Any info on Dental Treatment abroad.

welshdent

also mark re crowns/inevitably aggressive veneer preps carry approximately a 20 - 25% risk of tooth devitalisation. That means it can kill the nerve off in the tooth. The consequence of this are requirements for extraction or root filling. As toothsmith already commented on - these little teeth at the bottom are !!!!!!s! Cosmetic crowning/veneering of these teeth can be disasterous especially in a mouth that has previously been neglected (and I genuinely mean no disrespect simply commenting from your own words). Often, yes, teeth need crowns. Its a balancing act of assessing if the benefits will outweigh the risks. If you dont like the colour why not just get them whitened?? Far less damaging and can actually look a lot more natural.

brook sums up everything else I would have said nicely. Although I would disagree that just because other industries can give a rough estimate in a similar fashion, dentistry should be the same. It isnt. YOu are dealing with the human body. Not only are all bodies different but also the same body can vary significantly from area to area. When I was training we dissected a cadaver. There were 2 groups, one working the left side and the other the right. Both sides were completely different to each other. That was in the same individual. Also you have to consider individual reactions and responses to treatments. None of these can be assessed by a panoramic x ray. As brook said, one hopes they plan on giving you a more thorough exam. I think I can safely say that all the dentists here have seen terrible examples of implants just placed wherever the operator fancies due to poor planning. This simply isnt excusable IMO.

Mark2spark

Thanks to both of you for your considered responses.
My initial reactions are that 1) the UK dentist has prepared a treatment plan though without any CT scans or whatever? Ok he's had a look inside my mouth, but...?
2) the trouble with the good work done abroad is that it doesn't get seen by uk dentists as there's no need to, as it's good and of no trouble to the user.
3) having the work done abroad shouldn't bar me from seeing a UK hygenist regularly as part of the on going maintenance?
4) "Doing nothing won't harm you...etc" Well yes, I see your point, but the loss of confidence and social life, as well as the ability to secure work contracts as they are done face to face (not quite as easy with no teeth and lisping everywhere) would be a knock on effect
5) Are both of you guys politely trying to steer me towards non implant supported dentures (as an option)?

Thanks again

welshdent

Mark2spark wrote: »

Thanks to both of you for your considered responses.
My initial reactions are that 1) the UK dentist has prepared a treatment plan though without any CT scans or whatever? Ok he's had a look inside my mouth, but...?
2) the trouble with the good work done abroad is that it doesn't get seen by uk dentists as there's no need to, as it's good and of no trouble to the user.
3) having the work done abroad shouldn't bar me from seeing a UK hygenist regularly as part of the on going maintenance?
4) "Doing nothing won't harm you...etc" Well yes, I see your point, but the loss of confidence and social life, as well as the ability to secure work contracts as they are done face to face (not quite as easy with no teeth and lisping everywhere) would be a knock on effect
5) Are both of you guys politely trying to steer me towards non implant supported dentures (as an option)?

Thanks again

Hi Mark,

I`ll number my comments back according to your numbers.

1) Having a look is better than no look at all ... however if I were having your suggested level of work done I would not go anywhere that does not investigate fully. Read in to that what you will! LOL. One or 2 implants are all well and good for simple views but you are intending on full rehabilitation. There is a lot to consider WITHOUT the implants. Making everything fit and feel right when you bite is tricky to say the least.

2) Good work done abroad IS seen by us mark. We arent saying good work isnt done abroad. I believe I have even said words to that effect. What we are saying is you need to be very careful as you have far less legs to stand on by following this route. Remedial and interim repairs are unlikely to be carried out by local dentists. If you have a temporary bridge fitted and it breaks ... not many people would meddle with this if they are not the practitioner carrying out the work. If it completely fails AFTER ... for example if underlying bad dental habits you may have are not addressed in the 3 visits ... or it breaks because the occlusion (bite of the teeth) is not created properly then you are REALLY going to struggle to get this repaired over here - certainly it would cost you a lot more to correct it. Either that or its a lot more flights back and forth. Litigation wise you are also FAR more protected by having work here rather than abroad. Having to deal with a system you do not know with people not speaking english naturally is likely to be a challenge!

