Dentist wants £32 to pull 2 wobbly milk teeth.

Poppy9

Hermia wrote: »

I had to have a wobbly baby tooth pulled out when I was a kid. My adult tooth was starting to come through, but because the baby tooth was still in the way it was coming through crooked. I wish the dentist had actually pulled it other earlier because I still ended up with a brace to straighten out the adult tooth.

I had my bottom and top milk teeth removed by the dentist because my second teeth were through at the bottom but my milk teeth were not even loose. He took the top ones at the same time as he could see the teeth in my gums ready to pop. They didn't pop for over about a year. My bottom teeth were fine, nice and straight but I needed a brace for my top ones.

I pulled DD wobbly bottom tooth at her request. I was more scared than her and it took me 3 attempts. Tissue definitely recommended as it made me feel less nervous.:o

prettypennies

angelicmary85 wrote: »

Give her a bar of toffee as a treat for being so good for the dentist

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

moneybuster

:jQuick update, one of the teeth has fallen out. DD has just come downstairs proudly holding it. Dentist £0, DD £5 and £11 for me:D. One out, one to go.

MrsTinks

I'm another who had to have one of my milkteeth out when young - my dentist also gave me an ultimatum and I think as toothsmith says once you have a deadline you do start fiddling with them more to get the blighters out...
Unfortunately one wouldn't come out by it self as my canines (well the ones that are pointy and would be your vampire teeth as it were lol) came out almost 90 degrees to what it should - family trait... And it couldn't pust the milk tooth out of the way and got very sore. Still needed a brace later but I think my dentist was right to pull it - definitely ask dentist why they said they wanted to pull it - especially as there could be a good reason that you might need to be aware off but don't assume it was to get more money out of you

moneybuster

That was why I posted really, to see if there could be a 'dental reason', (although £16 per wobbly tooth seemed a bit steep).

Have been going to same dentist for donkeys years and although I have pretty good teeth and don't ever need much doing (touch wood), she definitely doesn't come across as money grabbing. For instance I've a small crack in my tooth that she's been commenting on for about 3 years and always mentions having a filling but then follows it up with "we'll see how it goes". She could easily have said it needed filling and charged me for it.
Mrs Moneybuster

jugglebug

moneybuster wrote: »

That was why I posted really, to see if there could be a 'dental reason', (although £16 per wobbly tooth seemed a bit steep).

Have been going to same dentist for donkeys years and although I have pretty good teeth and don't ever need much doing (touch wood), she definitely doesn't come across as money grabbing. For instance I've a small crack in my tooth that she's been commenting on for about 3 years and always mentions having a filling but then follows it up with "we'll see how it goes". She could easily have said it needed filling and charged me for it.
Mrs Moneybuster

Regards the cost I would suspect you are not really paying for the act of removing the tooth itself...
More the time it takes to:
Look after your young un in a calm and reassuring manner as opposed to sit down, open wide, Pull. The Topical anaesthetic gels need a good minute or two to have any real effect.
Sterilise the instruments and clean the surgery before and after your visit (You do think that is worthwhile don't you?) That pretty much costs the same whether it is a wobbly tooth or a longer job. In a nutshell we have "universal cross infection control" which means we treat everyone that walks through the door (Even the kiddies) as if they have every nasty disease known to man. That way if someone does come in who either doesn't say, or doesn't know what they have it doesnt make a difference.

As I have said in another thread dental charges are not just what you see in the chair. There is a whole raft of stuff that Ethically and Legally must be carried out to ensure your safe treatment. You don't see it, but it is there and has to be funded or the clinic closes.

Toothsmith

moneybuster wrote: »

That was why I posted really, to see if there could be a 'dental reason', (although £16 per wobbly tooth seemed a bit steep).

The cost of keeping a dental practice open, when worked out at a hourly rate is about £170 - £220 per hour.

If a kid is in the chair, the electricity isn't any cheaper, the staff don't work for less money, and it still takes the same amount of time to clean the surgery between patients.

At the lower end of my estimate, £32 would buy you about 11 mins 20 sec!! Including clean up time between patients.

I would guess that this practice is subsidising kids care from the adult care pot.

You're getting a good deal!

But I still don't think you'll need to end up paying this anyway.

horse76

Toothsmith wrote: »

You can get a better grip by holding it with a bit of tissue paper.

Especially at night while they're asleep, a very wobbly tooth out really quickly with minimal stress to the child.

I done this once when the tooth was hanging by a thread, barely stirred.

moneybuster

jugglebug wrote: »

Look after your young un in a calm and reassuring manner as opposed to sit down, open wide, Pull.

:rotfl:Like I've said previously I really don't think she's money grabbing, but her bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired and she definitely went to the "Sit Down, Open Wide, Pull" school of dentistry so not sure if DD would have had her monies worth with the 'calm and reassuring manner' bit:rotfl:

Toothsmith

horse76 wrote: »

Especially at night while they're asleep, a very wobbly tooth out really quickly with minimal stress to the child.

I done this once when the tooth was hanging by a thread, barely stirred.

So have I!! And left the pound under the pillow!!