An excellent dentist visit today....

[manchesteruk]

Joined a new dentist today.  As part of the process I had to fill in a medical questionairre.  I obviously had to disclose my status on the form which I did then handed it back in.  I'm not going to go into a lot of detail but the way I treated was horrible I felt like a leper by the time i'd finished.  I'm considering complaining but I don't really think i'd have a leg to stand on because at no point did they refuse to treat me. 

I suppose it's just something i'm going to have to accept is going to happen from time to time!  Has anyone else had problems with dentists?  In particular if you are in the UK and it was with an NHS dentist.

[sweetasmeli]

Chris, complain anyway. Not sure who to. Look into it. Meanwhile I'll contact my friend at BP and see what he suggests. Sorry you were subjected to this. And no, this is NOT something you just have to accept. Some people are so feckin stupid (them not you, hon ).

Big Manc hug from Atl - see you soon!

Melia xx

PS: I just emailed him but I'll probably be back in the UK before he replies, as we all know how the world simply shuts down over a weekend. I'll call him when I'm back on UK turf.

[allopathicholistic]

I'm sad to hear stories like this. Ugh. What I've noticed is, in a short time people eventually meet the "good twin" in a better setting. So life can be strange like that, like, maybe you're 'meant' to receive dental care somewhere much better and not at that office. I know that sounds a little celestial, sorry

[englishgirl]

to be honest im amazed you even managed to find a dentist in the uk, i havent even been able to register at one for the past 6 years - nhs dentists with availability seem even rarer than potential dates around here!

im really sorry you had to go thru this crap, dont really know what to advise. is there a dental hospital in manchester? maybe they would be better as they are a training facility?

lots of love

[penguin]

chris -

please, please do complain if you believe this was related to disclosing yr hiv status - there is no excuse for this behaviour 

if this was an nhs dentist, write to the practice head, and also contact/copy in this person -
Mark Carroll
Manchester Primary Care Trust
Mauldeth House
Mauldeth Road West
Manchester M21 7RL
Tel. 0161 958 4117

Email mark.carroll@manchester.nhs.uk

Independent Complaints Advocacy Service are another good source of advice re complaining about nhs treatment

if this was a private dentist, again, head of practice, and contact the general dental council

kate

[manchesteruk]

I'm amazed I found an NHS dentist as well Niki!   I'm in no doubt that there behavior was related to me revealing my HIV status and I would like to complain but I honestly think it would be a waste of time.  They could quite easily just say that I was being paranoid about things.  I'll have to have a think about it and I'm going to contact my doctor and see what he thinks and if he knows any dentists in the area that have experience of working with HIV+ patients.  I'm not going through all that rigmorale again thats for sure!  Thanks for the advice and contacts everyone, I'll let you know what I decide to do.

Chris

[Suntropic98]

I'm in the same boat....it takes a lot to keep up with the pearly whites and it is a pain in the ass when you have HIV.


On another note.....

Manchester United. Awesome football team.

[J220]

Why did you "have" to disclose your status? I am not sure it's obligatory. All dentists must use universal precautions so why do you feel you had to disclose? I haven't disclosed to mine. Just curious. J.

[milker]

I saw my dentist today because I had a strange abscess on Saturday, which lasted just 4 hours before it receded. I don't think he knows much about HIV but he seemed very diligent about fixing the problem with my gums, stating that he wanted to be sure that given my condition he would overreact and schedule a gum cleaning and check on Wednesday.

Was that genuine or did he just took the opportunity to get me in the office for $ ? Who knows. But he seemed concerned.

Milker.

[sweetasmeli]

Chris, even if you decide not to complain this time round, just for future reference I had an email yesterday from my friend at Body Positive who said this:

"With regards to this issue, he is covered under the Disability discrimination Act 1995. With regards to experiences like being given the last appointment of the day. This is classed as absolute discrimination relating to your status. You should by rights be given the first appointment as you have the repressed immune system. So quoting the DDA95 at them would be a definite way to go."

Just thought that might be handy for any UK-ers who come up against any problems with dentists. 

Melia 

[Rich_Leeds]

I needed to find a NHS dentist myself, and had one recommended to me by my consultant who was a friend of his and had no problem treating HIV patients.  He was a really nice, friendly chap and was with him for about two years until, like a lot of NHS practices he went private and I was again without a dentist, and have been for a couple of years now, which I hate as I've always been a regular dentist visitor, but I'm struggling to find a NHS dentist - it's gone full circle!!