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My dodgy dentist
Comments
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It would seem to be that the point of this thread is to have a dig at my assertion (an it wasn't me who made it up - I just agree with it) that the BEST way to find a dentist (or indeed any service) is through personal recommendation, and also that visiting a dental practice before booking is a good idea.
Despite the fact that the original poster would certainly not recommend her dentist to anybody (therefore in that case it would work!) and despite the fact that anybody visiting that practice, if the receptionist was on form, would immediately be put off!
Nobody has ever said that going by recommendation is a FOOLPROOF way of finding a good service. You still have to have common sense, and if someone IS NOT to your liking when you actually get there - then CHANGE!
But what other ways of finding a dentist are there? Yellow pages? Internet? Whoever happens to have a space in the appointment books? Whoever's NOT in prison?
As to the dentist in that ongoing court case - fraud is illegal. If guilty he should go to jail.
Through being in 'the industry' though, the other side of the coin is PCTs applying all sorts of dodgy 'rules' to claw back money from dental contracts. To me - it was pretty obvious that this sort of thing would be likely to happen, which is why I've not had anything to do with the NHS for 6 years.
For those still trying to work with it, there are many stresses and strains. Breaking the law is never acceptable though.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 -
Toothsmith wrote: »It would seem to be that the point of this thread is to have a dig at my assertion .....
Toothsmith I didn't get the impression that was the case.
I thought it was more a pointing out of the fact that even if you do go by recommendation, you still really never know who you're getting and it's luck of the draw half the time anyway.Herman - MP for all!
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The point is op didn't go to this dentist on recommendation and ,if asked by anyone friend or stranger, none of the posters would give their dentists a glowing reference!
People say they don't know anyone when they move to a new place to ask but most people are in contact with someone when they move house the estate agent or rental agent, people in local shops etc , receptionist at local doctors,tradesman, the next door neighbours, the local shopkeeper, etc. People love to talk about their dentist and you will soon get an idea of who is and isn't suitable for you.
Sometimes ,however, the economics of nhs practice may mean that you will have to travel to see a nhs dentist particularly in rural areas and this is very unlikely to change as current nhs policy favours large multidentist set ups which are impossible to run in small towns/villages.0 -
Well, I suppose to look at it another way, the fact that something is in the headlines kind of in itself implies that it's something unusual or out of the ordinary. So hopefully the 'dodgy dentist' thing is something relatively rare.. (though obviously it happens)
I like to go by recommendations (and NON-recommendations!) initially at least, be it for doctors, dentists, hairdressers, whoever, but of course it's not a guarantee.0 -
I thought it was more a pointing out of the fact that even if you do go by recommendation, you still really never know who you're getting and it's luck of the draw half the time anyway.
It will always be 'luck of the draw' - most things in life are.
But you can stack the odds in your favour and make it less down to 'luck' than it otherwise would be. You just have to be a bit more proactive than just sticking a pin in the telepnone directory, or choosing the third one down on a google search!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 -
brook2jack wrote: »The point is op didn't go to this dentist on recommendation and ,if asked by anyone friend or stranger, none of the posters would give their dentists a glowing reference!
People say they don't know anyone when they move to a new place to ask but most people are in contact with someone when they move house the estate agent or rental agent, people in local shops etc , receptionist at local doctors,tradesman, the next door neighbours, the local shopkeeper, etc. People love to talk about their dentist and you will soon get an idea of who is and isn't suitable for you.
Sometimes ,however, the economics of nhs practice may mean that you will have to travel to see a nhs dentist particularly in rural areas and this is very unlikely to change as current nhs policy favours large multidentist set ups which are impossible to run in small towns/villages.
At the bottom of Toothsmith's posts he has a footnote "How to find a Dentist" with 4 pointers.
No 1 is "Recommendations". Well since the practice had just opened and was brand new I wasn't able to get recommendations from anybody.
I therefore went to No 2 "Visit." I did this, the place was sparkling new, the receptionist was polite but didn't say "oh do come and meet our lovely new dentists" so that's as much as a new patient can do really.
No 3 "assess helpfulness - well, the only member of staff I met was reasonably helpful.
No 4 "Only book initial appt when you find a place you're happy with" etc. As far as I could judge the place seemed OK and we're in a rural area and there aren't that many dentists in a reasonable travelling distance.0 -
Dodgy dentists eh?
I can top your £26,000 fraud..........by my ex NHS dentist's £600,000 fraud!!!!!!!:eek::
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/5317720.stm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1355702/Killer-dentist-Colin-Howell-drugged-Hazel-Stewart-sex-Christian-guilt.html
A dentist double murderer. Beat that!
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Toothsmith wrote: »It would seem to be that the point of this thread is to have a dig at my assertion (an it wasn't me who made it up - I just agree with it) that the BEST way to find a dentist (or indeed any service) is through personal recommendation, and also that visiting a dental practice before booking is a good idea.
Despite the fact that the original poster would certainly not recommend her dentist to anybody (therefore in that case it would work!) and despite the fact that anybody visiting that practice, if the receptionist was on form, would immediately be put off!
Nobody has ever said that going by recommendation is a FOOLPROOF way of finding a good service. You still have to have common sense, and if someone IS NOT to your liking when you actually get there - then CHANGE!
But what other ways of finding a dentist are there? Yellow pages? Internet? Whoever happens to have a space in the appointment books? Whoever's NOT in prison?
As to the dentist in that ongoing court case - fraud is illegal. If guilty he should go to jail.
Through being in 'the industry' though, the other side of the coin is PCTs applying all sorts of dodgy 'rules' to claw back money from dental contracts. To me - it was pretty obvious that this sort of thing would be likely to happen, which is why I've not had anything to do with the NHS for 6 years.
For those still trying to work with it, there are many stresses and strains. Breaking the law is never acceptable though.
No it wasn't Toothsmith. I have always had a funny feeling about this person and I have mentioned it on here before and you have very often come back (not just to me) and implied that you get what you pay for and if you want very good treatment then you should go private.
For many of us, this isn't an option so we have to make do with the NHS. Your little pointers to finding a dentist always feature at the end of your posts and have always stuck in my mind.
You don't seem to make any allowance or consideration for the fact that however "nice" a dentist seems on a first visit they can change over a period of time. This guy was OKish the first time I went but was very rough the next time when I had my first ever crown fitted and barely spoke (despite me saying on the question sheet they provided that I was a nervous patient). I came straight out and told the receptionist all this too.0 -
After going up the wall with toothache all weekend, i rang up my own dentist (in Hull also)on Monday, was seen 4 hours later . i spent 2 hours there as the anaesthetic wasn't working properly. The dentist and his assistant gave up their lunch break to eventually extract it.:T
The only complaint that i have is that you have to listen to that dammed Radio 2-something that makes me want to pull my own teeth out.
Say Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh !"if the state cannot find within itself a place for those who peacefully refuse to worship at its temples, then it’s the state that’s become extreme".Revd Dr Giles Fraser on Radio 4 20170 -
I know Toothsmith always says go on personal recommendation and check the place out before your appointment. I have always argued that this often doesn't help at all and they can be as nice & smiley as they like when you go for a look around - it's when you're in the chair that matters!;)
So my recommendation "often don't help". OK.
But I still say they are the BEST way to find a new dentist.
Maybe you could give some helpful hints on how you would advise people to do it? Given that psychic ability to predict the future is impractical.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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