Please recommend me a temporary tooth filling brand please.

bagginslover

I have a broken tooth. It is already root filled, so I'm in no pain, but its towrds the back, and against my tongue, and so the sharp edge is hurting my tongue.

I fully intend to get it seen, and fixed by a dentist, but I have only just registered at a new NHS practice (new to me, they aren't new) and my first appointment isn't for 3 months, so I need something to just tide me over til then.

I have tried Den Tek brand filling from Boots, and frankly its not fit for purpose. I put it in before bed, as it says to not eat on it for 3 hours, and it comes back out as soon as I brush in the morning! I have reapplied it several times, with the same result.

Has anyone used any other brands they can recommend? I'm eyeing up my pack of milliput at the moment, but i'm sure that wouldnt' be good for me! :rotfl:

Toothsmith

None of them are much use for that situation.

Get a sooner appointment. I'm sure they'll have closer ones if you explain it's an emergency (Which it is - even though you're not in pain)

If that practice can't do it quicker, then get in touch with your local NHS service, and see if they contract with a different practice for emergencies. You'll still be able to go to the 'new' one you wanted to later on, but this needs seeing to before 3 months.

bagginslover

I was afraid you might say that Toothsmith

Am I 'officially' registered with them before I have my first appointment?

I have been told not by others, who, admittedly, are no more connected to the profession than I, and so they think the practice won't see me, and will cancel my registration.

Toothsmith

You will never be 'officially registered' with them! NHS dental registration as a concept was abolished in 2006. You will be 'under treatment' with them between your check -up and the last treatment being completed. Other than that, they will not have any responsibility to you or you to them.

bagginslover

Toothsmith wrote: »

You will never be 'officially registered' with them! NHS dental registration as a concept was abolished in 2006. You will be 'under treatment' with them between your check -up and the last treatment being completed. Other than that, they will not have any responsibility to you or you to them.

Oh, I had no idea that was the case. :eek: How does one continue to be a patient with a particular surgery now then? do we have to re-submit forms, or it it a continuity thing?

So could they refuse 'registration' then? As I am 'registering' (sorry, don't know what else to call it, even their forms call it that) already needing treatment.

Sorry if I sound woefully uneducated on the matter, I really had no idea! I will go in tomorrow though, and see if I can have my appointment brought forward, they'll either say yes or no..;)

Toothsmith

You can 'register' with them for a course of NHS treatment providing they have 'capacity' (I.E. enough NHS funding points - called UDA) to treat you.

Once your treatment is finished, then that's it, you're not registered anymore. Should something go wrong with that treatment, then they have a responsibility to see you to fix things, but that's all.

In 6 months, or a year, or 2 years depending on what is deemed to be the appropriate recall interval for you, then you can ring them up again to make an appointment, and again if they have 'capacity' then they can accept you for another course of treatment - but there is no guarantee of this.

In practise, a lot of practices will try and take care of their 'regulars' by booking future appointments and providing some sort of continuing care, but they are not duty-bound to and occasionally they can get into trouble for not seeing enough 'new' patients from the NHS contacting people.

For them - numbers are everything, not level of service or actually 'looking after' people.

bagginslover

Wow, that is an eye opener! Thank you for expalining to me, I really appreciate it Toothsmith :beer:

j.e.j.

Toothsmith wrote: »

In practise, a lot of practices will try and take care of their 'regulars' by booking future appointments and providing some sort of continuing care, but they are not duty-bound to and occasionally they can get into trouble for not seeing enough 'new' patients from the NHS contacting people.

Mine do this. I usually get a letter from them after 6 months or so, and they have all my records and xrays. I do feel like I am getting continuity of care even though I am 'only' an nhs patient! They've not been accepting new NHS patients for a couple of years now, though. I think anyone who registers with them now has to go private.

I get the impression NHS dentists often don't stay NHS for long (?) in which case, OP get in quick while you can!

brook2jack

In Scotland and Northern Ireland there is still registration though, but not in England and Wales.

A NHS practice in some areas will have little control over its appointments and the PCT may insist it sees new patients as a priority.

As to dentists leaving the NHS tragically another colleague has committed suicide recently due to the unbearable pressures put on him by the PCT and this may give you a clue why. http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/tragedy-of-nhs-strain-leeds-dentist-inquest-1-5692660

bagginslover

9000 patients between 3 dentists?!:eek: Is that usual?! Poor man, and his poor family.

Personally, I think you dentists are wonderful, you couldn't pay me enough to go fishing in some peoples mouths!

bryanb

Short term temporary, try sugar free chewing gum.