Need info about private dentists - costs etc

[november]

Bit of background. Added at end - Sorry its turned out to be a long background so feel free to skip it all and go straight to the questions if you like :o

I am dental phobic having had a couple of bad experiences, once as a small child and once as an 18 year old.

I had an NHS dentist about 10 years ago who went private and I couldn't afford to pay as I was a single mum at the time. I haven't been to the dentist since. I moved and there were no NHS dentists there and then moved again and haven't 'got round to sorting it out' :o

I did when I moved here enquire about NHS dentists and there were 2, one of whom is still accepting patients I believe. However, given that I am quite irrational when it comes to dentists and need to build up a good professional relationship with one (like I had before with my NHS dentist who was very patient and who I trusted) I have discounted both of those. One because they send people elsewhere for some stuff so I couldn't necessarily just see the one person and the other because they are on the top floor of a building and I have vertigo (physical not fear of heights) and don't want to deal with that on top of a phobia.

There is also one private dentist nearby. It has just occured to me that maybe if I am paying I will feel more 'in control' (like I do with my chiropractor). I think I am better off with a very local one because distance may be all the excuse I need not to go and I really need to go now. I have just discovered I have a raw nerve in my back tooth :(

I know I need quite a bit of work doing - I have the broken tooth which is now flashing nerve (one side) plus another on that side which feels 'tetchy' (a hole probably) and a very old capped tooth which plays up (other side).

I DON'T want to embarrass myself by going in and then finding I have to go home again as its too expensive :o Plus if anything puts me off I'll be back to square one (not thinking about it)

Questions as follows:

1) How much is it likely to cost? I mean how much is a check up and how much is, say, capping a tooth for example?

2) Do different dentists charge different amounts e.g. you have to shop around for the cheapest as well as the best or are they are pretty similar by location (where in country)?

3) What if I go in and they say I need 3 things doing but I can't afford all of them at once? Are they likely to insist I have it all done (like the NHS) as they say I need it? Or can I do the most urgent thing first then go back when I can afford the rest?

4) Do private dentists charge by appointment (for check ups) or strictly by time - what I mean is if I make an appointment just to 'settle in' but feel unable to let them do anything so have to go back when I've got the nerve up I am fine with paying for that appointment as I've still had it but will it affect the cost if I have to go and calm down for 10 minutes during an appointment?

5) Do private dentists like NHS dentists make you go for check ups ever so often? If so how often is it? (as that would be a regular outgoing to budget for)

5) Is it cheaper to pay on a credit card for what you have done or join one of those plan things?

6) If a plan thingy is better are they limited like medical ones e.g. exclude any known conditions (which is probably most of my teeth so useless :o)


All advice gratefully received. I really must do something before I end up with personal worst case scenario - the NHS dental hospital for emergencies :eek:

[Toothsmith]

Questions as follows:

1) How much is it likely to cost? I mean how much is a check up and how much is, say, capping a tooth for example?

2) Do different dentists charge different amounts e.g. you have to shop around for the cheapest as well as the best or are they are pretty similar by location (where in country)?

3) What if I go in and they say I need 3 things doing but I can't afford all of them at once? Are they likely to insist I have it all done (like the NHS) as they say I need it? Or can I do the most urgent thing first then go back when I can afford the rest?

4) Do private dentists charge by appointment (for check ups) or strictly by time - what I mean is if I make an appointment just to 'settle in' but feel unable to let them do anything so have to go back when I've got the nerve up I am fine with paying for that appointment as I've still had it but will it affect the cost if I have to go and calm down for 10 minutes during an appointment?

5) Do private dentists like NHS dentists make you go for check ups ever so often? If so how often is it? (as that would be a regular outgoing to budget for)

5) Is it cheaper to pay on a credit card for what you have done or join one of those plan things?

6) If a plan thingy is better are they limited like medical ones e.g. exclude any known conditions (which is probably most of my teeth so useless :o)


All advice gratefully received. I really must do something before I end up with personal worst case scenario - the NHS dental hospital for emergencies :eek:


Answers
1&2

It is a bit like saying "How much does a car cost". Prices can vary considerably.

It is all pretty time dependent though. The cheaper the prices the less time a dentist is likely to be able to spend with you.

A dental practice has running costs. The building costs money to buy and upkeep, the equipment costs (A lot!) of money to buy and maintain. The staff want wages (Nomatter how often I tell them they should pay me for the privilege of working with me!) etc etc.

The ONLY time a practice is earning money is when a patient is occupying the chair. (Which is why we get crabby about missed appointments!)

Now, in the same town, the building costs will be pretty similar, and the equipment costs will be pretty similar too. However the costs may still vary as different practices may have different levels of staffing. (An extra receptionist may mean smoother functioning at the desk at busy times which would give a much more professional feel to the practice, and, a more relaxed and welcoming telephone manner - but you, the patient, will be paying for that). Qualified dental nurses are more expensive than ones the dentist has just trained himself to hold an aspirator and mix materials, however they will be much better with patients (particularly with nervous ones) and again add something to the 'feel' of the practice. Again though, it is the patient that pays their wages in the end. Materials can also vary in quality and price.

On top of all that, a practice can make it's fees cheaper if the dentist is prepared to get through more work in a day. So although this is most likely a lot better than an NHS conveyor belt, it is still likely to feel a bit rushed. OK if you're an 'in and out' sort of patient, but the relationship is likely to become a bit strained if you're not.

If you need ball park figures though, I would say an initial check up is likely to cost between £35 and £90 depending on the practice and what is included in the 'package' (eg, an initial exam with me is £75, but that includes any necessary x-rays - some places may be cheaper, and charge an additional fee for x-rays). Crowns could vary from £100 ish to over £1000 again depending on the type, practice and position in the mouth)


3

You are the patient and you are in control! Remember that!

