gum disease

pingua

Toothsmith wrote:

Has something changed recently?

A new dentist looked at you with a fresh pair of eyes?

Practice recently gone private and now have more time to check around?

It might not have been happening ages ago - healthy gums can suddenly deteriorate - although you often get a bit of warning if you check the gum condition thouroughly each check-up.

Ask the dentist why it has only just become a problem when you next go.

Well funny you say that cause the new dentist the practice put us with is from Poland. A huge improvement if I may say so. Hope she won't go back too soon. May have to fly over for my check ups if she does.

impy78

Corsodyl mouthwash works - it reduces the sweeling and stops bleeding. ( I have very bad gum disease (it is now perio-dental diesease), and this helps no end.

Toothsmith

pingua wrote:

Well funny you say that cause the new dentist the practice put us with is from Poland. A huge improvement if I may say so. Hope she won't go back too soon. May have to fly over for my check ups if she does.

I assume you're an NHS patient still?

Do they tell you that you can only see the hygienist privately?

Toothsmith

impy78 wrote:

Corsodyl mouthwash works - it reduces the sweeling and stops bleeding. ( I have very bad gum disease (it is now perio-dental diesease), and this helps no end.

It is very good, but only in conjunction with a hygienist/dentist getting in and clearing away the plaque & tartar as well.

Used long term, it can lead to quite marked brown staining of the teeth, but it's only surface staining, and can be polished off very easily.

pingua

Yes they charge £32 for each visit to get a quater of my mouth done.

pingua

When I was preggers they stuck me with the polish lady - to which I am happy about as she seems to pay more attention than the other did.

Toothsmith

pingua wrote:

Yes they charge £32 for each visit to get a quater of my mouth done.

Right - if you are an NHS patient under an NHS contract - you are entitled to all the treatment you NEED under the terms of the NHS.

'Selling' private hygienist visits to NHS patients is very dodgey.

If you've been a long term patient of that practice, it's totally fair to ask why this hasn't been picked up before - although if previous dentists have left, it's them who would need to be persued rather than the practice, as dentists are independent contractors, and if they don't offer you a way of having it fixed on the NHS, you have valid complaint to the PCT.

pingua

The last bloke sold the practice up and went to live in the sun !!! Not sure but think he atcually had a grant to set the practice up in the first place.

I really do not mind paying for this( well You know!) The amount of times I have kicked up a fuss -( all justified - too many stories to go into!!) I would really rather pay than have any more greef from them!!
They did add into a conversation once that the hygenist was self-employed which is why I had to pay.

My son had to have 4 teeth out betwwen one app to the next. Tell me they never saw that comming!! The dentist at the hospital said they had been rotting for a number of years .Enough said!!!

Toothsmith

I understand.

The bit about the Hyg being SE is true, but it still doesn't work like that. Too complicated to explain though!!!!!

If you're paying anyway - why not look around for an openly private practice, rather than a private practice in disguise?

It probably wouldn't cost much more - and you'd be happier knowing things are as they should be.

Although if you're happy with the Polish girl, you're probably OK for the moment.

angel

Toothsmith wrote:

If the recession still seems to be getting worse, it could be worth having a word with your dentist about tooth grinding.

The high forces that are put through your teeth if you grind them at night can 'jiggle' (A technical term in dentistry believe it or not!) your teeth around, and that lowers the gum level.

Ask him if there are any other signs of wear that might indicate you are grinding your teeth. Or ask your partner if you make funny sounds from your teeth at night!

YES!! You're so right about that!

I both clench AND grind at night. I've had a guard made that I wear at night now and I coudn't sleep without it. It was worth every penny. My dentist said that it could well be the best investment that I ever make for my teeth. It was funny because I've disputed it with him for ages that I grind. He's just bought a new camera and it wasn't until I saw the ridges on the back of my front teeth and the tiny cracks in the back ones that I actually gave in and agreed.