Have You Ever Walked Out of a Dentist Appointment?

[skyblue17]

FWIW, the criteria that my dentist gave me for seeing an endodontist were:

1. Sensitivity that doesn't disappear within 10 seconds of contact with the offending hot or cold food

2. Pain when biting down

3. Sensitivity or pain that comes on with NO stimulus

Ah, well, I don't really have any of these! When the sensitivity does occur, it's fleeting. It does not hurt to bite down and the there is almost always a stimulus for any sensation I do feel. So I guess that is a good sign.

Thanks for explaining! This thread is doing a better job than my dentist did!

 

[DLgal]

Ah, got it! I don't believe I need a root canal (at least, I hope not!). I do want to have this checked before it's too late, though, which is why I am going to call the other dentist in the next few weeks. I just couldn't imagine having an issue with a new crown, temporary or permanent, while in Jamaica. "I'll give you glue" just killed me, lol.

Oh, okay. Well, usually crowns without root canals are put on visibly cracked teeth, to preserve them. Sensitivity is a nerve issue, and usually requires a root canal (sorry to tell you that) if other measures fail.

Edit: based on your last post, you don't need either a crown or a root canal.

 

[DVCjj]

Not with a dentist but a doctor. Had a hysterectomy with a doctor I did not like. Felt very rushed and pressured to make the decision. I don’t regret the hysterectomy but 25 years later I still regret having HIM do it. Immediately switched doctors. Mad at myself for not walking out and going to someone else. Can’t believe I did that to this day.

You made the right decision. Good for you.

 

[DLgal]

Ah, well, I don't really have any of these! When the sensitivity does occur, it's fleeting. It does not hurt to bite down and the there is almost always a stimulus for any sensation I do feel. So I guess that is a good sign.

Thanks for explaining! This thread is doing a better job than my dentist did!

Do you happen to drink a lot of high acid drinks, like lemon in your water, sparkling water or soda, tea, or coffee? If so, you likely have enamel erosion. This is my problem, I think. I used to drink TONS of sparkling water with a lot of lemon juice. Since this issue has popped up, I have majorly scaled back and the sensitivity is much better. When I go back to drinking lemon water, it comes back bad for a few days. This has apparently become a common issue with the popularity of sparkling water. It's terrible for teeth.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I've never walked out, but I have canceled appointments after having thought about it. And I think you were 100% right to walk out of your appointment as well.

I had the same dentist from the age of 5 until he retired, when I was around 30-ish. The dentist who was taking over the practice started working a few years before mine retired, and I got a really bad vibe about him from the way the hygienists were talking. I will never forget my hygienist saying, "The new guy is ALL about procedures" and warned me that he was going to push me for bonding, bleaching, oral cancer screenings, etc. Boy, did he ever, once he took over! Every time I left, I took home "estimates" for bond work and bleaching, and I always had to sign a waiver for the oral cancer screening. All of the longtime (20+ years) hygienists left. The last straw came when I was there for a cleaning, but couldn't have x-rays because I was doing IVF and there was a chance that I was pregnant. He lost his mind and told me, "Infertility treatment and pregnancy are going to ruin your teeth." He then did the inspection, told me everything was fine, then turned to the hygienist and said, "Have her make an appointment to have *these two* teeth filled." Surprised, I asked why, do I have cavities, and he said, "No, but I don't like the grooves in them." I pointed out that my dentist had never had an issue with them, to which he snorted and said, "Dr. R let a lot of things go." I reluctantly made the appointment, but later canceled it and booked one with a different dentist. That dentist was VERY surprised and said, "Why on earth would you drill two perfectly healthy teeth? That's just asking for trouble." I never went back to the previous dentist.

Found out a year or two later that he actually killed a patient...he tried to do too many extractions in one appointment, she went into distress while she was under anesthesia, and he ignored it. He had a close call with another patient as well. As far as I know, he's no longer practicing, but I've been scared off.

 

[skyblue17]

Do you happen to drink a lot of high acid drinks, like lemon in your water, sparkling water or soda, tea, or coffee? If so, you likely have enamel erosion. This is my problem, I think. I used to drink TONS of sparkling water with a lot of lemon juice. Since this issue has popped up, I have majorly scaled back and the sensitivity is much better. When I go back to drinking lemon water, it comes back bad for a few days. This has apparently become a common issue with the popularity of sparkling water. It's terrible for teeth.

Yes! I drink a ton of seltzer water. I used to drink even more but I have scaled back a little, perhaps it's time to switch to still even more. One seltzer with lunch and that's it!

 

[skyblue17]

I've never walked out, but I have canceled appointments after having thought about it. And I think you were 100% right to walk out of your appointment as well.