There will always be options. Some things may be able to be done temporarily to put you on until you can afford the proper job. Bear in mind you would have to pay for the temporary thing and then the proper thing though - so it might work out a bit dearer in the long run. But the key is to discuss things. don't just nod and then run a mile afterwards. that won't help you, and the dentist will wonder why you haven't come back when everything seemed to be going so well!

You could consider a loan to get the work done. Interest rates are low at the moment, and getting it all sorted now with a loan may be cheaper in the long run - even after interest charges - than getting bits shored up and waiting 'till you've saved up.

4

It varies. But you should find out in advance what the system is.

To be brutally honest, it has been shown that nervous patients calm down a whole lot quicker when they know they are paying for their 'panic time' :p

Personally, my price list is based on what time I usually take for the set proceedure. My day is such, and my prices enough, that I can have a little leaway. What I tend to do, is if a patient is straightforward to treat, and we get lots done at each appointment, I tend to discount the price. That way, patient thinks I'm a very good bloke, and relationship is strengthened.

If I get a nervous patient, who fidgets about a bit, then again, that's fine, we slow down and take it at his/her pace and they're still only charged what was on the estimate in the first place. So again, patient thinks I'm a good bloke, and relationship is strengthened. The more often the patient comes, the better they generally get, then discounts start slipping into the bills, and patient thinks I'm wonderful.

If I get a patient who keeps missing appointments, is awkward to me or my staff, and generally makes a right pain in the a**e of themselves, I suggest that they would be better off at Mr Fangfettlers practice on the other side of town!

5

The cheapest way to look after your teeth is to have regular care. Not only because things caught early are cheaper to fix (I did a tiny filling for a patient FREE at their check up yesterday :j ) but also because the more frequently you go, the less you will be worried about it, and the less you are worried about it, the cheaper your care is likely to be!

How often will be down to your dentist, but I would probably have you back 4 monthly to start with going up to 6 monthly as things stabilised.

Many dentists offer monthly payment schemes to cover routine stuff though.

6 (You had 2 5's!)

Ask your dentist. Some prefer fee per item, some have a scheme thingy.

7

To join a dental plan you have to be 'dentally fit' that is, you've had all the initial work done and everything has been fixed.

The plan will then normally cover the maintenance if your mouth. So if a filling breaks it will be replaced, if a tooth needs crowning you will only be charged the technicians fee (Considerably cheaper than the full fee) i.e how much it cost to 'make' the crown.

There may be some 'exclusions' to the cover, but that is only likely to be stuff that the dentist has said needed doing, but you wanted to put it off for the time being. E.g if the dentist had said that a big filling looked a bit dodgey and needed crowning, but you said 'well it's been like that for 20 years and never given any trouble. - The dentist may well say, that's fine then, but I will exclude it from cover for the next 5 years. This is just so that if the filling then breaks the week after, the dentist isn't financially responsible for fixing something he thought was about to break anyway!

Hope this has been helpful.

For finding a dentist in the first place, I would always go with the recommendations of friends or family definitely not price!

Don't be afraid to visit the practice and even meet the dentist before making a committment. See what the fees are, how they work them out, does the practice look like it's had the money from the fees spent on it - or is it run down but there is a very nice Porsche outside. If the practice looks good AND there is a Porsche outside that's fine, (But it's not mine - honest :p ) there's nothing wrong with the dentist making money so long as his practice is invested in as well!

Most importantly, get into the habit of going regularly! It IS cheaper in the long run.

Best wishes

T.S.

[november]

Answers
1&2

It is a bit like saying "How much does a car cost". Prices can vary considerably.

It is all pretty time dependent though. The cheaper the prices the less time a dentist is likely to be able to spend with you.

That makes sense.

If you need ball park figures though, I would say an initial check up is likely to cost between £35 and £90 depending on the practice and what is included in the 'package' (eg, an initial exam with me is £75, but that includes any necessary x-rays - some places may be cheaper, and charge an additional fee for x-rays). Crowns could vary from £100 ish to over £1000 again depending on the type, practice and position in the mouth)

But unfortunately I think £1000 would be way over what I could afford so I shall keep my fingers crossed.

3

You are the patient and you are in control! Remember that!

Thanks :D I think thats why I am after info as being in control makes me feel better. Hence my looking for a private one as my having choice is important - my having to pick the only dentist still taking NHS patients just makes me feel 'choice-less'. I also like dentists who will discuss things rather than tell me what they will do and I promise to try not to run a mile ;)

You could consider a loan to get the work done. Interest rates are low at the moment, and getting it all sorted now with a loan may be cheaper in the long run - even after interest charges - than getting bits shored up and waiting 'till you've saved up.

Unfortunately I already have a loan and a cc balance (hence my finding this place :D ). I am credit worthy though and do have payment sorted but am not debt free yet. You are right though it may still be worth me getting a 0% card for this as I've closed a couple lately and am down to 2 (one with my balance on and one for spending and paying off monthly).

4

It varies. But you should find out in advance what the system is.

To be brutally honest, it has been shown that nervous patients calm down a whole lot quicker when they know they are paying for their 'panic time' :p

:D Makes no difference to me actually - I'm a genuine irrational full blown panic attacker :p Given time though I do know how to control it and can.

The more often the patient comes, the better they generally get

Thats generally true with me. I was fine with my previous years ago NHS dentist but only with him because I 'knew' him.

If I get a patient who keeps missing appointments, is awkward to me or my staff, and generally makes a right pain in the a**e of themselves, I suggest that they would be better off at Mr Fangfettlers practice on the other side of town!

