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A few debtist related questions...
WolfSong2000
Posts: 1,736 Forumite
Okay, I've just got back from having a filling done (yay) under an emergency appointment "plan", apparently...anyhow, everyone (including the receptionist) seemed to be a little confused so I'm just looking for some clarification...
I first went in last friday - called and booked an emergency appointment as I'm at Uni in Aberdeen and not registered with a dentist up here as the Grampian waiting list is the worst in the country and averages 3 years...anyhow, got in, got appointment which consisted of temporary filling, being told I needed a root canal, which the dentist refused to do, and that I needed to come back to have 2 more fillings done (yeah, my teeth are in a bad way...I hate dentists so tend to avoid them like the plague). The latter 2 fillings could be done under a "treatment plan" according to the dentist, despite the fact that I was an emergency patient. Anyhow, got temp. filling, went to receptionist and got appointment for this monday. Was never asked for money, so assumed I'd pay at the end of the treatment.
So, turned up this morning, got filling done and they did x-rays (something my dentist in England never bothered with, but that's another story...) and was told there were *more* problems (which I'll ask about later). Anyhow, dentist was lovely and did the filling...I was told I'd need to book an appointment for january, but figured I'd do that another time (mouth is half numb and tbh, jjust wanted to get out of dentist as quick as possible). Receptionist called me on the way out and asked me if I needed another appointment...I said yes, for january, but I'd book it later. She then went off on one about me paying (got a little confusing at this point, as she was insinuating I wasn't on a treatment plan, and I was insisting I was and got her to clarify that I wouldn't be paying again - which she eventually did). Anyhow, she then tells me that I will be billed for each individual appointment?! Obviously I'm not up with NHS practices on the matter, but I thought you just paid the once for a treatment? Anyhow, I paid for last 2 visits, then asked if I could make an appointment (like I had done on Friday) for January. She started to, then another nurse intervened. I was then told that I couldn't book an appointment...they'd send me the number for some central body who I would have to call and book an appointment through them...I have a sneaky feeling this is the premium rate line I had to call to get the emergency appointment in the first place. I pointed out that I'd had no problems on friday booking for today, but was told that the receptionist who had done that was wrong
.
So, anyone shed any light on what I should be paying? I'm so confused!
On another matter, the dentist picked up on the fact that I apparently have white spots on my teeth...first she asked me if I'd been on antibiotics long term (no), then if I'd had a high fever as a young child (no again). I mentioned my mother had had malaria while pregnant with me and that this had affected my milk teeth, but was told it wouldn't affect my later teeth...this dentist disagreed, but she never actually explained what these spots were and if they were cause for concern?
I also have a *big* cavity that she only discovered via x-ray as from the outside the tooth looks completely healthy and I've never had any issues with it...could this be linked to the problems I had with my milk teeth, as they came through with holes in?
Anyhow, a lot of questions, I know, but figured if I was gonna ask, this would be the best place to do it - dentist was lovely, and would use her regularly if I could, but her english wasn't brilliant (she was Indian) and she struggled a bit when conversing with the dental nurses, so I didn't want to ask too many questions.
I first went in last friday - called and booked an emergency appointment as I'm at Uni in Aberdeen and not registered with a dentist up here as the Grampian waiting list is the worst in the country and averages 3 years...anyhow, got in, got appointment which consisted of temporary filling, being told I needed a root canal, which the dentist refused to do, and that I needed to come back to have 2 more fillings done (yeah, my teeth are in a bad way...I hate dentists so tend to avoid them like the plague). The latter 2 fillings could be done under a "treatment plan" according to the dentist, despite the fact that I was an emergency patient. Anyhow, got temp. filling, went to receptionist and got appointment for this monday. Was never asked for money, so assumed I'd pay at the end of the treatment.
So, turned up this morning, got filling done and they did x-rays (something my dentist in England never bothered with, but that's another story...) and was told there were *more* problems (which I'll ask about later). Anyhow, dentist was lovely and did the filling...I was told I'd need to book an appointment for january, but figured I'd do that another time (mouth is half numb and tbh, jjust wanted to get out of dentist as quick as possible). Receptionist called me on the way out and asked me if I needed another appointment...I said yes, for january, but I'd book it later. She then went off on one about me paying (got a little confusing at this point, as she was insinuating I wasn't on a treatment plan, and I was insisting I was and got her to clarify that I wouldn't be paying again - which she eventually did). Anyhow, she then tells me that I will be billed for each individual appointment?! Obviously I'm not up with NHS practices on the matter, but I thought you just paid the once for a treatment? Anyhow, I paid for last 2 visits, then asked if I could make an appointment (like I had done on Friday) for January. She started to, then another nurse intervened. I was then told that I couldn't book an appointment...they'd send me the number for some central body who I would have to call and book an appointment through them...I have a sneaky feeling this is the premium rate line I had to call to get the emergency appointment in the first place. I pointed out that I'd had no problems on friday booking for today, but was told that the receptionist who had done that was wrong
.So, anyone shed any light on what I should be paying? I'm so confused!
On another matter, the dentist picked up on the fact that I apparently have white spots on my teeth...first she asked me if I'd been on antibiotics long term (no), then if I'd had a high fever as a young child (no again). I mentioned my mother had had malaria while pregnant with me and that this had affected my milk teeth, but was told it wouldn't affect my later teeth...this dentist disagreed, but she never actually explained what these spots were and if they were cause for concern?
