Avoiding the dentist because its to expensive!

shelovestobuystuff · 30 June 2009 at 10:11AM

I have been avoiding my little bit of toothache because I know how expensive the dentist is.The last time I had any significant amount of work done was within the first year after I had my daughter,so that was mainly free as covered by my maternity certificate.WE,THE WHLE FAMILY WERE TAKEN OFF THAT DENTISTS REGISTER BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT GO EVERY 6 MONTHS AND PAY £60 EACH,MYSELF,OH AND SON,FOR A CHECK UP WHEN THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH OUR TEETH!
Yesterday the offending tooth broke(helped by my trying to crunch a werthers original) and I thought to myself,no avoiding it now so had better call a dentist.Not that easy to see a dentist even if you are paying for your treatment.
I tried for the low cost options first,
1/the local dental training centre,as it was not an emergency I would have to wait about 2 months for an appointment.The plus is that as its an NHS training clinic even though I am not entitled to free dental care I would only have to pay NHS dentists prices which are much cheaper than a private one.
2/tried to search for other local dentists taking on "NHS" patients.Apparantly if you register at an NHS dentist they can only charge you NHS rates even if you pay for your treatment.Well that wasn,t easy either.There are 4 in my area,at least the health board gave me 4 numbers to call.1 said they were not NHS,1 said they were a private dentist and only took a small number of NHS clients if they were on full pension or childrens tax credit,1 said I would have to wait 3 months for an appointment and the last one was the worst,4 months for an appointment to register then they only gave out NHS appointments on a WED-Thurs between 11-12 so waiting times for treatment was currently 3 years!!!
3/Gave up and called a private dentist.Appointment is tomorrow morning and I have been asked to TAKE £50 CASH AS THE DEPOSIT FOR ANY TREATMENT AND A CREDIT/BANK CARD!
4/The tooth which broke has a large silver filling and I have been looking into getting it changed for a white one since it will need redone anyway.I have discovered that I probably have mercury poisoning and will have to have all my filling removed now.Its amazing what damage mercury fillings can do,asthma,arthritis,PMS,IBS,scoliosis,dry eyes,sore throats,a tendancy to catch everything going and thats just a few.Look at this!
http://www.mercurymadness.org/default.aspx

Anyone else had trouble getting affordable dentistry and how did you solve it?
I seen on TV last night ,it was part of a polital party ad shown on a BBC programme,that apparantly in scotland dental check ups are entirely free,what part of scotland is that then?It gave the impression that they were free for everyone,have I missed something?

Toothsmith · 30 June 2009 at 11:57AM

shelovestobuystuff wrote: »

4/The tooth which broke has a large silver filling and I have been looking into getting it changed for a white one since it will need redone anyway.I have discovered that I probably have mercury poisoning and will have to have all my filling removed now.Its amazing what damage mercury fillings can do,asthma,arthritis,PMS,IBS,scoliosis,dry eyes,sore throats,a tendancy to catch everything going and thats just a few.Look at this!
http://www.mercurymadness.org/default.aspx

You won't have mercury poisoning.

However, if you really want to believe you have, there will be several dentists out there prepared to indulge you, and charge you lots and lots of money for completely unnecessary work.

Up to you really.

Pity you didn't stumble on any pages showing all the damage Wurthers Originals can do a little earlier!

Gers · 30 June 2009 at 4:07PM

I've just discovered a fab NHS practice in Newcastle (been today for tooth infection but that's a different story) and now been told they are going private. Don't think there's any escape but as long as my teeth are looked after (by myself and by having regular dental cleans) then I don't invisage any real problems. Compared to the level of care handed out in my childhood/youth things are tons better and worth the money.

Mind you, looking forward to retiring back to Glasgow in the next 7-8 years!!

coldstreamalways · 30 June 2009 at 5:40PM

Why do you think you've probably got mercury poisoning?

border_collie · 30 June 2009 at 6:00PM

The worst risk of mercury poisoning is the actual REMOVAL of existing amalgam fillings.