I wouldn't dream of it. Very polite punctual person me :D

5
but also because the more frequently you go, the less you will be worried about it, and the less you are worried about it, the cheaper your care is likely to be!

True and to tell you the truth I wouldn't be so bad now if I had been able to find another dentist after my NHS one went private and then found there were none when I moved again. It was all too easy to get 'out of the habit' and back into full fledged fear of going. (Note I am not allocating blame to the dentists for the NHS/Private scenario).

6 (You had 2 5's!)


Well my excuse is I get nervous even thinking about it never mind typing about it. ;) Last time even checking out the Yellow Pages bought on a weeks worth of nightmares :o

7

To join a dental plan you have to be 'dentally fit' that is, you've had all the initial work done and everything has been fixed.

Thats that idea out of the window then - its more like 'find the whole tooth' in my mouth at the moment :o

Hope this has been helpful.

Yes very helpful thank you :)

For finding a dentist in the first place, I would always go with the recommendations of friends or family definitely not price!

I have no family in this area. I don't know that many people locally due to having always worked full-time while living here although I now know a few more than when I first moved so I will see if they have any recommendations.

Don't be afraid to visit the practice and even meet the dentist before making a committment.........

Thanks for telling me you could do that. I wasn't sure if it was welcomed or not having only had the 'this dentist will take you' option before

Most importantly, get into the habit of going regularly! It IS cheaper in the long run.

Aha now you do sound like a dentist ;) No doubt by the time my knashers are fixed I will have been going regularly for some time :D

Many thanks once again. It may sound stupid but even talking to a dentist online on a discussion board helps me remember they are human too :o :D

[Toothsmith]

But unfortunately I think £1000 would be way over what I could afford so I shall keep my fingers crossed.

That is a very 'top end' price







Thanks for telling me you could do that. I wasn't sure if it was welcomed or not having only had the 'this dentist will take you' option before

What I was really meaning was go to the practice to make your enquiries rather than ring up. You'll pick up so much more about the place being there in person. Don't worry, you won't be dragged into the chair!!! If they happen to have a spare appointment whilst you are there, say 'my bus goes in 5 mins' or 'I'm meeting somebody in a couple of minutes' - unless of course, everything checks ot to your satisfaction, and your happy with the prices, then just go with the flow. It'll save worrying about it for days beforehand!

[Savvy_Sue]

I DON'T want to embarrass myself by going in and then finding I have to go home again as its too expensive :o Plus if anything puts me off I'll be back to square one (not thinking about it)By the sound of it, a private dentist should not have a problem with you asking what they charge, what it's for etc etc etc and you then comparing prices with the competition. So going for a visit with a planned 'script' in your head which makes it clear you are just doing your research at the moment and not necessarily ready to sign on the dotted line straight away should be acceptable.

I've got an NHS dentist, but tbh I'm not that impressed, and with what Toothsmith and Down in the Mouth keep saying I start wondering if I'd be better off biting the bullet and going private. I could possibly even stay within the same practice and I wonder how much work I'd be told I needed to become 'dentally fit' if I decided to do that!

[november]

I was wondering about NHS & private dentists too Sue. Two of the ones round here having checked the Yellow Pages seem to do both. Whats the difference? Do you get a better service if you pay?? :confused: The other one is private only. There are only 3 dentists in my immediate locality.

The whole thing took on an urgency this morning when I came downstairs and my broken tooth shouted at me - hurt so much it made me feel sick. Two paracetols later and I can see again (I rarely take painkillers - can't remember the last time I took 2). I'd forgotton how much teeth can hurt :( Trouble is when they hurt that much I don't want to go because I know if they touch it I will go through the roof :( I hope they still don't poke everything with a metal spike, I used to hate that.

I think I may need to take some time off Monday to find a dentist but still can't decide which one of the 2 to check out first (the private only or NHS and private). I've definately discounted the one which has small offices high up as I can't face their building even though they may be good. When I've asked people before (only 2 I'm a bit limited in people I know) one used one NHS one and the other the other which was no help. I think I may have to phone the 2 I haven't discounted and call in to see how much they charge/what the atmosphere is like/how sympathetic they seem.

Thanks for all your help Toothsmith. I don't think I've got days to worry about this now anyway :o

[Toothsmith]

I was wondering about NHS & private dentists too Sue. Two of the ones round here having checked the Yellow Pages seem to do both. Whats the difference? Do you get a better service if you pay?? :confused:

I have my own opinions on practices that do both private and NHS.

It is very difficult to do both.

There are certain things that can be done 'privately' such as crowns and dentures where there is a distinct difference in quality if you pay more.

White fillings in back teeth is also something that's not available at the moment on the NHS (but come the new contract - nothing is excluded. One of the many reasons it is going to fail.)

My personal feeling though is that a 'private' practice is more about the service level and time spent with patients. This is not really something that can be turned on for one patient then switched off for the next.

I do see the children of my private patients on the NHS as a 'loss leader'. I subsidise their care from the private side of the practice.

The problem on the horizon is that after April, the idea of beng a registered NHS patient is disappearing.

My NHS contract, if I was going to accept one, would be based on the amount of treatment I had done on the NHS in the past, but I would not have full control over who I gave that treatment to.

So, say for example I have spent 150 hours treating children last year. After April, I would be contracted for 150 hours of NHS treatment.

If my PCT sees patients with toothache as a bigger priority to check ups for basically healthy children, they would have the right to ring me up and ask me to see someone who had contacted NHS direct with a toothache. That person could be better off financially than my 'private' patients, but I would still have to treat him on the NHS. This is because I would not, by the terms of the new contract be allowed to discriminate on the grounds of age or 'ability to pay NHS fees'.

