Email received from a concerned dental patient.
“I don’t know if you could help at all but I really need some advice.
I have been with my current dentist for three years since moving house, and whereas in the past my dentists have always spoken to me and explained what they are going to do, this one does not, to the extent I have visited on one occasion with severe toothache, it has been looked at, and then without any conversation, I have been given an injection, asked to wait outside for it to take effect, been called back in without knowing what was going to occur next, filling? extraction?
However my most recent problem was a very loose tooth at the front Upper, without warning I had a lump of pink gunge stuck in my mouth and something was mentioned about an impression when the gunge was removed I was told the tooth had come out with it, nothing more was said apart from requiring an appointment for a couple of weeks for further impressions for a denture to be made this was done and the due fee of nearly £200 was paid, I returned after a couple of weeks when more pink gunge was shoved in my mouth, again nothing further was said, this happened twice more before on my last visit I was "fitted" with a mouth full of plastic this was not the single gap filling denture I had expected but one which included all of my missing rear upper teeth at the back (which I have managed without for many years) and even a slither which fitted a gap between my side teeth that has been there since I was a teenager, bits were filed off here and there, and I was then told it fitted but would take a few days to get used to, feeling like something out of a horror movie I left the surgery and within 2 minutes was physically retching and being sick, this thing is not what I wanted or expected I can not wear it without being sick there is a pronounced gap between the roof of my mouth and the rear of the plate which goes too far back to my throat, I cannot talk without it sounds and feels like I have a mouth full of gob stoppers, it is also very difficult to remove and I now have a fear of not being able to remove it quick enough and ending up choking on my own vomit caused by wearing it, any advice would be much appreciated.”
I am appalled that your dentist did not clearly detail your treatment plan. What you need to do first of all is to complain to the dental practice. Complain in writing and keep it short. Be clear about what you want. Do you want the denture amended? Do you want the denture remade with less teeth? Think about what you want and let them know. If they fail to act then see here for further information on complaints. If your dentist was doing the work on the NHS then he is obliged to give you a written treatment plan before the treatment began. Did he do this?
Note: it is normal for a denture to take a little while to get used to.