I also have a *big* cavity that she only discovered via x-ray as from the outside the tooth looks completely healthy and I've never had any issues with it...could this be linked to the problems I had with my milk teeth, as they came through with holes in?
Anyhow, a lot of questions, I know, but figured if I was gonna ask, this would be the best place to do it - dentist was lovely, and would use her regularly if I could, but her english wasn't brilliant (she was Indian) and she struggled a bit when conversing with the dental nurses, so I didn't want to ask too many questions.
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Comments
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Oh dear! My head hurt reading that - Do you write your essays like that?
No idea about what you've paid or how much you should pay as you're in Scotland.
BUT
If you hate dentists, avoid SUGAR like the plague, not dentists.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.0 -
I do if I write them first thing in the morning - *so* not a morning person. lol.
Guess I'll just be trusting them and paying up, as I actually live in England (or rather parents do), so not a clue :S.
And I am cutting down on my sugar intake...I very rarely drink carbonated drinks, but chocolate is a weakness...I feel a new year's resolution coming on.
Thanks, as ever, for your help
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Hi Wolfsong! I'm in Aberdeen too, and with an NHS dentist.
I don't fully understand your post BUT, there isn't just ONE set fee for the dentists up here, and if you are NHS (and not private) most places want the money upfront BEFORE doing any dental work.
I joined a new surgery, went for the checkup (hadn't had a dentist in about 4years and had a baby in that period, waiting lists are a nightmare!) needed a few fillings, composite filling etc.
Cost me £77, and had to pay that as I left (before I had teh work done and they made me wait 6 weeks) if you don't pay, they don't do it. Went back got it done, they discover another filling, and I stupidly asked for them to inject my mouth before the scale and polish (as it really hurts!) that was actually X1000 times worse, I didn't realise they would stick about 15 needles in my mouth :rotfl:
Anyways on the way out, I had to go into the toilet, because I was leaking blood everywhere and couldn't feel my face, and the receptionist was knocking on the door telling me I had to go and pay the £12 for my "extra" filling.
That's how bad they are! Didn't even give me a chance to come out the toilet and pay!
Keep an eye on Grandholm Dental clinic, they were taking on NHS not too long ago (It's who I'm with, very nice place, good dentists, talk you through everything, just avoid the receptionists....)0 -
Hang on I'll elaborate, for every filling, check up, xray, scale and polish you are charged a set fee, everything is priced. If you have to go back repeatedly for more work, you will be charged for every individual thing. I believe check ups are free (I think?!) So if you went in for say 2 fillings and a polish, you'd be charged about £30 or so (I'm guessing here!) then the next app was to put another filling in and take Xrays, you'd be charged X amount for the filling and X amount for the xray.
I know in England you pay about £47 or thereabouts, for everything that needs done to your mouth if it fits into that category, but then we get cheaper prescriptions, it's all swings and roundabouts. Worse if you have rubbish teeth like me too!
The white spots, could they be calcium deposits? I have one white mark on one of my teeth that the dentist spent ages trying to get off and couldn't, and he told me he didn't know what it was. It's not noticeable though!0 -
The white spot could be Fluorosis, if it's related to illness it could be enamel hypoplasia. I'll not bother explaining as I know you have google and I'm at work waiting for a patient!
The very best thing you can do is not tell your dentist you "hate them" at any of your visits though. Perhaps just tell them you're nervous?0 -
Thanks for the advice, everyone...you guys are so awesome
Buttonmoons - thanks for the heads up on how the system works! As I'm only going to be in Aberdeen until next summer when I graduate (yikes!) I'm not sure if it's worth me getting a dentist up here, but I'll definitely look into it - thank you. I'm using the dentist that's on--site at the university at the moment (next to the Hub) and they're lovely for the most part...was just the one receptionist today who threw me as she was bordering on rude, and didn't know what she was talking about (she admitted this). However, can't complain as the treatment was cheap...just under £20 for one temp filling, one perm filling and a scale and polish to date...
Coldstream always - I never told the dentist I hated her...said I didn't like dentists (borderline phobic about the sound of the drill. lol) and that because of this I hadn't been to a dentist in a while. This dentist, however, was really, really lovely, and I told her so - also mentioned it to the receptionist on the way out as I was so pleased with the way she treated me. The dentist I had growing up was a condescending little s*it, and was the reason I got put off dentists. lol. Never actually told him that to his face...just refused to go see him the minute I hit 18. lol0 -
ANY ADVICE PLEASE.
I have what my dentist calls a natural gap with a deep pocket into the gum. Last time I went she scaled my teeth, I had to go back 3 times for extra scaling, she managed to make it less painful. She told te to gently massage the gums/teeth when brushing, which I do, now the pain is back again, what I'd like to know is, will I eventually have to have the tooth out, will it get crowned, or is there some other treatment I could have, I've also just had a filling breakaway on the other side and need to get that sorted.
I get free dentist by the way0 -
ANY ADVICE PLEASE.
I have what my dentist calls a natural gap with a deep pocket into the gum. Last time I went she scaled my teeth, I had to go back 3 times for extra scaling, she managed to make it less painful. She told te to gently massage the gums/teeth when brushing, which I do, now the pain is back again, what I'd like to know is, will I eventually have to have the tooth out, will it get crowned, or is there some other treatment I could have, I've also just had a filling breakaway on the other side and need to get that sorted.
I get free dentist by the way
Impossible to say without seeing it, and probably X-rays as well.
Go by what your dentist is telling you. Or get a second opinion from another one if you don't feel the first one is right.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.0
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