I would retain the right to say no - so long as I am 'at capacity' although God knows what that means!

If I said no too often though, the PCT could have a look at who I was seeing on the NHS, and if it were all children, then I would be up a well known creek!

So, these toothaches would eat up some of my NHS time. So come the end of the year, I could be in the position of having to tell some regular patients that I couldn't see their kids on the NHS until the start of April when I was allotted my new quota of hours!

This is going to force dentists to think which side of the fence they want to live on.

If they stay NHS, they will have to see virtually anybody, provide everything they need, with little opportunity to do anything private.

If they try to stay mixed, it will be increasingly difficult to choose which patients they offer their NHS hours to, and this may lead to resentment amongst the regular patients, which could destroy the 'goodwill' of the practice.

I forsee a large amount of dentists jumping off the NHS ship altogether and going purely private. It's what I'm in the process of doing at the moment. For me, they could withdraw this contract tomorrow, and I would still carry on with my move into purely private practice. I'm sick of lying politicians trying to tell me how to do my job.

Rant over!

[november]

I have my own opinions on practices that do both private and NHS.

It is very difficult to do both..............My personal feeling though is that a 'private' practice is more about the service level and time spent with patients. This is not really something that can be turned on for one patient then switched off for the next.

Thats what I was thinking. If I am paying because I need a bit of 'cosseting' rather than rushing and am willing to pay I want to know I'm not just paying extra for exactly the same thing that I could be getting on the NHS.

There are certain things that can be done 'privately' such as crowns and dentures where there is a distinct difference in quality if you pay more.

I've heard of that before - is that where NHS patients can pay extra to have e.g. a white filling.

If my PCT sees patients with toothache as a bigger priority to check ups for basically healthy children, they would have the right to ring me up and ask me to see someone who had contacted NHS direct with a toothache.

Don't mention toothache. I think my weekend has just been written off as I'm in agony nubbed only by swallowing parocetomal and I can still feel my neck and face thumping but at least the feeling of someone stabbing me with hot irons has subsided somewhat.

I'm sick of lying politicians trying to tell me how to do my job.

Rant over!

Thats OK. My sis works for the NHS (hospitals rather than dentist) so I'm used to it :D Anyway seems only fair you have a chance to rant having given me so much useful advice.

I've just asked a friend of my daughter's. Seems like most people round here use the NHS one which according to their ad also takes Denplan and private. Now part of me is thinking they must be OK because of this, part of me is thinking 'yeah but they are the most accessible and NHS so they would be busier, and another large part is shouting 'Blinkin heck they must be really busy (this is a very very large estate) so how much time have they got per person.

Don't know anyone that uses the private practice but I may start with them. At the moment I definately feel like I would pay for sympathy and efficiency and last but not least lots of skill with not causing additional pain rather than be rushed in and out.

Part of my phobia by the way was caused by a child (me) misunderstanding something. The rest was caused by a NHS dentist I saw for emergency toothache age 18. He started filling the tooth (no painkilling) then lost his temper and held me down and pulled it out leaving me to get home with blood pouring down my face. I didn't go to a dentist again until my mother pursuaded me about 5 - 7 years later. By then I need work on the other side of my mouth as my new excellent dentist explained because having a large back tooth removed (even he said almost undoubtedly uncessesarily) on one side meant I had been doing all my chewing with the other side.

Thanks for talking Toothsmith. I know one bad apple don't etc and I had years with my good dentist but given a gap and a need to go back because I'm in agony I only ever seem to remember the bad things. I think I may phone on Monday and see if I can visit the private one.

Excuse any typos, bad spellings etc - I'm feeling a little whoozy - what a waste of a weekend - sometimes I could really kick myself. :o

[Savvy_Sue]

I think my current practice has one NHS dentist and the others only do private. You may find yours is the same.

I seem to have had a lot of Scandinavian dentists over the years - all NHS. Why is that, Toothsmith?

[Toothsmith]

I don't know! Lucky?? :D

[Savvy_Sue]

I don't know! Lucky?? :DOh, so the Scandinavians make up for the English one who developed Parkinsons or something similar and started trembling all the time and never wanted to do anything as a result, leaving me with a rather neglected mouth when he finally left? :D

[Toothsmith]

Oh, so the Scandinavians make up for the English one who developed Parkinsons or something similar and started trembling all the time and never wanted to do anything as a result, leaving me with a rather neglected mouth when he finally left? :D

Parkinsons or alcoholism?? ;)

But don't tell me it's not better with a norse viking towering over you? Or is it a lovely blonde nymphette?? (Does she want a job in Yorkshire :o ?)

[Sofa_Sogood]

The whole thing took on an urgency this morning when I came downstairs and my broken tooth shouted at me - hurt so much it made me feel sick. Two paracetols later and I can see again (I rarely take painkillers - can't remember the last time I took 2). I'd forgotton how much teeth can hurt :( Trouble is when they hurt that much I don't want to go because I know if they touch it I will go through the roof :( I hope they still don't poke everything with a metal spike, I used to hate that.

I think I may need to take some time off Monday to find a dentist but still can't decide which one of the 2 to check out first (the private only or NHS and private).



Hi november (and hi to Toothsmith and all too :D)

I broke a tooth a few months ago, and thought I was money saving because I managed to pull the tooth out myself :o (painlessly at the time), but a few weeks ago an abcess developed in it's place - the root was still in.

After an extremely painful visit to what I think was an NHS dentist, but who charged about £30 to cause more damage than the abcess did, I wished I'd waited an extra day. I'm still in two minds whether to complain about him to be honest. The treatment was not only painful, it was inhumane in my honest opinion.

