Alun Rees lists some of the top lies that are told around dentistry.
The top 10 lies that (some) patients tell dentists
- It’s the filling that was done last time
- No one ever told me about cleaning in between my teeth
- I always go every six months without fail
- My last dentist told me…
- The receptionist promised that you would do it today
- Your filling has broken
- My mother had weak teeth too, mine came through bad
- He had to put his knee on my chest to get it out
- It’s a ‘screw-in’ tooth, I had the root taken out
- Local anaesthetic has never worked, I have to have gas.
The top 10 lies that (some) dentists tell patients
- You’re too old for orthodontics
- You won’t have any more problems with that tooth once it has been crowned
- You won’t have any more problems with that tooth once it has been root filled
- You won’t have any more problems with that once the implant is done
- That’s not available on the NHS
- They’ll be fine as long as they brush their teeth afterwards
- This won’t hurt and when it does raise your hand and I’ll stop
- Your lip’s gone numb, it can’t possibly still hurt
- Bleeding gums are normal, just brush them harder and rinse with Corsodyl
- I’ll give you a prescription for some antibiotics, that will sort everything out.
The top 10 lies that (some) dentists tell themselves
- I only need to look at the bank statements and leave everything else to the accountants
- That new associate is fine no need for a formal contract, it shows a lack of trust
- This is what I was taught at dental school, it’s bound to work
- Those postgrad courses are far too expensive, I’ll just do the free online ones
- The Government wouldn’t dare interfere with the NHS contract
- This patient wouldn’t benefit from/can’t afford an implant no need to mention it
- Don’t put this cash payment through the books, nobody will ever know
- I’m not going to join the BDA what has it ever done for me?
- I always run on time
- There’s no need for all this staff induction nonsense.
