Approx cost for a dental bridge?

donna-j_2

I live in Edinburgh. We apparently have some of the most expensive dentists in the UK.

I've signed on to a new one recently who charged me £60 for a check up and £40 for the hygienist. That's twice what my previous dentist charged so I probably won't be going back.

However, I need an extraction (failed root canal that I've already forked-out megabucks on) plus a bridge. The new dentist has quoted £800-£1000. Is this extortion or about right? Should I shop around?

Toothsmith

His charges seem pretty similar to mine.

And that's about what I'd charge too.

What dentists charge is a function of their costs. If the City prices for premesis and staff are expensive, then the charges have to be expensive.

I always maintain that chopping and changing dentists is not a good way to get consistant good quality care.

You need to form a long relationship with a dentist so he can get to know how your mouth works.

Teeth are not individual items like parts in a washing machine. They react and interact with the owner.

There are a huge number of variables. Diet, self care, bite force, habits, stress levels, medication, which all influence how the mouth and teeth behave.

It is very hard to form good treatment plans until you get an idea of how everything works in that particular mouth.

Did you feel happy with the care you received at the new practice? That should be more what you base your decision on as to whether to return or not. Not on price.

Expensive is one thing, value for money is another.

SparkyG

Have you looked at the possiblity of a single tooth implant? If it is possible, although the initial cost may be higher, you MAY save money in the long run. Also, it would not involve cutting down the adjacent teeth to support a bridge.

My dentist charges £1800 for a straightforward implant including pfm crown, although of course there would be more costs involved for bone grafts, or higher quality crowns. An implant should hopefully last for a lifetime, with only the crown needing replacing when necessary, whereas with a bridge the whole thing would have to be replaced when no longer functional.

HTH

donna-j_2

That's all very well Toothsmith but if you don't have the extra FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS to pay for it as opposed to the quote I received from my old dentists then it's by-the-by.

Dentists should remember that not everyone is that well off. I'm on maternity leave, well, until Monday, and should have had some sort of NHS cover because of that, but there are no NHS dentists to be found. I've had no income since February and new mums are susceptible to teeth problems so were supposed to get help.

Thank you for answering though.

I tried to change dentists because my old one was city centre and not convenient. The new one is local. So the location thing doesn't wash. My old dentist was fine, and I'll be going back to him. In fact, have already made an appointment.

Toothsmith

Which is best value for someone on limited income?

An expensive job done well that will last, or a job done cheaply that will fail and need redoing, but more expensively as it is now a harder job than it was in the first place?

When did you have the root filling done, and why has it failed? Root fillings don't always work, but if it was really expensive, you should have had some warning if the dentist thought it would be likely to fail.

I have patients that are not very well off at all (One comes to me but can't afford a car).

I do my very best for all my patients, and I think they get one of the best bargins around.

I would agree that price does not always equate to quality, and there are rogues out ther as there are in all trades and professions. this is why you have to look around carefully, and not make price the top priority (Either dear or cheap)

donna-j_2

But if you don't have it then you don't have it. I'm not just being 'careful' - it's not 'limited income', it's 'no income'.

My dentist is unsure why it's failed and did not think there would be a problem at the time. It's already been core-and-posted so not much hope left.

bertie2

:beer: I know you live in Edinburgh which has a shortage of dentists but have you considered travelling through to Glasgow where it is relativelt easy to get and nHS dentist who will charge quite abit less for dental treatment (a bridge only is approximatley 60 to 200 pounds) I know it is a hassle but it would probably cost you less in the long run for dental treatment

By the wat maternity exemption entitles you to free dental treatment on the NHS until your child is 1 year old

donna-j_2

Thanks bertie2.

The problem is FINDING an NHS dentist. My baby turned 1 a couple of weeks ago so I'm past that, but there were no NHS dentists to be found anyway.

I'll ask about re a Glasgow one. My baby is half-weegie so we're there a lot anyway seeing the outlaws.

Older_but_not_wiser_2

I had a bridge done at my NHS dentist (Kilsyth Dental Practice) a few months ago £157 (including a filling too)

So even with the travel costs, you'd still be quids better off.

Toothsmith

And these practices and yourselves are still willingly doing complex things like bridges on the NHS?

How much is the technicians fee? Will it be an experienced technician making the bridge? How long do you spend preparing and fitting it? How many staff do you have, and how much do you pay them?

It's not a question of making money on the treatment, I'm interesed in how you do it without making a loss?

Soph

Hi

I've got a question to ask about dentistry. Apologies to Donna-j as this is unrelated to your original question, but this seems the most relevant thread.

My partner, who's just turned 33 hasn't been to a dentist in several years. In fact, I'm not sure whether he's even been while we've been together, since 2000. I have recently mananged to pursuade him that he needs to go and he has just got registered at a faily new NHS practice that has opened about 16 miles away.

For some time now, his teeth have been giving him problems and he thinks that he'll need to ahve them all extracted and a set of false teeth putting in.

My question is, does anyone know how much something like this is likely to cost on the NHS?

Many thanks