Luckily I saw a private dentist a couple of days later, (who also agreed with my thoughts that the emergency dentist had caused more injury than any good) and he was worth his weight in gold.

He couldn't do much at the time, apart from lessen the pain with more antibiotics, an x-ray to see what was what, and some much needed comforting words. The cost was just under £50, but worth it just for the confidence he gave me.

When the abcess cleared up I went back and he extracted the the remains of the tooth, another one that the emergency dentist had bodged up for some reason, and touched up a small filling. The cost was £99.

I know this can be a lot of money for some people, but I can honestly say it was worth every penny. And I can say, hand on heart, that I didn't feel a thing, not even that 'pulling' feeling you sometimes get, and as I've had some sort of treatment on every tooth but two, this was a first. :) I didn't even feel as if I'd been to a dentist, despite the extractions.

I've got a fair way to go with the treatment, but I'm not bothered. I'm just over the moon that I've found a dentist that offers pain free and confidence building treatment.

I'm not sure if it's allowed to say about pain relief, but I'm sure the Board Guide will leave or delete as necessary ;), but I was told that I could alternate between paracetemol and Nurofen/Ibuprofen. This meant I had some sort of pain relief every 3 hours instead of every 6.

I hope you don't need it, especially as you don't like painkillers, and wish you all the best :)

I love my new dentist :D

P.S. Can't you ask anyone you know to recommend a good dentist?

[november]

I'm just over the moon that I've found a dentist that offers pain free and confidence building treatment.


Thats what I want too. :)

P.S. Can't you ask anyone you know to recommend a good dentist?

I've now exhausted my supply of local friends (which admitedly wasn't many). They all go to the same dentist which is a NHS/private/denplan one and they all go NHS. I said 'blimey he must be busy' and they all agree he is, very. I asked was he good and sympathetic to which the reply was 'good but my husband thinks he's an arrogant git' but apparently he has 3 surgeries around here, you can ask to see one of the others at his surgery if you don't like him and he is still taking NHS. God only knows how he's fitting them all in :confused:

Everyone seemed to think I was potty for thinking of going private as 'they can charge what they like'. :confused:

Friends from further away seem more sympathetic but then they probably know me better. This dentist just doesn't seem right for me - if he is arrogant he definately isn't - I don't deal well with a professional arrogant manner plus I don't deal well with rush, queues, having to wait and other things that come with a very very busy surgery.

When it comes to cost its what you chose to spend your money on isn't it? I don't holiday abroad, I don't spend a lot on going out. To tell you the truth one of the reasons I've left finding a dentist so long is I had so little money I used what I had on the kid's lives rather than my own. Now I have a little more if I chose to spend it on my mouth rather than a holiday its seems a valid choice to me. People pay for chiropractors etc (including me) and don't think anything of that :confused:

Unfortunately though asking friends didn't work so I seem to be back to the yellow page, walk round surgeries idea :confused:

Oh and I'm ruddy starving - I can't chew at all :(

Sofa - Thanks for your 'not feeling a thing' stuff. I'm ignoring the bad dentist stuff as I will be avoiding emergency dentists - been down that route before which is why my mouth is such a mess (and my head) :( Wish I could find someone to recommend a private one round here :(

[Sofa_Sogood]

Thats what I want too. :)

I've now exhausted my supply of local friends (which admitedly wasn't many). They all go to the same dentist which is a NHS/private/denplan one and they all go NHS. I said 'blimey he must be busy' and they all agree he is, very. I asked was he good and sympathetic to which the reply was 'good but my husband thinks he's an arrogant git' but apparently he has 3 surgeries around here, you can ask to see one of the others at his surgery if you don't like him and he is still taking NHS. God only knows how he's fitting them all in :confused:

Everyone seemed to think I was potty for thinking of going private as 'they can charge what they like'. :confused:

Friends from further away seem more sympathetic but then they probably know me better. This dentist just doesn't seem right for me - if he is arrogant he definately isn't - I don't deal well with a professional arrogant manner plus I don't deal well with rush, queues, having to wait and other things that come with a very very busy surgery.

When it comes to cost its what you chose to spend your money on isn't it? I don't holiday abroad, I don't spend a lot on going out. To tell you the truth one of the reasons I've left finding a dentist so long is I had so little money I used what I had on the kid's lives rather than my own. Now I have a little more if I chose to spend it on my mouth rather than a holiday its seems a valid choice to me. People pay for chiropractors etc (including me) and don't think anything of that :confused:

Unfortunately though asking friends didn't work so I seem to be back to the yellow page, walk round surgeries idea :confused:

Oh and I'm ruddy starving - I can't chew at all :(

Sofa - Thanks for your 'not feeling a thing' stuff. I'm ignoring the bad dentist stuff as I will be avoiding emergency dentists - been down that route before which is why my mouth is such a mess (and my head) :( Wish I could find someone to recommend a private one round here :(

I really feel for you november, I can't think of a worse pain than toothache :(

I'd better leave it to the professionals that post here I think. I know that in this day and age, there's no need to have any pain at all, but Toothsmith and the other dentists can tell you better. Maybe there's a hope that someone in your area (I'm in Yorkshire btw), reads this and can maybe suggest a dentist, without breaking the rules of the board obviously.

I've a feeling my dentist's in a practice that's fairly busy too, but not too busy to spend the time reassuring me that I'd had some dodgy work done, and suggest all the alternatives. But it's not only the best I've ever had, but the first I've ever known people be on first name terms with the dentist. But people might say that's because of the cost?

Good luck anyway, and hope the pain goes away, and soon. Painkillers are there for a reason btw :)

P.S. I don't think you're potty for going private either, I'd forego a holiday to be painfree, but as for charging what they like? I'd better leave that to the professionals too. I think they must have a cost for everything that can be asked for in advance?

