Dental Treatment Abroad

Toothsmith

Can you imagine what would happen if NHS dentist's were struck off for practicing NHS dentistry!!!

Of course it is known what compromises have to be made on the NHS. It is just hushed up!

And where do you get the idea from that there are any checks and audits?? Yes - people come in to look at the paperwork to make sure we're following regulations, but hardly any actual treatment is ever inspected.

I have far more checks and audits as a dentist using the Denplan system than I ever had as an NHS dentist. And being an Excel accredited dentist, I have volunteered for even more and more thorough checks - but that's not a compulsory accreditation.

donteatthat

Our practice takes referrals for implants and complex dental reconstructions.
Often the patients who are sent from NHS practices are not dentally fit in any way, shape or form, despite having been regular attenders at their practices.
This upsets me, as not only have these patients given their trust that they have been recieving quality dental care on the NHS, but they have a hell of a way to go before they are dentally healthy enough to be considered suitable for implants, crowns, bridges etc.

My big concern over people going abroad for dentistry is that there is not the time scehduled into the visits to take care of the preliminary aspects to get things to a reasonable state to be placing implants. Stuff like implants, multiple crowns and bridges, RCT's should only be done in those who are in a fit state and understand why their mouth has dropped to bits, and those who have a clear understanding of what they have to do to put things right.

Its a bit like the bl**dy extreme dental makeovers. Who provides continuing care for these people? after their treatment is finished?
Not the "cosmetic dentist" who treated them I tell ya.
They are left to rot like they were doing before.
Completely maverick at best, and unethical and negligent at worst.

Implants need ongoing review and maintenance. And a good system should be used, not some untried clone for which no parts will be available in 2 years time because the company has gone bust.

Also -if you have lost teeth due to gum disease there is a fair old chance your implants could go the same way. Our at-risk implants patients see the hygienist every 8 weeks in some cases to preserve their implants. Are people willing to go back abroad for this that often?

Please don't take chances with your teeth. And if you must go abroad for implants, find out which system is going to be used and check it out fully. Once those implant fixtures are in, you will be up the proverbial creek without a paddle if the company goes belly up and your implant-crown snaps off.

Parisien

Guys, as ever its a much more complex, difficult aspect of health than I previously realised.......there is much work to be done to get this over to the general public........ignorance is NOT bliss; nor indeed is leaving your oral health to get to a point of almost...no return then have to fork out a huge amount of dosh!

Nevertheless, relative to incomes, dental care is way too expensive..what else can be done?

People have been voting with their feet, a paper article today estimated the volume going overseas for all treatments, to go up by another 50% this year!

donteatthat

You are right - prevention is better than cure in every case.

I am unsure as to the answer. The dental profession need to try to keep educating people about prevention, making good choices for their health and teeth and trying to accomodate them when things go wrong.
I have seen quite a few disaster of treatment done abroad, as have many of my colleagues. This will come more to light to the general public as time goes on I guess.

I am lucky - I work in a very affluent area, so finances are less of an issue compared to the cost of doing the job properly. My concerns are less to do with scare over loss of people to treat but more what we will do 5-6 years down the line when we have to sort out the aftermath of the cheap implants that have failed.

tomstickland

Spam alert.
Anyway http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=483744&in_page_id=1774

misscomickat

I'll be living in Poland for 4 months next year, and I have heard dental treatment is cheap there.

I would like my teeth whitened and maybe straightened a bit, they are all gappy.

Had anyone had dental work done in Poland or another country in Eastern Europe?

I'm scared of the dentist, but the prices in the UK are pretty scary too!

Toothsmith

When did you last see a dentist?

If you want them straightened by orthodontics (Braces) then it's a 2 year job.

If you want them straightened by hacking off the enamel to put veneers & crowns on, then be prepared for an awful lot more maintenance/problems over the rest of your life than you would have if you just left them alone.

misscomickat

Toothsmith wrote: »

When did you last see a dentist?

If you want them straightened by orthodontics (Braces) then it's a 2 year job.

If you want them straightened by hacking off the enamel to put veneers & crowns on, then be prepared for an awful lot more maintenance/problems over the rest of your life than you would have if you just left them alone.

The last time I went was 2 years ago, the last time I could get it for free. There's not many things in life I'm scared of, but I actually shake and cry when I go to the dentists.

Maybe Ill give the straightening a miss, I didn't know it was that complicated. Wouldn't mind a general checkup and whitening though.

Toothsmith

That really would be easier in this country.

Get recommendations from friends/colleagues/family/neighbours, visit the practice to book your appointment so you can get a feel for the place, and check out the fees. Also this would mean that it's not a completely new place your walking into when you first go for your appointment, and you will know some of the faces there.

Then get them checked out.

misscomickat

Toothsmith wrote: »

That really would be easier in this country.

Get recommendations from friends/colleagues/family/neighbours, visit the practice to book your appointment so you can get a feel for the place, and check out the fees. Also this would mean that it's not a completely new place your walking into when you first go for your appointment, and you will know some of the faces there.

Then get them checked out.

I can't afford to have it done here! Last time I went I had an H thingy form so I didn't have to pay.