Recommendations - Dentist in Bangor taking on NHS Patients please

Teerah

heavysnow wrote: »

If your teeth are healthy and stable, they really dont need to be xrayed every year!

They actually do! It picks up any problems before they start especially as I have partially erupted wisdom teeth - I would be very disappointed if they didn't check that on an annual basis - that would be very sloppy dentistry :eek:

As a dentist, I can tell you that that would not be very sloppy dentistry, quite the opposite. I am well aware of what xrays are used for and that they can also be overused. If your teeth constantly require fillings or there are problems with the wisdom teeth then more frequent xrays are justified but if your teeth are stable they certainly are not, I would definitely not allow someone to xray my teeth annually without good reason. Partially erupted wisdom teeth on their own do not warrant annual xrays.

Toothsmith

heavysnow wrote: »

If your teeth are healthy and stable, they really dont need to be xrayed every year!

They actually do! It picks up any problems before they start especially as I have partially erupted wisdom teeth - I would be very disappointed if they didn't check that on an annual basis - that would be very sloppy dentistry :eek:

I agree with T.

If I have a patient with no fillings at all, I probably take a couple of small x-rays (one each side) to show me between the teeth every 3 years. For an average patient, with a few fillings, probably every couple of years. If it's someone who always seems to need fillings, then I might look once a year - but I have very few patients like that.

Patients should be assessed individually, and every x-ray taken should be justified for what you feel it might show you against the slight risk from the radiation.

Dental x-rays expose you to about the same radiation as 4 hours in an aeroplane (Because the natural x-rays from the sun have less atmosphere to filter them out whan you're high in the air). So it is an incredibly low risk proceedure. Non the less, radiation guidelines insist that all radiographs are justified, and they set down decision criteria.

Annual x-rays in a low-risk patient are outside of those guidelines.

Toothsmith

Andrew_G wrote: »

Hi

Up until yesterday I was a NHS patient of a well-known Dentist located in Hamilton Road, Bangor (I've been with the same place for 30+ years).

Yesterday all the patients of the practice received a letter stating that with almost immediate effect the practice was becoming a private practice only.

All patients are being asked to sign-up to a Direct Debit Scheme whereby for a £10 joining fee and a regular payment of £12 a month you will receive what is termed preferential treatment and 5% of future treatment.

Needless to say I won't be paying and I'm looking for personal recommendations for a Dentist in Bangor taking on NHS Patients please.

Many thanks
Andrew

Why is it "needless to say"?

You have been with this dentist for many years. You obviously have got to know him well. Has it been the same dentist for 30 years, or if not - how long have you seen the one you're seeing at the moment?

I'm assuming you have been happy there? Everything been done well for you? Dentist has been fair with you? Or are you just a masochist who enjoys going to a rubbish dentist - or will go anywhere just as long as it's cheap?

£12 a month is hardly a kings ransom. Have you seen the private charges? Or are you just assuming they'll be similar to the rather fanciful charges that are sometimes quoted in the newspapers?

If you have been happy here, then I think you owe it to your dentist to just look a little more carefully at the deal he is offering, why he's doing it (Surely you can't have been blind to what's been going on with NHS dentistry for the last decade), and how things will be better (for him and you) afterwards.

Bear in mind the cost of change - extra milage, more time off work, inferior service from a place that has decided to cut costs rather than have the courage to increase prices etc etc.

If the only reason you've been going there for so long is because it's cheap and convienient though, and at the first sign of paying more than you think you have to you're off down the road - or to the next county - or Bulgaria - thenhe'll probably be as happy to see you go as you are to leave.

heavysnow

Teerah wrote: »

As a dentist, I can tell you that that would not be very sloppy dentistry, quite the opposite. I am well aware of what xrays are used for and that they can also be overused. If your teeth constantly require fillings or there are problems with the wisdom teeth then more frequent xrays are justified but if your teeth are stable they certainly are not, I would definitely not allow someone to xray my teeth annually without good reason. Partially erupted wisdom teeth on their own do not warrant annual xrays.

As a dentist, I am sure you know a lot more about this than me! However, I feel better knowing that my teeth are being xrayed on an annual basis. The British Dental Health Foundation recommends that xrays are taken every 6-24 months depending on the patient - http://www.dentalhealth.org.uk/faqs/leafletdetail.php?LeafletID=44. Now, I am quite sure that the dentist has looked at my oral health history including the number of fillings I have and the wisdom teeth and has made a reasoned judgement to take the xrays every year.

Toothsmith

heavysnow wrote: »

As a dentist, I am sure you know a lot more about this than me! However, I feel better knowing that my teeth are being xrayed on an annual basis. The British Dental Health Foundation recommends that xrays are taken every 6-24 months depending on the patient - http://www.dentalhealth.org.uk/faqs/leafletdetail.php?LeafletID=44. Now, I am quite sure that the dentist has looked at my oral health history including the number of fillings I have and the wisdom teeth and has made a reasoned judgement to take the xrays every year.

I'm sure this is true.

The point is, patients should be assessed individually, and not taking x-rays every year is not sloppy dentistry.

So long as they are taken at appropriate and regular intervals.

heavysnow

Toothsmith wrote: »

I'm sure this is true.

The point is, patients should be assessed individually, and not taking x-rays every year is not sloppy dentistry.

So long as they are taken at appropriate and regular intervals.

Yes - I accept that point and I agree that my comment about sloppy dentistry is incorrect! However, I don't agree that x-rays are being overused in my case.

BangorLady

heavysnow wrote: »

I joined this practice in Moira Drive about 2 years ago as an NHS patient:
Bangor Dental Care

1, Moira Drive, Bangor, County Down BT20 4RN
Tel: 028 9146 3131


They were only taking NHS patients who weren't claiming benefits at the time but the cost of treatment is so much cheaper. I paid about £15 for my last 6 month appointment which included scaling and polishing. Every year they also XRay your teeth and that costs around £5 extra if I remember correctly so I reckon it costs about £35-£40 per year overall (based on healthy teeth!). There is a new female dentist there who treated me last time and she was excellent
I'm not too sure if they still taking on new NHS patients but it would certainly be worth a look.

I would of recommended this dentist a few years back when the women was there, but def not now.. The man there never cleans your teeth properly, never listens to what you say and always makes extra appointments when you don't need them!! They also have mildew all over their Walls! Pay money for your dentist!! I'm with this practice at the minute as an nhs patient and I'd rather pay, that's why I'm looking around at the minute as my teeth are killing me!!

needawayout_2

Springhill Dental surgery in Bangor West had a sign up a couple of weeks ago saying that they were taking on new NHS patients. There is also quite a new practise in Balloo(I don't know the name, I'm sorry!) and they may still be taking on new people.

ETA: Just realised this thread is quite old, I'll leave my reply up anyway as it might be useful, getting an NHS dentist is a struggle

fireman-phil

Noticed this one when driving round to Homebase one day -The Balloo Dental Practice - never been there so I don't know what they're like. I can't post the link but if you google them it should come up

Andrew_G

Hi

In the end I travelled a wee bit further and got into Castlebawn Surgery in Ards.

Very Good surgery - no regrets and see they have a practice in Bangor open now too.