Dental advice please

[Deleted User]

I go to one of the best dental practices in my area (the sort that do caps in one appointment). But on the odd occasion, there's been a new dentist and I haven't been so happy. I'm now seeing someone else, but the previous one insisted that the only thing I could do was to have a front tooth removed which sent me into depression for a couple of months. I asked to see someone else and he put a big filling in, warned me it might not last long, and a year later its still fine. Might not work permanently but I am grateful for any time I have a full set of front teeth. Needless to say the tooth gets cleaned very thoroughly!

What I am saying is its not just experience, its attitude.., how much a dentist listens to what you want and tells you the pro's and cons of treatment options so you can make an informed choice. I know I've been to a dentist who removed half of my other half's teeth in one go.., and I suspect now that wasn't the best option. He was in a bad way for some time because of this. But at the time (about 10 years ago), we thought if a Dentist suggested something, that's what needed to happen. Now I tend to question things and if I'm not happy, find another option. I learned a lot this time around.

So I'd suggest seeing the Dentist first, and ask about seeing a hygienist. Rather than just seeing the hygienist first. I'd consider a dentist would have a more 'complete' view of dental therapies than a hygienist. You can always see the hygienist next.

sheramber

If you are in England the dentisit cannot charge you for a missed NHS appointment. However, a private appointment is different.

Periodental treatment can be done on the NHS

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/dentists/Pages/nhs-dental-charges.aspx

I would see the NHS dentist first then , if not happy with his suggested treatment, have the private treatment.

Blue_Mermaid

Thanks so much to everyone for their replies. It's good to get so many points of view and hear other people's experiences (sorry to hear about the bad ones).

I must admit it does seem strange to me to see a hygienist first and then the dentist second but this is what the head dentist (who is private) suggested I should do. He said the hygienist will do the examination and start treatment. He said she can then make the recommendation to see one of the dentists, who will then arrange the specialist if required (because I was originally asking about seeing a Periodontist). I think he was trying to save me money by not seeing the Periodontist in the first instance (which is what I asked for originally).

Blue_Mermaid

One advantage of seeing the hygienist is it's an hour long appointment, which I obviously wouldn't get with the dentist (nhs).

Blue_Mermaid

I emailed the head dentist again and said I thought it would be best to see the dentist first (NHS), as I hadn't seen one for 4 or 5 years. He replied and said he's cancelled the hygienist appointment and it was ok to see the NHS dentist there but she does not carry out any gum treatments other than very simple scaling and polishing.

Now I don't know what to do again! I phoned the British Dental Foundation helpline for advice and they said if I could afford it, it would be better to see the hygienist. She said they do have to offer you a NHS solution if you see a NHS dentist but she said that would be a referral to a hospital.

I thought I would be able to have treatment with a dentist, unless a Periodontist was needed.

My friend has gum disease and I spoke to him yesterday. His dentist does everything a hygienist does and he has 3 monthly appointments with him and is getting his disease under control.

The advisor at the BHF said that what I was being advised by the head dentist was correct though and again, she advised seeing the hygienist first if I could afford it.

Confused!

Toothsmith

Blue_Mermaid wrote: »

One advantage of seeing the hygienist is it's an hour long appointment, which I obviously wouldn't get with the dentist (nhs).

Seeing the hygienist first is really good. She/he can really give the teeth a good clean, and show you where you've been going wrong with your self-care, and hopefully improve your techniques. (Make sure you listen to, and act on advice given - it's probably more important than the actual clean.)

Then - the dentist can see you and assess how things look now that all the plaque & tartar are cleared off, and he can also assess how well you are now looking after things, which will influence how he will then plan your treatment. (If you can look after things well, then more options are open to you than if you still can't get to grips with which end of the toothbrush to hold! )

peachyprice

£400 to see a peridontist? Really? It's £55 for a first consult at the practice I go to. I would shop around if I were you.

My daughter saw her recently, it was worth every penny, she knew so much more about gums than my dentist. Although my dentist was aware that there was something not right with my daughters gums and that it wasn't disease or poor hygiene, the peridontist knew what it was straight away.

Blue_Mermaid

Thanks Toothsmith.

My worry with seeing the hygienist first though, is that I haven't seen a dentist for years. So, I felt a thorough check-up first was advisable, so that all problems can be diagnosed, not only gum disease.

Blue_Mermaid

Thanks Peachyprice.

He said the fee for the consultation is £55 and the fee for the specialist is £350 for the first appointment. Maybe the £350 includes some treatment. I don't know.

brook2jack

I don't know of any periodontist who charges as little as £55 for a first consultation. A periodontist is a dentist who has a post graduate qualification in periodontics (gum health) . A first consultation would take at least 45 mins to an hour and will require x rays etc. most will charge £180 to £200 ish for a first consultation .

At £400 I would expect some initial treatment with the hygienist as well . It would be best to clarify this.

It is important to know with gum disease it is never cured, only controlled, and the majority of the work to control it will be yours.

There are general changes you may have to make such as giving up smoking or controlling diabetes better (if relevant) , local changes such as effective use of toothbrush and floss /Tepe brushes every day.

There are also dental habits you may have to change . You may well have to see a hygienist every three months for life , and certainly you will have to see a dentist more regularly for life.

Without embracing these changes any money spent on NHS or private care will be wasted.

If money is a factor by all means see a NHS dentist. But , despite what the government says, treatment on the NHS for gum disease is very limited. Certainly in my area there are no NHS periodontists to refer to and elsewhere , if available, waiting lists are years long.