I had the same dentist from the age of 5 until he retired, when I was around 30-ish. The dentist who was taking over the practice started working a few years before mine retired, and I got a really bad vibe about him from the way the hygienists were talking. I will never forget my hygienist saying, "The new guy is ALL about procedures" and warned me that he was going to push me for bonding, bleaching, oral cancer screenings, etc. Boy, did he ever, once he took over! Every time I left, I took home "estimates" for bond work and bleaching, and I always had to sign a waiver for the oral cancer screening. All of the longtime (20+ years) hygienists left. The last straw came when I was there for a cleaning, but couldn't have x-rays because I was doing IVF and there was a chance that I was pregnant. He lost his mind and told me, "Infertility treatment and pregnancy are going to ruin your teeth." He then did the inspection, told me everything was fine, then turned to the hygienist and said, "Have her make an appointment to have *these two* teeth filled." Surprised, I asked why, do I have cavities, and he said, "No, but I don't like the grooves in them." I pointed out that my dentist had never had an issue with them, to which he snorted and said, "Dr. R let a lot of things go." I reluctantly made the appointment, but later canceled it and booked one with a different dentist. That dentist was VERY surprised and said, "Why on earth would you drill two perfectly healthy teeth? That's just asking for trouble." I never went back to the previous dentist.

Found out a year or two later that he actually killed a patient...he tried to do too many extractions in one appointment, she went into distress while she was under anesthesia, and he ignored it. He had a close call with another patient as well. As far as I know, he's no longer practicing, but I've been scared off.

Oh gosh, this is so similar! This is not a dentist I chose, he took over the practice from my former dentist. And I even had two cavities filled most recently. He is always trying to push Invisalign. Almost everyone from the previous practice is gone and every time I have gone there since, there are new hygienists or assistants. I overheard the receptionists talking about how the sale of the practice was so quick, little attention was paid to retaining patients and only some had continued to come. I probably shouldn't have gone to him for this to begin with, but the last fillings were quick and easy and he was the number I already had. But killing someone, yikes!!!

 

[DuskKodesh]

I've found that any doc or dentist that tries to push things that are entirely aesthetic is a HUGE warning sign. You talking about invisalign reminded me that my old dentist kept trying to talk about drilling a tooth that I had 'staining' on. It was fine, just dark and off to the side so it didn't even matter. There was nothing wrong with it. I should have known then to get out of there. My aesthetics are no one else's business.

 

[RUDisney]

That's crazy, I can't imagine not letting you back! It's super important to able to express discomfort or concern when getting a procedure done, and if you can't do that for yourself, having an advocate is a no-brainer! What was his reasoning for not allowing it?

He "didn't let any parents in the back area." That was the extent of his explanation to me. Nope. Not good enough explanation. Not happening today.

I found out later about this being a common practice with some ped. dentists, with the actual why behind it. His explanation was like a "because I said so" without any meat behind it.

 

[Micca]

The funny thing is if he had simply said "you know, I wish we hadn't started but I can see this isn't working out for you today. Why don't you give me a call once you've had a little time to assess and you're ready to move on," I wouldn't have had to feel so anxious, or so embarrassed, or like I did something wrong. Instead, he made me feel ashamed and lost a customer.

I think that would have been totally appropriate, and a professional way to handle a bad situation. Hope you can find another dentist who will work with you after your trip.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Never walked out, but been thrown out. Our family (immediate, cousins', aunts'/uncles') was a schoolmates of my mom's. I was 12, he had supposedly given me Novocaine, and was drilling. It hurt! I told him he was a lousy dentist. He said, "I'm going to finish this, then you're getting it of here and never coming back."

Many years later, my brother mentioned he was sure the dentist never actually have us painkillers. Years after that, my cousin now living halfway across the country, said her Then-dentist said her never seen such horrible work, and suggested she sue.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I walked out of a gynecologist's appointment. I had always had horrendous problems with Endometriosis and fibroids and cysts and needed to go on temporary disability from the job I had at the time while the problem was addressed. I was *actually undressed* and sitting in the little paper gown holding my stomach in severe pain, when the gyno came in. He held up the paper and said to me, "People bring this form into us when they're too lazy to work." Mind you, this is the guy who diagnosed me with the Endo and told me about a orange-sized cyst on my ovary. I told him there's no way I can work right now because of the pain, and he told me that the pain wasn't that bad and that my ovary could not be hurting like I was "whining" that it was.

I told him he had to leave because I had to get dressed. He called for the nurse to come in for my exam, and I said no, you have to leave now I'm getting dressed and I'm leaving. He just gave me a disgusted look and marched out. I was so upset after he left that I got dressed and walked out with the little booties on and had to go back for my shoes in tears. I switched doctors immediately afterwards. Nobody should be bullied or pressured, and a doctor or dentist is no different from anyone else. You were right to leave.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yes, I also walked out of a pediatric dentist appointment w DD. We had a general dentist and kids never needed fillings before. General dentist found a cavity she wanted evaluated and sent us over to a pediatric dentist's office. DD asked if I'd stay with her as she was scared about her first filling in a brand new place with a dentist and staff she didn't know, despite our talking at length about what would happen. They gave a blanket "No" to DD's request for me to come with her as they were leading her out back, saying it was "best" for her that I stay in the waiting room. (I suppose I should've asked ahead of time but our experience with a prior pediatric dentist office was that parents could stay, so I assumed - wrongly - they could here, too.) DD started crying so I went in back, tried to talk to them professionally, realized I wasn't getting anywhere, so told DD "Let's go". Dentist looked a little shocked. My feeling, though, having worked in a pediatric ER myself, was that they weren't taking each patient's needs into account with their inflexible "rules", and that they were probably secretly enjoying watching people squirm, so I didn't want to subject my daughter and myself to that.