Best wishes and apologies for not being more help.

P.P.S. I travelled out of my area, and it was well worth the extra cost, but I have problems travelling anywhere. It was still worth it :)

[november]

I really feel for you november, I can't think of a worse pain than toothache :(
I'd better leave it to the professionals that post here I think.

Thanks :) Sympathy and empathy is much appreciated.

I know that in this day and age, there's no need to have any pain at all, but Toothsmith and the other dentists can tell you better.

Actually my previous good ages ago NHS dentist went by that creed as well. He gave me nice gum numbing stuff and hid the needles so I couldn't see them and I never felt them at all. Probably why he ended up going private!

P.S. I don't think you're potty for going private either, I'd forego a holiday to be painfree, but as for charging what they like? I'd better leave that to the professionals too. I think they must have a cost for everything that can be asked for in advance?

According to the most helpful Toothsmith charges are variable but according to dentists costs and you can ask what they are. He did give me a very broad guideline which was the point of my thread originally as I really hadn't a clue. I'd pay £99 as you did for my tooth to be sorted out if it could be done pain free and with comforting words - after all it cost me about the same to get my back sorted ;) Years ago I was offered NHS physio for that but it was somewhere I couldn't get (I couldn't drive then) at a time I couldn't make (no buses) and when I got a lift there and tried it once it made the pain worse. Paying meant no pain, cured back, less time of work, convenient appointment, a kindly touch - a bargain! And even if you look at time/work related stuff a saving.

Best wishes and apologies for not being more help.

You have been a help :) At least you understand and don't think I'm potty thinking of going private :)

eta and unfortunately I'm in the South West ;)

[Sofa_Sogood]

Thanks :) Sympathy and empathy is much appreciated.

You have been a help :) At least you understand and don't think I'm potty thinking of going private :)



Not at all - and sorry for snipping your post .... (I can't do quotes within quotes), but at least it stops it dropping to page 10 ;)

I'd wait for Ms Toothsmith, to reply :confused: or one of her colleagues :)

But just as some people might advise against physio's that aren't NHS, I'm quickly leaning towards private for dentistry. Unless it's a straightforward extraction with anaesthetic :)

And if toothache keeps you awake tonight, I'd advise reading this site and the posts made by Toothsmith et al. It might not take the pain away but it whiles away an hour or so, apart from being informative :D

Hope it all gets better soon :)

[november]

Just a quick update. I did lots of searches and have ended up booking an appointment with one a village nearby. In the main because they had a smallish ad (so not wasting too much money on ads ;) but did say they were good with nervous patients but also because when I looked at others I kept coming back to this one and listening to my hunches usually works when I am unable to think straight.

I rang them up and the lady on the phone was very nice indeed. I'm going in for a first appointment at 3.25 and am now a complete gibbering brainless wreck. I did remember to ask last minute 'how much' for an initial appointment and she said it was £65 and explained why (the length of the appointment) and asked if that was OK (given as it was today and I'd only just phoned I assume).

Anyway if the dentist is as nice as reception then it looks like I may have a dentist. Particularly if they have a box of tissues in the surgery :o

Nothing like being starving and woken up twice in the night by a tooth to make you take action :o

Many thanks to all who replied. Particularly Toothsmith's price range info. It may have been a wide range but knowing that their fee is within that range helps me in trusting them. :)

[Savvy_Sue]

I'd wait for Ms Toothsmith, to reply :confused: or one of her colleagues :)I don't know about the other dentists, but Toothsmith is definitely not a Ms!

[Toothsmith]

I don't know about the other dentists, but Toothsmith is definitely not a Ms!

Thank you! I was wondering what I'd put in my posts to lead anyone to that conclusion! :p

[november]

Thank you! I was wondering what I'd put in my posts to lead anyone to that conclusion! :p

I thought you were a bloke and was hoping I hadn't got it wrong :D



Well I'm back. The dentist was very nice. :)

I have an absess :(

I am on antibiotics and then have to go back.

She asked if I wanted the tooth saving and I do because I already have a missing one next to it (or not next to it as the case may be).

However the complete bill ends up as £600 :eek: Thats £65 for exam etc today (only they couldn't xray as I can't put my jaw together so are doing that later). £50 for occlusal filling, £85 for DO filling, £120 for DOL/P filling and £280 for root filling.

I forgot to ask what all this meant :o I understand the root bit but really shoudl have asked about the occlusal, DO/DOL/P etc :o

Anyway I feel quite proud of myself as I stayed calm and even managed to wait the 5 minutes in the waiting room before hand (although admitedly no-one has done anything yet other than look in my mouth with a mirror and be nice to me :o )

eta

Doh I am such a ding bat. I've just looked again and there is different numbers there under planned such as UL7 etc. So its £65 for today including future xrays, £50 for a filling on UL7 which I think is the tooth above the broken one (I knew it needed one :( ), £85 for a filling on UL5 which must be another top one and the £120 and £280 is for rescuing LL7 the broken one.

Suppose its not bad if you spread it back over the 10 years I haven't gone to the dentist previously :o

Plus £50 for a private filling doesn't seem bad compared to NHS costs anyway as aren't they about £30?

[Toothsmith]

November,

I must say I think you have gone about this in a very sensible way. (I know you've had advice, but you still had to do it).

I am glad you've found a dentist you feel you'll be happy with, but this is so often the way if price is put in it's proper context and you look at the service you want as the deciding factor.

For what it's worth, her prices seem almost identical to mine.

I hope things go well, and you're crunching away again before too long.

