As with many other NHS services, the dentist doesn’t know what conditions will be presented until the patient arrives. Sometimes this means that we have to spend considerably longer relieving pain and carrying out the treatment plan than we had envisaged.
Also, we do give priority for emergency treatment to children and patients in severe pain. We always try to squeeze them in, promptly, even if we don’t have the appointments in our diary.
Sadly, there is no shortcut. No patient wants to be asked to vacate the chair “after 15 minutes” with the treatment incomplete. We apologise in advance for any delays and we will try to keep you informed of any late-running of the service as best we can.