"Dental care gone wrong"

Our child was referred to the dental services at Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre.

Unfortunately, our experience with the attending dentist was disappointing. Their approach felt unprofessional, judgmental and dismissive. Instead of offering reassurance to us and our child, they made comments that seemed to place blame on us for our child needing dental treatment. This created a stressful and upsetting experience.

As parents, we expect healthcare professionals - especially those working with children, to provide care that is compassionate, consistent and respectful. The tone, attitude, and handling of this appointment were entirely inappropriate and fell far below the standards we expect from NHS dental care.

In addition to concerns about the dentist's demeanour, there were also issues with the clarity and consistency of the treatment provided.

It is important to stress that our child has always enjoyed visiting the dentist and has never shown fear or reluctance. This experience has shaken that trust and risks causing long-term anxiety around dental care, which is deeply upsetting for us as a family.

After the appointment, I contacted the department for support. A staff member returned my call, and when I mentioned the dentist involved, their immediate reaction was that they were surprised, as that dentist was brilliant with kids. I found this response dismissive and invalidating, especially after explaining how upset we were.

The staff member reviewed our child’s notes and promised to investigate, but when they called back, they only reiterated information we were already aware of. At no point did they acknowledge or apologise for how we were treated.

If the call was recorded, I believe it would further demonstrate how our concerns were minimised rather than addressed.