‘Dentistry does not seem to be accountable as other branches of medicine are’

• IT is to be applauded that Camden’s health scrutiny chairwoman Larraine Revah is trying to secure National Health Service dentistry for residents, (Rotten treatment! Families unable to find dentists for their children, September 16).

As many readers might know this problem is not unique to Camden. On the contrary dentistry does not seem to be accountable as other branches of medicine are.

Back in 2017 a Camden NHS dentist, recommended by a friend, happily took me on. But during the first encounter she kept encouraging me to have some or all the work done privately with her.

In spite of the recommendation of my friend (admittedly an NHS patient with this dentist), I lost confidence in the dentist’s motivation and gave up on dentistry.

In 2018 a very bad toothache led me to the emergency department of a famous teaching hospital (outside Camden, I hasten to add).

They suggested that I join their undergraduate system, which was set up for their students to practise on and for patients with extra time on hand. The treatment was under the guidance of experienced dentists and it was free.

During the following three years my appointments were few, many were cancelled – admittedly Covid did not help – and the work of some of the students was sub-standard (with fillings falling out within days).

None of the planned treatments – to which I signed up at the outset – were carried out and my teeth kept deteriorating. In March 2021 I was discharged because my teeth became so bad (needing eight extractions) that it was not suitable for the students.

Please note: a famous dental department of a famous London hospital discharges a patient because her condition deteriorated under the supposed care of the hospital. Is this what one calls medical ethics?

DR AGNES KORY
Finchley Road, NW3