Introducing oneself to health providers

[fivemack]

Are dentists uniquely awful at answering phone calls?

I asked NHS Direct for a list of nearby dentists, started ringing round at lunchtime, and they all either failed to answer, or directed me to an answering machine saying 'ring back between 9am and 5pm'.

The nearby doctor will register me without trouble and give me an appointment tomorrow to decide whether what I've had for a week is ear-ache or tooth-ache; with luck they'll also fix it. It's not been particularly painful, but it got noticeable at night.

Comments

[j4.livejournal.com]

started ringing round at lunchtime

Maybe they're all having lunch?

The dentist I'm with (City Dental Practice on Milton Road) seems quite good, if that's any use to you.

[sparrowsion]

City Dental Practice

I'm not sure what their current stance with new NHS patients is (and need to check)—when I made an appointment the other week I was told that the head of practice is no longer seeing NHS patients, and I'd either have to see one of the junior dentists or see him privately.

[j4.livejournal.com]

Last time I was in there (a couple of weeks ago?) the lady in front of me in the reception queue was a new NHS patient signing up... And I only know this because she was remarking loudly that it was brilliant that they took NHS patients and not many dentists did any more. In a novel this would be a really clunky way of conveying an important plot point, but in real life, it's quite handy! 8-)

The dentist I see (whose name I'm afraid I can't remember -- Conway or something like that?) is very nice, anyway. He's the one who did my exciting fake tooth! (Though that particular bit of work was done as private, because I wanted a tooth the same colour as the others.)

[fivemack.livejournal.com]

I have not the temerity to imagine my teeth sufficiently interestingly defective to require the attention of the head of practice - the five years of training probably ought to have produced people who can figure out whether my teeth have holes in and whether that's what's making the back left of my mouth hurt.

City Dental Practice are conveniently located and now do seem to be answering the phone; they will examine my teeth in a fortnight, by which time either the discomfort will have gone away on its own, or will be filling me with new heights of wrath.

I went down and registered at the doctor's surgery at 67 Bridge Street after lunch; so if this turns out to be an earache it might be rectified then.

Who invented wisdom teeth, anyway?

[addedentry.livejournal.com]

Regent Street Dental Practice (at the Lensfield Road end) have one harassed receptionist and apparently no answer phone. This may disrecommend them.