Private v NHS dental?

Chia

Does anyone know what the general price range should be for private dentistry outside London (I'm in B'ham) for a check-up and also fillings? I would be interested to know what those of you who've gone private are paying.

I did have an NHS dentist I really liked, but he's been replaced by someone I don't trust as much. She gave me a filling I'm not sure I really needed, which was then painful upon chewing. She took it out and re-did the filling - still hurts with even small amounts of chewing pressure. I'd like to see if I can find a good private dentist to re-do it a second time.

Toothsmith, if you are reading this and would be kind enough to give your opinion, do you think it's true that some people are not able to tolerate composite fillings on chewing surfaces (due to pain) and can only have amalgam? I think this may be happening to me, so it may not be the dentist's fault. (She didn't suggest composite intolerance - Google helped me out with that).

jugglebug

Chia wrote: »

Does anyone know what the general price range should be for private dentistry outside London (I'm in B'ham) for a check-up and also fillings? I would be interested to know what those of you who've gone private are paying.

I did have an NHS dentist I really liked, but he's been replaced by someone I don't trust as much. She gave me a filling I'm not sure I really needed, which was then painful upon chewing. She took it out and re-did the filling - still hurts with even small amounts of chewing pressure. I'd like to see if I can find a good private dentist to re-do it a second time.

Toothsmith, if you are reading this and would be kind enough to give your opinion, do you think it's true that some people are not able to tolerate composite fillings on chewing surfaces (due to pain) and can only have amalgam? I think this may be happening to me, so it may not be the dentist's fault. (She didn't suggest composite intolerance - Google helped me out with that).

Never heard of composite intolerance...I have done a reasonable amount of postgrad training in restorative dentistry and thet is a new one on me.
What I have heard of is composites being placed badly. Relatively speaking Amalgam is a piece of cake to place, very forgiving material.
Composite on the other hand is much harder to do well, and has to be handled very differently and post op problems can be common if the correct procedures are not followed

Chia

jugglebug wrote: »

Never heard of composite intolerance...I have done a reasonable amount of postgrad training in restorative dentistry and thet is a new one on me.
What I have heard of is composites being placed badly. Relatively speaking Amalgam is a piece of cake to place, very forgiving material.
Composite on the other hand is much harder to do well, and has to be handled very differently and post op problems can be common if the correct procedures are not followed

Thanks very much for responding, jugglebug...I read on a few different websites words to the effect of 'composites can shrink and cause associated problems, but there is also a small percentage of people who always have pain with composites regardless of shrinkage or other factors.' This did seem kind of odd to me, hence wanting to check with an actual professional.

My dentist is fresh out of dental school and Round 1 of my filling was her very first filling ever at the practice, so it would not surprise me at all if this was just a case of poor technique (not to say that she won't improve in time).

Sounds like I either need to find someone more experienced at composites, or have her do an amalgam one. I've already got a mouth full of amalgams so kind of wish she'd just done that to begin with. Due to the location there's no cosmetic reason for use of the composite material.

ellies_angel

My practice is an NHS practice. Our dentists are Polish and they are fantastic dentists. I have twice had root canal work done and didn't feel a thing. When my dentist started her English wasn't great, but the dental nurse could help with the communication a year on and her English is fine. I can honestly say I don't worry when I go to the dentist anymore and it was recorded on my notes that I was a nervous patient!

jenniewb

Am thinking of moving from my current dentist- its an NHS dentist whom I have been with since I was tiny, but I think they are not that good anymore- aside from having to get Guys and Kings hospital (where I went as an emergency case) to deal with an absess (simple problem which had apparently gotten 'nasty' after my dentist said it was fine and sent me home after draining the absess down my throat -yes I was sick) to a separate issue the last time I went, giving me some sort of infection where the corners of my mouth and onto my face (about the size of a 2p coin) scabbed up- v. painful, and my glands swelled up- also v.painful- and hard to swallow, I am still just getting over that infection now. (Am fairly certain it was the dentist who gave me the infection as it happened twice). As a result, I am actually too scared to go back, that infection was bad!

The dentist I have found is taking NHS patients but I am worried they may decide to become private only -and that would mean I cannot afford them. Are they allowed to ever shun NHS patients after they join? or force them to become private patients? does anyone know?

Toothsmith

If a dentist has agreed to provide you with a course of treatment on the NHS, then they can't change that as long as you attend and get it completed in a resonable length of time. Once that course of treatement is finished, then the dentist has no ongoing obligation towards you.

loulou123

I'd go to a private dentist if i could afford it. Trouble is for me, i am seen as a high risk for policys like denplan, as i have had alot of work on my teeth over the last few years and alot of dental problems-ending in wearing braces and having jaw surgery last year!

My surgeon when i had the operation actually recommended i go to a private practice, as even he wasnt happy with the NHS ones work, but at the moment i just cant afford it.

I used to have a lovely nhs dentist who i really trusted, but he left and every time i go now i see someone new, who more often than not cannot speak very good english to reassure me, (thats not a racial thing or anything like that, im sure there are good dentists from all countries) but i am a nervous patient and would like to know who im seeing!

There are some fantastic nhs dentists out there (including my old one) but you are lucky now to be able to find a nhs dentist at all, with space on their books, so you cant be choosy about finding one who you like.

I'd say as long as you can afford it, go for the private dentist, as hopefully you will be able to find one you like and trust.

subflow

Hello. I found this thread after returning from the dentist today with a few NHS vs Private questions.
I visit what appears to be a very high standard of dentist who have both NHS and private patients. I have a Denplan scheme that I pay into at work, which covers me for ALL NHS work. I pay it and have it refunded.
Although they seem to be very good quality, I seem to feel marginalised because I'm NHS.
I have a problematic tooth, which I've had looked at twice. First time I went there, I was told I'd need a couple of root canals on it, then a crown to replace the filling etc etc and it would be around £600. When I pointed out I was NHS, the diagnosis seemed to change, and they said it would be alright, come back in 6 months.
Went back today (6 months later). New dentist. Took X-Rays, said the exact same thing. It will need to be sorted at some point with 3 root canals and a crown etc, cost of over £600. I again pointed out that I was NHS, and was reluctant to be paying in for a scheme at work only to have private treatment.
I asked why I couldn't have the work done on NHS? He was again very dismissive, and said essentially that the quality of the 'parts' that would be used are of a much lower quality.

I really don't know here, if I should take the attitude that my teeth are of great importance, and I should pay whatever necessary to have them taken care of to the best standard possible.

OR

I'm being fobbed off, because they simply don't want to have to carry out this work on me, which would take 2-3 sessions (therefore time consuming) for NHS rates.

Any thoughts?

SparkyG

subflow wrote: »

I'm being fobbed off, because they simply don't want to have to carry out this work on me, which would take 2-3 sessions (therefore time consuming) for NHS rates.

Any thoughts?

You have hit the nail on the head exactly! Yes, they SHOULD be able to carry out your treatment to the required standard on the NHS, but won't because it is not cost effective for them.

That leaves you with a choice of having the work done 'grudgingly' on the NHS, and you will be left forever wondering if it could have been done better, or paying out for private treatment. Not a good position to be in, but unfortunately it is now a commonplace decision to make.

andygodwin

can i expand this discussion and ask..

where can you go if you cant afford a private dentist?? i need a crown on a back tooth and am unemployed although dont claim benefits, i live in london and dont mind a student having a go, but where can i go.

regards andy