Leave well alone.

shelovestobuystuff · 30 June 2009 at 8:52PM

coldstreamalways wrote: »

Why do you think you've probably got mercury poisoning?

Apparantly 3% of the population with these type of fillings are allergic to them or sensitive at least.I am allergic to metal on my skin so probably am allergic to heavy metals in my body too.Theres a whole host of things linked to mercury poisoning including ALL of my problems noted in the opening post at number 4.If all of these things could disappear with the removal of some fillings then its worth the risk.The toxins released during removal can make you very sick for a couple of weeks but then you start a detox and hopefully all of my other problems would go away too.Maybe not the scoliosis,that I know I am stuck with but it could stop it from getting worse.
The metal fillings expand over time anyway and can break the tooth open which is what has happened to one of mine.That will need drilled and replaced anyway and probably capped too.The other molar has been done for almost 30 years too so will probably break soon too,I would rather have it redone now and hope to save some of the tooth than wait for it to break.

shelovestobuystuff · 30 June 2009 at 8:56PM

Update on my appointment tomorrow,I just cannot bring myself to pay £50 for a filling(and thats if I only need a filling,it could need capped which will be extremely expensive) when the NHS clinic only charges £6.
My OH was all for me going to a private dentist until I told him how much cash I had been told to take with me tomorrow morning,he nearly choked on his coffee.I will put up with the discomfort and wait 2 months to have it looked at rather than pay that sort of money.

Torry_Quine · 30 June 2009 at 9:09PM

shelovestobuystuff wrote: »

apparantly in scotland dental check ups are entirely free,what part of scotland is that then?It gave the impression that they were free for everyone,have I missed something?

Yes, NHS checkups are free to everyone in Scotland as are eye tests. Of course first of all you have to find an NHS dentist willing to take you on! :rolleyes:

alison999 · 30 June 2009 at 9:20PM

shelovestobuystuff wrote: »

Update on my appointment tomorrow,I just cannot bring myself to pay £50 for a filling(and thats if I only need a filling,it could need capped which will be extremely expensive) when the NHS clinic only charges £6..

standard nhs price for a filling is £45.60 so its not that much more than if you saw a nhs dentist tomorrow.

BitterAndTwisted · 30 June 2009 at 9:42PM

At my dentist £50 would just about cover the cost of the check-up. Like any other business, they invariably expect you to pay for all treatment at the end of every appointment. If I was running a business I'd do that as well.

I gave up hope of finding an NHS dentist to take me on over a decade ago. I'm surprised that people are still trying, quite honestly

tirednewdad · 30 June 2009 at 9:58PM

shelovestobuystuff wrote: »

Apparantly 3% of the population with these type of fillings are allergic to them or sensitive at least.I am allergic to metal on my skin so probably am allergic to heavy metals in my body too.Theres a whole host of things linked to mercury poisoning including ALL of my problems noted in the opening post at number 4.If all of these things could disappear with the removal of some fillings then its worth the risk.The toxins released during removal can make you very sick for a couple of weeks but then you start a detox and hopefully all of my other problems would go away too.Maybe not the scoliosis,that I know I am stuck with but it could stop it from getting worse.
The metal fillings expand over time anyway and can break the tooth open which is what has happened to one of mine.That will need drilled and replaced anyway and probably capped too.The other molar has been done for almost 30 years too so will probably break soon too,I would rather have it redone now and hope to save some of the tooth than wait for it to break.

Just so you know- you won't get white fillings on the NHS- you will probably have to end up paying for them privately.:o

There is actually no difference in tooth fracture rates between white and amalgam fillings over a 15 year period. As the white fillings sets as it shrinks more than an amalgam filling thus the tooth is flexed and prone to small fractures developing.

You will release mercury when a silver filling is placed for 1 year. After that period the release is negligable. The main release of mercury come when it is removed, which causes mercury vapour.- Vitimin C is supposed to reduce aborsorption of mercury after having a filling

Good luck with your quest:A

Avoiding the dentist because its to expensive!

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