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Will my dentist feel offended?

N

Nutkins

Junior member
Joined
Apr 15, 2019
Messages
12
Location
United Kingdom
Hi there,

To a cut a long story short, a month ago, I finally got over my fears and went to a dentist. I hadn't seen one in at least 15 years, mostly out of fear and anxiety. Fortunately, the dentist I chose was fantastic, and was everything you could ask for, extremely patient, caring and very attentive with me every step of the way, and despite some extractions, he made the whole thing really easy for me.

Part of my treatment plan, which I'm now nearing the end of, is treatment for gum disease, which ever since I became aware of it, has kept me awake at night - I regret to admit it seems I've had it for some time now, but my dentist says despite this, my bone structure is more or less undamaged (surprisingly). Unfortunately, I can't get an appointment with my dentist's specialist for at least a month. I don't want to wait this long.

I've since had a consultation with seperate clinic and I'm all ready to go start gum disease treatment with them. I know this seems like a daft question, but would my dentist be in anyway offended by this?
 
Congratulations on the progress you have made. Maybe/maybe not. It is your right to seek your care where you feel most comfortable. Before switching I think it would be best to check you are comparing 'like with like'. Are they private referrals or NHS as waiting times would be different typically but also the treatment offered could be drastically different. Is it a specialist periodontist you are being referred to in both cases or just a dental hygienist or a dentist who is interested in gum disease? What is the treatment plan in both cases? Deep clean or more than that. Maybe check the actual qualifications of the people involved to see if they have similar experience. Some people want/need to be numbed up for perio treatments so being referred to someone with good injection technique might make it easier for you to stay the course and not be setback. Maybe explain to your dentist that you are worried about the wait and then that gives him the chance to point out any differences between the two options.
 
As well as Brit's excellent advice above, a month is really no time at all to make any difference to the treatment of gum disease, it's a very slow process.
 
And if your dentist knows that you're planning to go elsewhere, rather than wait, he might be able to get you in sooner, via a cancellation.
 
Nutkins,

First of all well done on going to see the dentist after 15 years and so happy the dentist was so good , and seems just really pleasant! If I had something going on I needed treatment for and wasn't able to get in for a while. I might be curious as well and get another consult like you did.. just even to gain some positive momentum and exposure to dentists. It does seem like the first was so good but it is really hard to wait. I think they would understand if you decided to choose based of not being able to get in.. But also agree with Little Lynnie, in that if you did email or call them and say , I really want to get in before a month, and I"m thinking of going somewhere else is there a way you can help me get in earlier, they just might have a way to do that.. and I work in scheduling medical appts and we get cancels everyday , it is just life, people get sick or called into work or out of town. So you'd be surprised if you checked in how fast you might be able to get in at the dentist you liked. It sounds though also this is not him but an associate who works with the gum diesese , I hope he is as pleasant as the first guy. and maybe you could email and ask something as how he is with anxious patients too. Just wanted to encourage you.. Either way you got this!! You are doing great!
 
It might put him into an awkward position if he doesn't rate the clinic you've picked :unsure:? It wouldn't be very professional to badmouth another clinician, so he'd likely not say anything. If that was a case, then I suppose he might be a bit miffed. If he does rate them highly and it was a toss up between the two periodontists anyway, then he probably won't care.

As Gordon said, a month or two is neither here nor there, so it might be wise to wait, seeing how you've got a really good relationship with your new dentist (and good communication between your dentist and the specialist is important in the long run, too).
 
Hi all,

Thanks for all the lovely replies. I thought I'd just give you a quick update on the situation.

I brought it up during my last appointment (just 2 composite fillings). I explained how I was feeling about it, how it was keeping me awake at night etc, to the point I'd approached a different clinic. He took it really well, and understood my concerns. He tried to see if he could get me in earlier but unfortunately there just wasn't much wiggle room in the diary.

That said he was very happy with the clinic I chose, as he knows the team there very well and I should be in good hands.

I'm not leaving my dentist out to dry though, I'm very keen on getting dental implants with my familiar dentist, which he's happy to do when I'm suitable (healed gums).

On a slightly off topic note, one of the fillings was originally planned to be an amalgam one. He instead placed a composite one and didn't charge me extra for it, which was fantastic.
 
It sounds like your dentist is a real gem. Congrats on getting it all sorted and it looks like everything else is going as planned.
 
Yes,, wow.. I agree, sound like a keeper.. you might now have 2 great dental places for different things.. that is a winning combination !! and you are part of that!! :wow::welldone::thumbsup!:
 
Perio treatment completed (extensive scale and polish is all they recommended). Went really smoothly, and better yet I didn't need to be numbed for it.

All my fears of gum disease damage were calmed. The gum disease specialist who did my treatment told me despite obvious years of neglect (which she said was due to not visiting a dentist in a long time), I don't have anything alarming beyond gingivitis and with renewed brushing technique + flossing I can take control :).
 
Hey guys,

Further update, with a bit of an issue.

I've been for an implant consultation. The consultation was great, the implantologist I met with offered to do a sinus lift and a simple synthetic bone graft for free, if I agree to do all 4 at his practice.

What I don't like is he's really pushing concious sedation on me, when I've explicitly told him I don't want it. I'm perfectly fine with a local anesthetic. He was adamant that I should take it - that's perfectly fine, but there's an extra charge for that.

Am I missing something?
 
How have you chosen the implantologist? How reputable are they? I'd be wary of agreeing to 4 upfront with anyone. Depends on location but I'd do bare minimum to test someone out first. I doubt you'd need any sedation (I didn't for a single implant) but his insistence on it would make me think he maybe was lacking in the local anaesthetic department or wanting to have an excuse to do all 4 at once rather than individually. I know I sound really cynical but I think you do have to be very careful especially given the money involved and looking for someone with a proven skill level rather than someone offering 'freebies'.
 