3) No you should be able to see a hygienist .... but more than likely the average one in an average practice will not be able to look after you .... because special instruments are needed to clean implants so as not damage the metal. As a result you would need to investigate where this could be done. More than likely this would need to be at a practice that does do implants. I know that my practice and most of my local colleagues would be unable to look after you for the reasons above. It would be more than a simple NHS clean and polish IMO.

4) Completely agree - If I was in your situation ... hell if I was only missing one tooth I would be knocking on my local implantologists door!! The trouble is ... which I completely recognise ... is that I know what is a reasonable treatment option and as a consequence good treatment. I have an unfair advantage over you but thats why I am trying to explain pit falls as best I can without saying people are rubbish LOL.

5)No. I am trying to steer you towards a dentist that will do what is required to give you what you want without giving unecessary work. I am trying to steer you to seeking a practitioner that is GOOD not someone who is cheap. This is your body we are talking about and if things go wrong you can be left far worse off than you are. Your body is not a simple civil engineering project, its a living system that works in its own way. The danger in saying that the guy abroad is giving you more dentistry for your money is that you are over treated. The more dentistry you have done the more likely it is to fail. Take recommendations, speak to your own general dentist, get other opinions... just get it done right.
The people I refer to I completely trust as excellent practitioners who have actually told some of my patients NOT to have the very treatments they have been referred for.

brook2jack

[
2) the trouble with the good work done abroad is that it doesn't get seen by uk dentists as there's no need to, as it's good and of no trouble to the user.


Thanks again[/QUOTE]

If there is one thing that we hope you get from this discussion it is that dentistry is not a one off investment that means you have it done and then forget about it. I have seen good and bad treatment from this country and abroad. Many times people are unaware that they have a problem with an implant until it is spotted at routine checkups and xrays. Most implantologists want xrays at yearly intervals as a minimum.

Complex treatment requires complex maintainance for life. Implants may last many years but the superstructure on them needs maintainance ,repair and renewal.

The worst cases we see are those where people have lots of work done, don't return to a dentist until they have problems ,which by then are difficult and expensive to treat.

jimbms

I know it may sound silly, but why not just use your local NHS dentist?

welshdent

jimbms wrote: »

I know it may sound silly, but why not just use your local NHS dentist?

Implants arent available on the health service. Also privately, there are much more satisfactory options available for dental reconstruction than your average general NHS practitioner would be a) able to provide b) capable of providing and c) willing to provide.

If a set of dentures are not to your liking then things can get a bit limited.

To give you an idea, the average set of NHS dentures attract a set band 3 fee to the patient and a corresponding 12 units of funding to the dentist which they must pay for the dentures out of.

I know of a dentist that just makes dentures and charged upwards of a few grand for them. And boy do they look good! the NHS option is not always suitable for people and understandably they want more. We are just trying to make sure that when they seek these options elsewhere they do so with their eyes open and are treated ethically and safely

jimbms

welshdent wrote: »

Implants arent available on the health service. Also privately, there are much more satisfactory options available for dental reconstruction than your average general NHS practitioner would be a) able to provide b) capable of providing and c) willing to provide.

If a set of dentures are not to your liking then things can get a bit limited.

To give you an idea, the average set of NHS dentures attract a set band 3 fee to the patient and a corresponding 12 units of funding to the dentist which they must pay for the dentures out of.

I know of a dentist that just makes dentures and charged upwards of a few grand for them. And boy do they look good! the NHS option is not always suitable for people and understandably they want more. We are just trying to make sure that when they seek these options elsewhere they do so with their eyes open and are treated ethically and safely

Ok cheers, I was just wondering if it was something to do with the way the NHS operates over there as I have just had a nice set of 3 for my top done and I have to say it was a bloody good job for £180, doubt I could have gotten them for that price and that quality private anywhere. The dentist here do a bloody good job, in fact the odd couple of private ones tend to have the majority of patients from the UK as it's nearby.

Mark2spark

Where did you have your set of 3 done jimbms please?

brook2jack

The poster is referring to a denture with three teeth on it for which the standard nhs charge is around £180, not three implants which are not generally available on the nhs.

jimbms

Mark2spark wrote: »

Where did you have your set of 3 done jimbms please?

At my NHS dentist as I previously said, £180 is the maximum you pay here.