OP, there is a Dental Patient Bill of Rights (bottom):

https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/About the ADA/Files/statements_ethics_patient_rights.pdf
Btw this got me curious about what the pediatric dental literature says:

http://www.pediatricdentistrytoday.org/2016/September/LI/5/news/article/621/
"pediatric dentists indicate that their approach has shifted toward increased parental presence during both exam and treatment appointments, and that they expect further increases in parental presence in the future."

 

[DLgal]

All the pediatric dentists we have been to (3 total) REQUIRE parents go back to the treatment area when their kids are called back. Only one office allowed 13 and over to go back without parents present.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Someone at my endodontist told me a story about a young man who was in for a route canal. They put the dental dam on, and the guy just sat up and walked out of the office, dental dam still attached to his tooth.

I gotta admit, the rubber kind of freaked me out. Got a small anxiety attack because I felt like I was going to suffocate, even thought i could breathe through it.

 

[skyblue17]

Someone at my endodontist told me a story about a young man who was in for a route canal. They put the dental dam on, and the guy just sat up and walked out of the office, dental dam still attached to his tooth.

I gotta admit, the rubber kind of freaked me out. Got a small anxiety attack because I felt like I was going to suffocate, even thought i could breathe through it.

Yeah, my gag reflex is pretty sensitive, so even an x-ray of a back molar can be hard for me. I was able to battle through that ok, but the possibility of getting through it lessens if it takes multiple tries or I start to feel agitated (which I did in this case). When I was younger, I would get nitrous oxide for procedures that involved a lot of tools & time and were pretty far back. I might have to consider that if I end up needing this done.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Skyblue and I am so sorry you had such an awful experience. I have never walked out on a dental appointment but wish I had! First I should say how beyond Blessed I am to have my current dentist, truly he is wonderful! I have TMJ issues (by the Grace of God now under control that when they first surfaced bigtime I saw a number of doctors particularly one that were neither too kind or seemingly knowledgeable--definitely at times felt as though they were trying to hurry me along! I had a longtime regular dentist who I thought so much of. Due to my TMJ I go for cleaning more routinely than most people. I had seen my longtime dentist for the last time before he retired. He said all looked wonderful and how proud and happy he was of and for me. A couple months later I saw his replacement who decided I needed all sorts of work done! It definitely felt like a money grab. I wish the person the best of course but was so thankful to be done with him.

As someone else said upthread, and as a wonderful TMJ specialist once told me, we are the patients. We are the people who need to advocate for ourselves and know that doing so is more than okay! It's never okay to feel bullied or otherwise mistreated by anyone but especially a doctor who you are not only trusting in but paying to see! For me due to being mistreated by doctors as a child it has been hard for me to always understand that but it is so true. I pray you find a new dentist who is a great match for you. Take care and hug also to all who have been or worse their child has been (a child being mistreated makes me see red) in a bad doctor/dentist situation.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

Once, over 30 years ago It was the first appointment with a new dental practice after moving to my current area. The waiting room wasn't all that crowded, but after waiting about 90 minutes past my appointment time I got fed up and just left without telling the receptionist.

 

[eileenjez]

I've had some serious dental work done so I'm pretty good at knowing just what my insurance covers and what it expects as far as preapproval goes. We got a flyer in the mail and since we were new to the area we thought we'd give them a try. Husband goes in and they say he needs this work done and of course a deep cleaning. I say they need to get preapproval for that work and they try to tell me the insurance will pay so not to worry. He gets the work done and we get the bill, insurance will not pay for it. My turn comes for a cleaning and they say I need the deep cleaning also. I ask did you get the preapproval and the hygienist says I'll check, comes back and says not to worry insurance will pay and I get up and say you get the approval and I'll get the cleaning. Two months later the Doc calls and asks when I 'm coming in for the cleaning and I tell her when you get the preapproval. Told her your billing office needs to listen to the patient. I know just what my insurance will and will not pay and how much. That dental office is now closed this in just 6 months time.

 

[Minnie1222]

I actually feel bad for my pediatric dentist. After witnessing several parental behavior in the waiting room, I can understand why they want to ban all parents. Just recently I had to sit a few feet away from two very anxious parents. Apparently Dad had to take time off from work so both he and Mom can take turn holding Precious's hand during the procedure. Mom promised to be there at all time and so was Dad. Precious, who definitely was NOT a toddler, would be getting a new toy for being brave. When the assistant came out to get the child, she was bombarded with questions since Dad wasn't there for the consultation. It turned out that the "horrifying" procedure Precious was forced to get was a ........sealant. LOL.