Dentists cant recommend a treatment?
Posted by Gellert@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 17 comments
This is partly venting but the questions is as title.
So I had toothache over the weekend and went to see a dentist today, explained the issues I'd had, the tooth was one I've been having problems with a while, its pretty much more filling than tooth at this point, well, was anyway. So he says that we have two options, extraction or root canal. Explains a little of what each entails and that he figures a root canal has about a 75% chance of success and I'll probably need a crown as well while extraction will definitely solve my toothache but I'll lose the tooth.
I ask him what he'd recommend.
He said hes not allowed to recommend treatment anymore.
Anyway, 2hrs of agony and maxed out on anesthesia later I'm shaking like a leaf, drenched in sweat and sobbing so I call it. I can well believe dental tortures highly effective. The tooth shattered, pulling the roots was agonising. Theres still a piece of tooth he cant get out but we're hoping it heals over without issue.
At the time I post this its about 3hrs after we stopped, pretty sure the anasthesias worn off, my jaw hurts, my gums are sore but the toothaches gone.
Something he said while extracting the tooth sort of implied he'd have gone with the root canal.
Why the hell cant dentists make treatment recommendations? I did a quick google and all I can find is that they'd cant force treatment on you, which seems obvious.
AntiCheat9@reddit
NHS or private? I guess they are worried that if they recommend root canal and it doesn't work you would complain , and if they recommended extraction you might think they've gone for the easy option?
But you shouldn't have had any pain during the extraction itself, maybe your dentist is a bit of a di ck?
Gellert@reddit (OP)
Private.
I dont think so, he seemed to do everything right. I've googled a bit and apparently you can still get pain if you're nervous or have an infection. He x-rayed at the end and does think theres a minor infection under the remaining root.
thecrius@reddit
wtf??
If you had an infection you should have had an antibiotic treatment first, then extraction.
The bone spurs (fragments of tooth) will contribute to having the infection persist if you don't get treatment.
Also, they will be a source of inflammation of the gums until they get expelled and potentially scrape against your tongue/cheeks when eating.
Change dentist immediately.
AnxiousAppointment70@reddit
If you have an infection I think you're supposed to have antibiotics to clear that up before further treatment. As for the bits left in there, they will work their way to the surface because your body knows to expel them. The wound probably won't fully heal until that's happened.
AntiCheat9@reddit
He sounds like a di ck tbh.I had an infected tooth a few months ago, my private dentist told me outright that it had to come out - gave me a course of antibiotics, then 2 weeks later did the extraction. No pain during the procedure, but pretty sore for a few days afterwards while it healed up.
For private you are looking at around a Grand for root canal, so if it didn't work you' d probably be a bit annoyed.
TuMek3@reddit
This has come about because there is a minority culture around patients trying (mostly successfully) to sue dentists when a treatment doesn’t go perfectly for them.
bishibashi@reddit
I have a somewhat similar one at the moment. Had an infection a few weeks ago, dentist gave me antibiotic which cleared it but said it will likely recur at some point, and then we’ll need to look at root treatment or extraction. Just like you he said root treatment is 50/50 on solving it so I’d need to make a call. It comes down to protecting themselves from doing hundreds of pounds of treatment and then ending up needing to extract anyway. Frustrating, but not unreasonable, they aren’t magicians.
Warm-Marsupial8912@reddit
Same with vets, they aren't allowed to recommend treatment anymore. It is a case of overemphasising choice and being impartial. I can absolutely get behind them not pushing you towards treatments, but if it is you who ask for their recommendation they should be giving it in my eyes
levinyl@reddit
"He said he's not allowed to recommend treatment anymore" - Could be this practice had issues before when they recommended treatment so now they don't as a company policy
SillyStallion@reddit
Having gone through a root canal, I asked them to stop midway through and just pull it. It was the most horrific torture!
perrosandmetal78@reddit
This is odd. I've always had the opposite problem with private dentists in that they've recommended things I haven't really needed. I have an NHS dentist now and they're the only one I've really trusted
Independent-Try4352@reddit
I have a private Dentist, and they're spot on. They explain the options, chances of success/potential problems of the options, in their opinion, but quite rightly leave the choice up to me. They've never tried to sell me an implant over a filling, for example.
Catracan@reddit
Had a back molar removed on Monday, after 6 weeks of back and forth over issues with root canal. No pain during the procedure but in tons of pain now. Just finished antibiotics for infection round my tooth but still have enough symptoms that I reckon I’ll be back at the dentist on Friday to see what the deal is with the pain and infection symptoms not having improved.
Same issue with my dentist. Got all the options because it’s good practice to inform the patient but I just needed him to tell me what the best long term solution was.
ceb1995@reddit
I think it's that line of they have to obtain informed consent and be clear that you have full understanding of all the treatment options without influencing you, so to say I recommend x could be considered that influence as people can be very obliging with going along with what a health professional said.
Boldboy72@reddit
I have had toothache since Christmas. Went to an emergency dentist who couldn't find a cause...like you he offered me extraction but that it would have to be my choice and since he wasn't sure what the cause of the pain was .. he might take the wrong tooth and was worried about that.
It still hurts a bit but I'm getting used to it.
klc81@reddit
That's weird. I'm having a similar extraction in a fortnight - my dentist reccomended it in no uncertain terms - in fact she won't do the other work I need done until I get the tooth out.
AutoModerator@reddit
Please help keep AskUK welcoming!
When repling to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.