I was happy with the lady on reception. She asked me if I was here for a checkup and I said I was but at the time I made the appointment seven weeks previously I needed a filling. I was told that I had to have a checkup before I could have any work done?! Why? I've not been to a dentist during Covid and had no problems except for a filling in October 2020, so why did I have to have a checkup?
Yesterday I said that I wanted the filling doing at the same time but the lady said that wasn't possible na that I would have to come back again!? Why? The waiting room was empty, I was called straight in. The dentist said I was in for a checkup and I told him I'd lost a filling at the time I made the appointment and I really wanted that doing because it had been several weeks ago. He said he could do it as an emergency instead of the checkup!!!!???
How can it be an emergency when I made the appointment seven weeks ago? Why couldn't he do the checkup and the filling at the same time.... he wasn't busy, nobody else was waiting, I was in and out in 10 minutes.
It's very annoying when you have to make subsequent appointments especially if you're working. This never used to be the case, what has happened to change all this..... and it's not covid it was like this before.
Reply from South Normanton Dental Practice
Thank you for offering feedback on our practice. I hope to be able to clarify a few points to your comment.
The reason that you were advised to have an examination is because you haven't had one for 2 years, and you are advised to have one every 6 months. At this appointment, the dentist would view your whole mouth and advise of any other possible treatment that you may need and to decide on the treatment required for your lost filling, and how long he would need to repair it. You also need a checkup to remain on the register, as patients will lapse after a two year period. You were booked in for an examination, of which we allow 15 minutes. We are unable to extra treatment at these times, as we have not booked enough time in the diary.
Our practice are currently using different waiting areas, to maintain social distancing, which is why you may not have encountered any other patients, and we are maintaining our timing as well as we can.
When you informed the dentist that you had lost a filling, he gave you the option of an emergency appointment instead, as this is also booked for 15 minutes, but he would not have time to do both the examination and the filling in 15 minutes. Emergency means any treatment outside of a treatment plan?
This has always been the case and nothing has changed in regards to our booking.
Kind regards
Practice Manager
Overall, how was your experience of our service?
Good
