We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Desperate for a dentist - Loose crowns - HELP!!!!

Hi Guys,
I'm hoping one of you lovely people can help me. I live in the NE of Scotland (moved here 4 years ago) I am totally unable to find a dentist that will treat me on the NHS. I am desperate to see a dentist, I have loads of broken teeth etc. My main problem at the moment is that I have 2 crowns on posts that keep falling out. Both are at the top and at the front, which is very embarassing. I have tried the dental emergency service here but they refused to treat me as they don't class it as an emergency. I have tried products on the market to try and fix them back in myself but can't get them to work. i have recently resorted to using superglue :o but even this doesn't work for long. I know it sounds silly but this is really affecting me and I'm starting to lose my confidence. I daren't eat out or anything like that incase they fall out. Please can someone recommend something to help, I'm at my wits end and I just don't know what to do. I can't afford to go private, it's just not an option.
Thanks for listening,
Clawdipuss.
Proud to be dealing with my debts :T
Protected Trust Deed - DFD Feb 2009 :eek:

Comments

  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,124 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    There are no products on the market to stick crowns back on permanently. The ones you can get for temporary repairs are not really very good, and if the reason the crowns fall off is because something is broken, then even the glues the dentist has won't work, and you will need new crowns, or the root extracting and a denture - which is now very likely as you've had a go with superglue.

    Superglue is a cyanoacrylate glue.

    The 'cyano' bit means cyanide.

    It won't kill you, but it severely messes up the tooth, and, as you've found, it doesn't work.

    OK now reality check.

    NHS dentistry is getting scarcer and scarcer. Despite the proclimations of politicians, it ain't going to improve. They simply can't afford to input the amounts of cash necessary when the rest of the NHS is in such a mess.

    Plus, what you are likely to get on the nHS will not be the best treatment for your long term dental health.

    So - even though you 'can't afford it' it is going to be up to you to finance your treatment in some way or other.

    My best advice would be to get a low cost loan, or even 0% rated credit card in order to pay for it.

    One thing is for certain, it will only get dearer the longer you leave it, and at least you are not in pain at the moment. If you wait until you are in pain, you will not be as able to look around the private options you have and work out which suits you best. You will be at the mercy of the first dentist with a space in his/her appointment book, and they may not necessarily be the best dentist for you.

    Start looking NOW. Shop around, compare prices, visit practices. Some dental prctices offer their own finance deals. Find how much it will be before you decide you 'can't afford it'. There are private dental practices out there that operate at only just above NHS prices. A lot of people just associate 'private' with 'unaffordable' and don't look any further.

    Get it sorted NOW!
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • Thanks Toothsmith for your helpful and informative reply, I really appreciate it. I will be taking your advice and looking into all the options.
    Thanks again,
    Clawdipuss.
    Proud to be dealing with my debts :T
    Protected Trust Deed - DFD Feb 2009 :eek:
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 354.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 254.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 455.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 247.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 604.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 178.7K Life & Family
  • 262.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.