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Maybe he as a dentist /specialist is more comfortable performing the surgery in this circumstances. I KNow even in the eye clinic I work at the surgeons all have different preferences on procedures and how they work things that give them the best results. for some reason. I'd definately ask more about it.
 
Having had a sinus lift on just local anesthesia I would recommend some sort of sedation to most people having one. IV would be my preference.
 
Hey guys,
Further update, with a bit of an issue.
I've been for an implant consultation. The consultation was great, the implantologist I met with offered to do a sinus lift and a simple synthetic bone graft for free, if I agree to do all 4 at his practice.
What I don't like is he's really pushing concious sedation on me, when I've explicitly told him I don't want it. I'm perfectly fine with a local anesthetic. He was adamant that I should take it - that's perfectly fine, but there's an extra charge for that.
Am I missing something?

I've since spoken with the dentist about my concerns and they've now offered to waive the cost of the IV sedation - so that's good. I can't get any other response out of them other than that they feel it's in my best interest, given the surgical parts of the procedure (i.e. the sinus lift).

I've also since approached another dentist for a second opinion so to speak, who seems highly experienced (claims to have placed over 11,000+ implants in his career, which is corroborated on his own website). He's advised me that in his personal opinion, I should avoid any dentist pushing sedation on me. He has intimated that this is probably because the dentist probably wants me sedated in case something goes wrong, and while being sedated I wouldn't remember. On the downside, he's charging considerably more but is also offering me a discount to have all 4 done with him also, only he's charging me for the sinus lift and bone grafting :/
 
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"rated on his own website). He's advised me that in his personal opinion, I should avoid any dentist pushing sedation on me. He has intimated that this is probably because the dentist probably wants me sedated in case something goes wrong, and while being sedated I wouldn't remember"

This is a sales reply by someone not qualified to offer IV sedation.
 
Hi there,

without knowing much about implants or sinus lifts, it is your body and you decide how you would like to have the procedure done. If you feel sedation is something you would like to avoid then that's the way to go. Nobody should push you into anything. If your dentist feels your choice is not a good one, then they should give you reasons that are clear for you. If that is not the case, looking for a place that considers your preferences would be the best way to go. I would be cautious about anyone trying to push anything...

All the best wishes and keep us posted
 
One of my pet gripes are dentists who push sedation on people who don't really want or need it. Having said that, a sinus lift can be quite an intrusive (and potentially traumatising) procedure, and I do think Dr K is right in saying that almost everyone will benefit from IV sedation (though I suspect that not all sinus lifts are the same, and some may be easier on the patient than others?). I would think that a lot of dentists would opt for sedation for themselves (though I think Dr K decided to go without in order to manoeuvre himself into the best possible position - physically, that is - for the surgery? please correct me if I'm wrong @comfortdentist).

How did you choose the implant dentists you visited? Did they come recommended by your dentist or periodontist? Getting recommendations from dentists who have seen the implant surgeons work is always a very good idea.
 
I don't know anything about sinus lifts either but I think it would usually be done in advance and you would have to wait a few months before doing the implants. Is this what is being suggested?I think I personally would feel safer having a sinus lift done by a specialist oral surgeon (oral surgery or oral and maxillofacial surgery) rather than a dentist who places implants. There are hospital-based NHS oral surgeons all over the UK I would have thought, who do private work at private dental practices as a sideline. At least you could then be reasonably confident in their surgical skills.
There isn't actually a dental implantology specialism in the UK and I think I am right in saying any UK trained dentist can place implants although they are not supposed to work beyond their competence level.

Letsconnect makes a good point about someone who does your implants coming recommended by a dentist on the basis of the known standard of their work. For instance who would your original dentist recommend?

I think I would also wait for the gingivitis to fully subside before doing other invasive gum treatment.
 
I don't know anything about sinus lifts either but I think it would usually be done in advance and you would have to wait a few months before doing the implants. Is this what is being suggested?I think I personally would feel safer having a sinus lift done by a specialist oral surgeon (oral surgery or oral and maxillofacial surgery) rather than a dentist who places implants. There are hospital-based NHS oral surgeons all over the UK I would have thought, who do private work at private dental practices as a sideline. At least you could then be reasonably confident in their surgical skills.
There isn't actually a dental implantology specialism in the UK and I think I am right in saying any UK trained dentist can place implants although they are not supposed to work beyond their competence level.

Letsconnect makes a good point about someone who does your implants coming recommended by a dentist on the basis of the known standard of their work. For instance who would your original dentist recommend?

I think I would also wait for the gingivitis to fully subside before doing other invasive gum treatment.

The proposal is to do the sinus lift and immediately place the implant at the same time. The second dentist, who will do it unsedated advised he would do the sinus lift and then allow healing, so it's all a bit weird.

As for gingivitis/gum disease, I'm now even more confused now, as this same second dentist I went to for a second opinion has told me that it's been over exagerated my level of gum disease :S.

I've ultimately decided to go with the dentist wanting to sedate me though, and I've agreed to be sedated. Mostly because I've had multiple recommendations about them now, and this was the place my original dentist recommended, going as far as to say he let this dentist do his own implant when he needed one. Decision is obviously made easier given it's cheaper per implant, and the bone grafting and sinus lifting has been thrown in for free.

The procedure is not scheduled to take place until the end of the month (the only time I could get any annual leave). Once I've been through it all, I'll report back with my experiences :).
 
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