"My Experience"

I left a long, detailed review of my experience but it was declined as I had praised a member of staff by name. So I’ll keep this version brief.

I had 2 teeth out under sedation as a very anxious patient. The dental nurse was great, and really supportive.

• went to have a cannula, but the dentist couldn’t find any veins. I could see veins and could’ve cannulated them myself. After attempts, another person came in - who cannulated me first time.

• had IV sedation. Didn’t work. I think pain specialists need to be involved in the service as I’m a chronic pain sufferer and tolerant to benzodiazepines. Therefore I would require more, but wasn’t able to receive, due to their guidance. Also, I’m on multiple pain medications daily, I was told I couldn’t have anything “extra” as I was on a lot, but these are my baseline medications which I’m tolerant to and therefore was in agony and had to take over a week off of work. By limiting the amount they can give, and what discharge medication can be given, excludes a whole population of people which could be classed as a discrimination of care and not patient-centred. By having a chronic pain pathway for these patients

• Procedure went great and everyone really supportive and caring

• Came home and after 2 days my dissolvable stitches fell out on their own, on the third day I got an infection in both teeth - even though I followed post op instructions to the T (and was on a liquid diet for a week due to pain anyway).

• After antibiotics and pain medication from my dentist/GP, I felt better after 1.5 weeks. But then I developed a lump just under my gum line on the side, and it was white. I thought it was an abscess so I left it alone. A few days past and the pain was getting worse, it felt sharp as if something was breaking through the skin. When I felt it after a few days there was a white triangle shape point through my gum, I flicked my nail under it and pulled it out - it was a piece of tooth. It must have been left behind and migrated out. I told my partner and he said the dentist told him that she might have left some tooth still in but I shouldn’t have any problems with it - but I did. I just hope no more comes out.