Dentist advice

Need some advice and wondered if anyone has any opinions. I joined an NHS dentist earlier this year as one had opened in our town. Since then, I have been twice, the second time on Friday. On both occasions I have been told I need a filling. Nothing unusal in this, except apart from needing a tooth to be removed (it was either that or a root canal!) I have never had any fillings before.

Basically, am I being ripped off? An x-ray was taken both times, although I wasn't shown it on either occasion. This time I was also asked if I paid for treatment (I assume they meant I unemployed/jobseekers allowance case) and it was after that the x-ray was taken. My previous dentist (private) never found anything the matter, apart from the root canal tooth and he and his wife have been practising dentists for 30 years plus. I have the appointment for the filling in two weeks time so there is time for me to investigate/query but I don't actually know where to start.

Does anyone have an opinion, thoughts or advice for me?

 

I must admit I don't go to the dentist as often as I should, but have never really felt the need to.

Years ago I went and was told I need 6 fillings (yes, six). It was just after the 'fillings scare' involving mercury, so I said I'd come back when I could afford the white, non-mercury based fillings. I never got round to going back.

Years later (more than 10 years later in fact), having moved to a different area, I booked into a dentist, who examined my teeth and remarked that my teeth are in remarkably good condition and apart from a scrape and polish no treatment was needed or recommended.

My mum, who's never had bother with her teeth or gums changed her dentist after her previous one went fully private. Her dentist has had her paying a fortune for various things, and they keep telling her she has gum disease, rotten teeth and all sorts, so she keeps paying them more money to sort it, even though there's nothing wrong. I have a friend who uses that same dentist and he says he keeps being insulted about the condition of his mouth, even though he thinks there nothing wrong.

The moral of the story is this: While there are good dentists, there are also shocking ones. Book in for a check-up somewhere else, and see what they have to say before making a decision.

 

That's what I'm thinking about doing - going back to my private dentist and seeing what he says.

I don't think I'm being xenophobic in saying this, but this new dentist was foreign and while his English was excellent, his accent was so strong, I couldn't understand what he was saying.

I've already paid up front for the filling (odd?). Is there an organisation similar to the GMC, but for dentists? I would happily contact them to find out what to do next.

 

I went to see my GP once but couldn't get to see him. I agreed to see a different one who is Asian. He couldn't understand me and I couldn't understand him. I went to reception and ask them to book me another appointment preferably with my usual doc, but failing that any except the one I'd just seen. The receptionist looked at me with a very distasteful look, and then practically accused me of being racist, to which I replied I don't care where someone comes from or what colour skin they have, but when it comes to my health I expect to be able to communicate effectively with the doctor. If he can't understand when I try to express my concerns, and I can't understand when he tries to ask me things, then he may be the nicest and most skilled doctor in the world but he's no good to me. The receptionist scowled and then booked me in to see a different doctor.

http://www.bda.org/

 

Aaron, I have been with my NHS dentist for twenty years now but have never been asked to pay in advance, I had a crown fitted last Jan which took two visits but didn't pay till it was done. I don't know why you have been asked to pay in advance but it seems strange to me.
I do know several people who have a foreign dentist and have communication problems but I don't know what the solution is there.

 

It's all about confidence Sussexgardener. If you don't feel confidnet in your dentist then see another one.

I go to a private dentist because he suits me and I trust him.
I could register with an NHS dentist but from past experience I would be so frightened.

I would rather pay and feel confident.
You could ask for a second opinion - or visit a private dentist for one.

 

I had a similar experience. A fully white, English dentist so there was no problem understanding what he said BUT I didn't stop to think about the value of what he told me. He wouldn't touch a tooth I said was bothering me because he said there was nothing wrong with it. Hmm! why is it giving me bother then? He did 2 fillings - one of which definitely did need doing, however he didn't even clean it first - just dried it and stuck a filling on that came off within a couple of months.

So another 5 years passes before I go again. Different practice - 4 dentists there. All eastern European. Full exam. Full discussion of her recommendations. Benefits and otherwise of different treatments - full confidence and all on the NHS.

Oh and the one that I had bother with on and off; will carry on just the same for so long as tooth itself is ok but deep filling must catch on nerve. So - my choice of 'wait and see' (it's no worse than it was 5 years ago - or root canal and crown.

 

Having a filling is nothing unusual - paying upfront is a little strange though.

I dont think its the divide between private and NHS though. I left my private dentists after spending an absolute fortune having root canal work done which they completely made a mess of.

I ended up in agony and everything they did just made it worse. In the end I went to a NHS dentist who ended up not only removing the tooth I had paid so much trying to save, but the tooth next to it aswell!!

One off you might think ?? Nope. It happened to my mum at the same dentist too!!

Needless to say, none of our family are registered there anymore.

Hmmm reminds me - need to book an appointment myself as I have a loose filling which means I cant eat using that side lol


Aaron - I would though say that you will notice as you get older that your body starts to fall apart a bit more so it may well be just general wear and tear

 

I smashed a tooth in an acident once when I was a teenager. It quickly became infected and I needed emergency, out of hours treatment. I went to the local 'emergency' dentist (as opposed to my usual decent dentist). They had a look and told me they could either remove the remains of the broken tooth, or attempt to 'rebuild' it, but the rebuild option would take several operations. I chose the latter because at the end of the day, for a small amount of suffering in the short term, our teeth are important so if they can be saved then good.

I had three rounds of dental surgery, all at this emergency dentists, over a couple of months, then the job was done. A few weeks later I was eating an apple and I felt a crunch at the back of my mouth and a big chunk of tooth came out. This time there was no immediate pain so I just booked in for the earliest available appointment at my usual dentist.

The appointment came round and there I was being examined, when the dentist said in no uncertain terms that the tooth had to come out immediately. After the tooth was out and the dentist had chance to have a proper look at what he'd just removed, he looked at me with an expression somewhere between horror and anger. He said (and I'm not exaggerating): "What's going on here? Did you get your mates to do a bit of DIY work on you?", to which I replied, "No of course not, what do you mean?". That's when he showed me what he'd just removed from my mouth, and in case I didn't understand what I was looking at he described it to me. He said "As far as I can tell, it is a lump of plaster of paris with a tiny fragment of tooth in it, and three bits of dental wire presumably intended to serve the purpose of a root". Naturally I was horrified at this revelation, but at the same time I realised for the first time why the other dentist was so desperate for work that he took on emergency work and short notice appointments while none of the others in the area did.

 

I'll try not to get too upset over that:( but you're probably right.

I've had a message from a member on another forum who's a dental nurse. Apart from he getting the wrong end of the stick (thinking I need a root canal!) she thinks it might be normal. I am just a little dubious by needing two fillings within 6 months, never having had any before. Maybe this dentist is just very careful and covering all bases.

Oh and he also said I need to see the hygenist. For the fourth time in 6 months. That I won't be doing. I still think your teeth can get over cleaned and 4 times in 6 months is a little excessive. I have had a touch of gum disease, but nothing for ages. Hmmmm.