Dental Help???

bestpud

suki1964 wrote: »

I find this post to be most condescending and insulting


I clean my teeth properly. I clean my gums. I clean between my teeth after every meal. The only place I can't clean is below the gum line in the loose sockets that I have. I have dental problems from years of alcohol abuse and smoking - both of which I have found the impetus to quit. Im doing my upmost to keep my remaining teeth but very little bone and sockets that were 8's, (now 2's and 4's) it's a long very often extremely painful process not withstanding my phobia and extreme gag reflex


I asked if there was any financial help that low paid workers could get, I didn't ask to be belittled

Oh and by not attending the dentist twice yearly you are infact leaving your self open to more problems. Tests cleaning alone won't stop all oral problems which are often first spotted by a dentist

You said yourself you can't clean your teeth properly.

I do visit a dentist twice a year and see the hygienist once a year. If you read my post properly, you will see I was referring to a polish i.e. a hygienist appointment.

I can have a hygienist appointment twice a year under the dental plan we use but make sure I don't need it as I don't like having my teeth polished.

custardy

suki1964 wrote: »

Hygienist uses a variety of picks and what looks like a wee dremmel and air thingies and god knows what ( I'm usually sat eyes closed tight concentrating on breathing and rubbing my foot back and forth) to clean deep in the sockets She rarely has to remove anything above the gum line bar two teeth I can't get to properly cos of my gag reflex.

See if I could floss I'd be a lot better but I just can't. Fingers in my mouth have me gagging and panicking. And I mean badly.

I'm not objecting to my hygeinist costs as I know it's something many people can not afford and I choose to go rather then have full dentures. I was really only asking if there was any help around for dental and medical expenses when on low pay when you don't claim any benefits

tried one of these sorts of things?



just like a toothbrush in size
probably not quite as good as flossing for getting 'right in there',but better than not doing any

suki1964

Actually a hygienist appointment is not a polish. I'm sure the heigenists who offer advice on these boards would be insulted to hear they just polish teeth

I can't mind last time I had my teeth "polished" either by my dentist or hygienist. Maybe one every 18 months or so as I do drink black coffee

suki1964

custardy wrote: »

tried one of these sorts of things?



just like a toothbrush in size
probably not quite as good as flossing for getting 'right in there',but better than not doing any

Yep

And twice I've got it stuck and needed someone else to take the scissors to the floss to release it

custardy

suki1964 wrote: »

Yep

And twice I've got it stuck and needed someone else to take the scissors to the floss to release it

when they get stuck,you need to use a bit of force
Ive got a couple of molars they hang up on
they get in and will come out

bestpud

suki1964 wrote: »

Actually a hygienist appointment is not a polish. I'm sure the heigenists who offer advice on these boards would be insulted to hear they just polish teeth

I can't mind last time I had my teeth "polished" either by my dentist or hygienist. Maybe one every 18 months or so as I do drink black coffee

Correct, but that is the part I don't like.

zagfles

If you get tax credits you'll be entitled to an exemption certificate.

zagfles

suki1964 wrote: »

Yep

And twice I've got it stuck and needed someone else to take the scissors to the floss to release it

Have you tried Oral B floss, I find that quite good, it's thin and waxed so it rarely gets stuck.

zagfles

Toothsmith wrote: »

I usually find that Denplan are very good at trying to sort out problems when patients transfer to a new dentist

The usual routine if you're moving area would be to go and have a check-up with your old dentist just before you leave, get the dentist to fill in a leaving form (a bit like a report card) and then go and sign on with your new dentist as soon after that as you can. That way nothing much could have gone wrong between visits.

Problems arise if you leave it a long time between seeing your 'old' dentist, but carry on paying him even though you can't get back to see him as they are too far away now. Then, a few things go wrong, or an emergency crops up and it's only then hat you go and see a new dentist and find out hat he money you've been paying all that time isn't covering you for any dentist ( which IS quite clear both on the contract and in most of the documents that come with it)

If the problem is because one dentist hasn't been doing their job right, or there is a dispute between dentists over whether a particular treatment is 'necessary' then I have always found Denplan take a keen interest in resolving things.

If the problems arise just because someone hasn't bothered to follow the clear guidelines on changing dentists, then it's not really anybody else's fault.

But note that it doesn't cover everything you might need. Someone I know was on Denplan and needed an implant plus bone graft, Denplan didn't cover it so she had to pay herself, £1800 :eek:

brook2jack

SallyD wrote: »

Have you considered contacting your local dental hospital to see if they are taking on any patients. I was so fortunate when living in London that I attended Guys Dental School for nearly 4 years where they did amazing things to my teeth and with their help combated my severe gum disease which was not caused by poor dental hygiene but the result of chemotheraphy.

NI only has one dental hospital which is about to close from what I understand , so unfortunately that is not an option for op.

In general dental hospital treatment is not the best choice for someone who is nervous as appointments are in an open plan room with all the sights and sounds that entails and take alot longer than normal dental visits as work has to be supervised and checked.