Your neigbours at the NHS place will have a very rude awakening soon when the NHS prices skyrocket, and yet their service is still c**p! You will be safely in with a dentist who can afford to take her time and say 'no' to new patients when she feels she is full. Unlike the NHS place who will be virtually forced to see anybody and everybody until they have no spare appointments for 8 weeks.

[november]

November,

I must say I think you have gone about this in a very sensible way. (I know you've had advice, but you still had to do it).

Thanks :) High praise indeed and much welcomed given as I am feeling a bit sorry for myself at the moment.

For what it's worth, her prices seem almost identical to mine.

So thats not bad at all then given as this is the rather expensive South West.

I hope things go well, and you're crunching away again before too long.

So do I. I was supposed to be going round to a friend's tonight and she was going to cook (she an excellent cook) so am waving this treat ahead of myself to get me through getting my teeth sorted. At the moment I would settle for being able to eat a meal rather than suck a small amount of mash!

Your neigbours at the NHS place will have a very rude awakening soon when the NHS prices skyrocket, and yet their service is still c**p! You will be safely in with a dentist who can afford to take her time and say 'no' to new patients when she feels she is full. Unlike the NHS place who will be virtually forced to see anybody and everybody until they have no spare appointments for 8 weeks.

That was also a factor for me. I got in straight away on the day I phoned (I told them I was in agony and terrified on the phone). Also this is my teeth we are talking about and even if I wasn't such a wuss it seems to important a thing to just pick the nearest cheapest option regardless of all other factors.

I'm probably going to put it all on my credit card then get another 0% and do a bt. Bit longer to be debt free but at least I'll have my own teeth :)

Thank you so much for all your kind words and advice Toothsmith. Couldn't have done it so well without you :) x

[Savvy_Sue]

Your neigbours at the NHS place will have a very rude awakening soon when the NHS prices skyrocket, and yet their service is still c**p! You will be safely in with a dentist who can afford to take her time and say 'no' to new patients when she feels she is full. Unlike the NHS place who will be virtually forced to see anybody and everybody until they have no spare appointments for 8 weeks.Now you are scaring and depressing me ... I suspect most of my friends are with the practice I'm at, which is why we registered there 5 years ago. I was happy with the first dentist we had there, but she went on extended maternity leave (story of my NHS dentists, never managed to keep the ones I liked!) and although I think she's back we weren't told she was and the kids and I were just kept with the Scandinavian who now owns the practice. Had been wondering about asking to transfer to my original dentist, but don't want to put anyone's nose out of joint or I really will have to find a new dentist!

[Toothsmith]

Is her name on a plate outside the door? Is she mentioned on any of the practice literature? If she's working there she should be mentioned somewhere. Possible exception is if she's there as an assistant, working on someone elses contract number. I don't think it's a requirement then for her to have a plate or be on the info leaflet. If she is an assistant, it's probably because she's very part-time or not sure of her future - in which case it's probably better not to be with her if consistant care is what you're after.

BTW Savvy, are you healing up OK? Have you found a copy of 'Little Shop of Horrors' yet? ;)

[Savvy_Sue]

Is her name on a plate outside the door? Is she mentioned on any of the practice literature? If she's working there she should be mentioned somewhere. Possible exception is if she's there as an assistant, working on someone elses contract number. I don't think it's a requirement then for her to have a plate or be on the info leaflet. If she is an assistant, it's probably because she's very part-time or not sure of her future - in which case it's probably better not to be with her if consistant care is what you're after.Long time since I was over there and although she was on the door plate before her last pregnancy I can't remember who's still there now. And I wouldn't be too sure of her future either: I'm sure if she has another baby she'll be off for ages again because of the problems she has had the last two times! There is also an older chap, but he must be coming up to retirement. He has treated me when I lost a filling and 'my' dentist wasn't there, I know it got very complicated because he had to finish the treatment after he'd officially stopped working for the NHS and took the view that they would do it and sort it out later, somehow!

We have three 'mixed' practices within walking distance so I guess I'm spoiled for choice: current dentist is not easy to get to by public transport so I could use the fact that I can't drive at the mo as a reason for looking around ...

BTW Savvy, are you healing up OK? Have you found a copy of 'Little Shop of Horrors' yet? ;)Well the scar still itches, and I am not sure how I am going to react to someone else touching it when I go for my first post-op haircut on Thursday, but I am upright and getting out and about OK, and every time I see the GP he says "How long is it since you had major surgery?" when I talk about how I feel about going back to work. :rotfl:

It's not that I want to go back, you understand, but I can't afford not to and it would be nice to do so before I've used all my 3 months on full sick pay! Only talking about 2 days per week initially ... and since my eldest disappears to Uni on Saturday I am going to be SOOOOO bored with no-one to nag at home!

Anyway, don't want to hijack original thread, guess that means I should pull my finger out and do some dental research while I am off sick ... just not sure how my DH will react to the idea of shelling out real money on a regular basis when until recently we've paid very little. And I know some of my fillings don't look pretty, but they do the job, which is what I'm mostly concerned about!

No, still haven't managed little shop of horrors. We could do with a video hire shop instead of one of those new dental surgeries. :p

[Sofa_Sogood]

:o

Apologies Toothsmith .... I don't know what made me think you were a girly

:o

And to SavvySue for pointing out my error (glad you did though because I've finally caught up with you - I seem to have lost the "hospital stay" thread :D)

november - glad you finally found a dentist and started treatment, but those prices are scary :eek: I think I'd better put a bit more aside for my treatment.

MR Toothsmith? ;)

Do dentists still offer a one off payment that includes everything that needs correcting/filling etc?

[Edited - realised I'd referred to Toothsmith as a female .... again! :o ]

I'm off to http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v138/yorks4ever/23.gif

[Toothsmith]

Do dentists still offer a one off payment that includes everything that needs correcting/filling etc?


