the UK. Their website is:
https://www.gdc-uk.org/ They do not have the power to order a dentist to pay money back but can limit their practice or stop them from practising.

If it's a case of the dentist has taken on root canal treatments beyond their capability which they really should have referred out especially once things went wrong, you would be best to ask for them to pay the costs of you seeing a specialist endodontist to get it put right. The fact you are still in pain and have been fobbed off with antibiotics for ages, sounds like something is remiss to me.
Good luck.

 

[wozzle]

thank you, i will do that.

Aparently they should have used a rubber dam and they didnt and have seen a specialist who feels there is still nerve left in both teeth

 

[olanda]

the first person you should complain to should be the practice manager at your dentist. she/he might be able to sort things out for you without you needing to take the case further (ie, offer to pay for your further treatment/refund you etc).

if that doesn't work out you could then take the case to the gdc, but this will *never* get you a monetary resolution, this is just about whether or not your dentist has been negligent and if she/he is 'fit to practice' - your dentist can be given a warning or prevented from working as a dentist if you 'win'.

if you want a financial resolution and you don't get it from the practice manager at your dentist, i think the only way is to sue your dentist and there are law firms specially dedicated to this (you can google them under 'dental negligence' and they tend to take cases on a 'no win, no fee' basis).

but, i really think it's best to try with the practice manager first. the gdc is a long route (which i've been down myself) and it's worthwhile to do if you feel you've been treated badly but it takes literally MONTHS for all the evidence to be heard, decisions made etc!!!

 

[brit]

thank you, i will do that.

Aparently they should have used a rubber dam and they didnt and have seen a specialist who feels there is still nerve left in both teeth

Is the specialist willing to discuss his findings with them with a view to getting redress for you? RCT botch job then...not using a rubber dam for an rct would certainly be cause for concern. Surprisingly it's more pleasant for you with one too as you aren't in danger of swallowing stuff and it sort of feels like it's just the tooth and not you that is being worked on.

Hope the specialist can quickly get you sorted out.
Actually I would say you should try the Dental Complaints Service - it may offer exactly what you want.

 

[brit]

the first person you should complain to should be the practice manager at your dentist. she/he might be able to sort things out for you without you needing to take the case further (ie, offer to pay for your further treatment/refund you etc).

if that doesn't work out you could then take the case to the gdc, but this will *never* get you a monetary resolution, this is just about whether or not your dentist has been negligent and if she/he is 'fit to practice' - your dentist can be given a warning or prevented from working as a dentist if you 'win'.

if you want a financial resolution and you don't get it from the practice manager at your dentist, i think the only way is to sue your dentist and there are law firms specially dedicated to this (you can google them under 'dental negligence' and they tend to take cases on a 'no win, no fee' basis).

but, i really think it's best to try with the practice manager first. the gdc is a long route (which i've been down myself) and it's worthwhile to do if you feel you've been treated badly but it takes literally MONTHS for all the evidence to be heard, decisions made etc!!!

Olanda - are you sure you mean GDC - didn't think you were in UK? What you say is true for UK but there is also the intermediary service which the GDC funds to deal with private dentistry complaints which I mentioned. It hasn't been around for long but was set up to make it easier for dentists and patients to resolve these issues without resorting to the big guns.

 

[olanda]

hi brit. yes, i mean the gdc - i am in the uk. 'dental complaints' sounds like a good start for wozzle. my negligent treatment was with a nhs dentist, so it probably wouldn't have applied in my circumstance.

the gdc was a long complaint process, but it did make me feel better to have brought the terrible treatment i received to their attention, i'm pleased i did it and would always advise other people to highlight sub-standard care, it's definitely worth it.

i also wasn't the only complainant who disputed the fitness to practice of my previous dentist; i think it's often the case that if the dentist has been negligent with you, s/he likely to have done so with other patients too.

 

[sudzs]

Actually I would say you should try https://dcs.gdc-uk.org

They helped sort me out! I emailed them and got a phone call back from a lovely guy who seemed to genuinely want to help. He told me that before they could get involved I had to tell the dentist exactly what I wanted, apology or refund or both. If they refused then the Dental Complaints Org. get involved and try to resolve the situation.

Luckily I got a refund.

And duh! i just reread Orlanda, and see yours was a NHS dentist... what was the final outcome from the GDC? Do they keep you informed as to what if any action is taken??

 

[brit]

Very encouraging to hear Sudz!

 

[wozzle]

Thank you for all your replies, he specialist is going to send my dentist and me a report on his findings and discuss work that still needs to be done on 2 other teeth. I really dont want her touching any more teeth so need to find someone i can trust!

After the specialist did a root canal on the opposite side its still tender a week later but not like the other 2 were after she did them. Im presuming that it is normal to still be tender as he is a highly thought of Endontist who lectures at Guys hospital so I have faith in hihm but after everything with the other 2 rcts i cant help but be paranoid

Thanks again
Sarah
x

 

[brit]

Should be fine as you say - when you do find an endodontist you have had good results from, please feel free to post their details on the Dentist Finder.

 

[sudzs]

I have faith in him but after everything with the other 2 rcts i cant help but be paranoid

I know exactly what you mean. I'm on my 4th dentist at this stage and am having doupts about him now due to an odd way he did a large filling (see my boring thread about it!!!) He's not the gentlest either...

I kind of am over the total panic and need for sedation but still need a valium to get into the dentist chair and still feel like I might have a heart attack! But to have to sit there and have someone you don't have 100% confidence in is just torture. Unfotrunately I have to stick with this guy as I am having ongoing problems with the gum around a crown I had done there (not by him but by the junior dentist there, she also messed up a filling which i had to have redone) and if it needs to be replaced I'm guessing if that has to be done, they will have to do it at a reduced rate or even free.

Can anyone tell me if that would be the case?? Because if not then I might just go elsewhere.

Best of luck wozzle, I'm sure your new guy will be brilliant!