How long do you wait at a drs appointment or dentist appointment, until you are actually seen?Have you ever complained about the wait?
On Monday I had a dentist appointment. Actually 3 weeks ago I had a cleaning, but the dentist wasnt available to see me. So the lady who cleaned my teeth had me schedule a new appt(after she was done)so I could have a consult with the dentist and discuss my new set of xrays. I have had gum problems in the past, and she wanted me to have a consultation. Ok, no problem I scheduled a new appointment. My appt was at 3:30. I get to the office at 3:20. They take me back at 3:30. Then, I sit, and sit and sit some more. Of course I was feeling anxious as not know what the dentist may find etc.. So I get up and go to the reception area, and it is now 4:05.About 10 minutes previous, the dentist popped his head in and said he would be with me in a minute. So I ask the ladies at the front desk how long am I suppose to wait,now it is 4:10. They had no idea the dentist was so behind, and that time he was on the phone with a phone consultation. This is a periodontist I go ,b ut do not know if this makes a difference.
I go back to the room, one lady comes in and said she had no idea hadnt seen me yet, and then she leaves. The dentist comes in, and was a little short with me(which really •••••• me off). This was the first time in 12 yrs I have been going there, that he was ever short with me. Apparently he was told that I was complaining, so he comes and tells me what he was doing, phone consult with the hospital, and he has other patients etc.. but he will get with me etc.. That I could reschedule etc.. but he will be with me. So I simply said "Well will it be another hour, or 10 minutes. He said about 10 minutes. OF course when he came back, he kept apoligizing for his attitude with me etc.. I told him I understood it gets busy and there is always emergencies etc.. that I just wanted to be told SOMETHING...Basically I was with the dentist for about 5 minutes, as he expalined what he wanted to do to me. BUT, I was in the office for a total of 65 minutes for a 5 minute consult.
Granted when I was pregnant and went to the dr I expected to always wait and I did.
But, what is an acceptable amt of time to wait? Have you ever complained?
I think I would not of been so mad if somebody would of at least came and said he was running x amt of time behind.

By Sandysmom on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 02:15 pm:

JMHO, you could have left after while and told the receptionist that your time is valuable too and that you were not coming back in for yet another appt. for this consult, and that you think you deserve a phone consult.

By Sandysmom on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 03:18 pm:

Actually, since this is the first time this has happened in 12 yrs., then I would have just let it go. Personally, I don't like to wait any longer than 45 min.

By Truestori on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 03:41 pm:

Jackie,
That is unacceptable, and I would find a new Perio dentist. There are plenty of them out there that are on top of it, and treat thier patients with respect, and would love to have you as their patient! Oviously this guy has no chairside manners and I defintly wouldn't see him again. As a matter of fact I would call my inusrance and complain, to much in dental offices go unsaid and these dentist think they can get away with way to much! JMHO of course

By Vicki on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 03:52 pm:

I do understand that emergencies come up and if I was one of those emergencies, I would want to be seen right away. However, you should have been told the moment you walked in the door (if not called before hand) that he was running over a hour behind. You could have then made up your mind to reschedule or maybe come back in an hour or wait there if you wanted. That is what I find unacceptable.

By Jackie on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 05:48 pm:

That is the thing, because I have been seeing him for the last 12 years. Up until this point, I never had any complaints. The dentist has always been nice to me, joking with me all the time. He "normally" has a great bedside(chairside)manner about him. So it really threw me when this was all going on. Apparently the lady who cleans my teeth heard how he spoke to me, and basically told him off about it LOL.. Because after the dentist left she came in and talked to me. She then went on to tell me that she approached him and said she couldnt believe how he spoke to me and it was uncalled for. I had no idea about this until she told me. The bottom line for me was, that "Somebody" should of told me he was backed up/behind. I mean it happens, people are in pain, they want to be seen.
I have no problem switching drs/dentists/vets if I have problems. But, in 12 yrs Ive always had good service there, so I wont switch now. BUT... I wont be so nice if it happens again.

By Truestori on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 07:21 pm:

As a buisness owner he should know that if people recieve outstanding service they tell 5 people and if the service sucks then they tell atleast 12! I just might enlighten him the next time. Atleast, he knows your on your toes...lol

By Tripletmom on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 08:54 pm:

I'd just let it slide this time We all have crazy days.Its nice to able to stay with someone that long and have had no complaints until now.Next time you have an appt. just call ahead of time and see if hes running behind,that will refresh there memory and youll be the good guy

By Feona on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 07:26 am:

Oh gosh... I wait sometimes an hour and a half. I see people get so aggrivated but I wait so often I think there is nothing to do. The ob gyn has emergencies and the regular doctor does too.. One helped me with 3 emergencies miscarriages and the regular doctor takes walk ins that might be dying or bleeding or sick. The regular doctor also fits in anyone who calls who is very sick. During the emergency miscarriages their waiting room swelled to absolutely full. Everyone was waiting an extra one and a half hours because of my misfortune.



Both my ob gyn and regular doctor will always fit me in their completely packed schedule for a emergency so my waiting is the price of their flexibility. I once called one doctor and he said I could come in a month. (I wouldn't have been sick in a month.) So I switched doctors.

Also the ob gyn are alway helping deliver so that messes up their schedule too.

I love the idea of calling ahead to see if they are running behind. That is a great idea. Also if you are the first appointment of the day that might work too.

Dentists.. I wouldn't think about changing dentists if I had to wait one hour with no explanation. Unless there was an dental emergency of course. Actually the dentist have fit me in for emergency root canal consult (give me the codeine.)

I plan to wait a hour and a half for any doctors appointment because it is worse if you can't wait. That makes you more nervous. I hate to have to go back.

By Insaneusmcwife on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 12:52 pm:

I go to a military clinic so I expect a long wait. There is a sign that says if you have been here 15 min past your scheduled appointment please let us know, and you can bet I do. By the time its 15 min past my appointment I have already been there atleast 30 min, they require you to be there 15 min prior for check in. But I am usually wating 30-40 min past my appointment before I am seen.