Hi Sofa,

I feel like a 'Little Britain' character - "I am a laydee"

I wasn't aware of dentists ever offering a one off payment to fix everything.

There is the NHS 'maximum charge' which back in the early 80's was £17.50 I believe, but has crept upwards until it's now over £300. (All for a service that should be 'Free at the point of delivery regardless of ability to pay') One thing about the new contract is that the maximum charge will be £183 for a course of treatment, so that's a big reduction, but with a single crown now costing £183 on the NHS, there will be a lot more people paying that charge.

[Sofa_Sogood]

Hi Sofa,

I feel like a 'Little Britain' character - "I am a laydee"

I wasn't aware of dentists ever offering a one off payment to fix everything.

There is the NHS 'maximum charge' which back in the early 80's was £17.50 I believe, but has crept upwards until it's now over £300. (All for a service that should be 'Free at the point of delivery regardless of ability to pay') One thing about the new contract is that the maximum charge will be £183 for a course of treatment, so that's a big reduction, but with a single crown now costing £183 on the NHS, there will be a lot more people paying that charge.

But you're not a "laydee" :D

Serious head on now.

I must have been thinking in NHS terms; I just recall that there was a maximum that could be paid for a course of treatment.
(That's probably wrong too, - but think it was in the 70's?)
And 183 quid for a crown on the NHS :eek:

I'm definitely going to put at least a thousand away for treatment.

Thanks for the reply :)

[Sofa_Sogood]

Went back to the dentist yesterday .... nowhere near what I expected the final cost to be, although I've got a few more appointments.

One filling, two moulds (spelling?), (the reason for 3 more appointments) and this bill was just under £490. For yesterday's treatment and the next 2 or 3.

Considering this includes the cost for a Maryland bridge, (bottom so to speak ;)) and a new denture for the top, I think it's been value for money and no need for me to put any extra aside.

It's still a lot of money for some people and I realise this, but I'd have paid more than this just to be rid of the original pain that the abcess caused.

I can yearn for the days of free treatment, or even NHS funded, but it's never going to happen is it?

Hope you're ok november and all :D

[Toothsmith]

I think the truth about the NHS dental new contract is now about to hit the fan.


Sunday Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/09/25/ndent25.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/09/25/ixnewstop.html)

And

BBC Online (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4279758.stm)

I like the quote from a 'Department spokesman' at the end of the Telegraph article.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "Patients have
complained about dentists who treat only children on the NHS and
force adults to pay, and the new contracts will deal with this."

It certainly will! I've been telling parents their kids will now have to be private for the past 2 months. :mad:

Also, I think the Politics Show on BBC1 at lunchtime is doing something on it as well.

[Glad]

why not take a look at Martin's article HERE (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1085016075,31018,)

[november]

Hope you're ok november and all :D

I leave for the dentist in 10 minutes :( I just hope I feel less sick when I get there (its nerves).


Glad

I did thanks. However insurance etc excludes conditions you currently have as Martin says. In other words I should have thought about this about 2 years ago ;)

[Toothsmith]

You'll be fine!

[november]

Thanks Toothsmith

Relaxation techniques are a wonderful thing. Once I'd got the injections over with (toe wiggling) I was in a wood the whole time ;) Oh and bar the injection which I felt slightly despite numbing stuff (but only slightly) I never felt a thing.

She really is a great dentist though - explains enough but not too much. For some stange reason she also knew the exact point to tell me it was nearly over. Plus she praises but just enough so as not to be condescending.

I now have had 'medicine' in my root canal or something and am back in a fortnight to have it all finished off. The tooth is holding its own so far which is good as I was dreading going through all this and it cracking or something anyway.

[Sofa_Sogood]

Good to see you've found a dentist you have faith in november :)

I think I might have to go back sooner than I thought. The tooth I had filled seems to be ultra sensitive to cold drinks :( I'll keep up with Sensodyne for a day or two first though :D

Glad, thanks for the link, will read it later :)

[Toothsmith]

That's not uncommon Sofa.

Teeth don't like being drilled at, and it can upset them for a few days. So long as it's just a shock that goes through the tooth then goes away pretty quickly, I wouldn't worry about it too much. It'll most likely settle down.

If pain becomes persistant, or if it reacts more to hot than cold, that's a sign that something may be wrong.

Of course, though, if in any doubt, it's always better to go and be told there's nothing wrong, than hold out and be asked 'why didn't you come sooner?'!

[Sofa_Sogood]

That's not uncommon Sofa.

Teeth don't like being drilled at, and it can upset them for a few days. So long as it's just a shock that goes through the tooth then goes away pretty quickly, I wouldn't worry about it too much. It'll most likely settle down.

If pain becomes persistant, or if it reacts more to hot than cold, that's a sign that something may be wrong.

Of course, though, if in any doubt, it's always better to go and be told there's nothing wrong, than hold out and be asked 'why didn't you come sooner?'!

Thanks Toothsmith, that's exactly as it is - "a shock that goes through the tooth then goes away pretty quickly".

I mentioned to the dentist on Saturday that it was a bit sensitive if I chewed on it, so I was a bit surprised when a small sip of water made me hit the roof yesterday :D Hot drinks are ok btw .... and for some reason, so's chilled wine ;)

But he's aware that it was a bit iffy before he filled it. He seemed to think (as I did), that it was better to work on it than lose it, so he took the moulds etc.

I'm just hoping it's just waiting to settle down. I'd hate to get my new teeth and then have to repeat the process if it didn't go away.

Thanks again. :)

[Toothsmith]

Hot drinks are ok btw .... and for some reason, so's chilled wine ;)


I would stick to that then :beer: