Trying to find a good dentist

TyreLever

No idea what forum this belongs on.

My current dental work has had some minor issues so I want to change dentist. I have googled local dentists but there is little in the way of customer feedback online, google reviews etc. Is there any way to find a good dentist before having them poke around in my gob?

I'm looking for private treatment. NHS treatment sounds a PITA.

ssparks2003

Join you local area Facebook group and ask there?

halibut2209

TyreLever wrote: »

No idea what forum this belongs on.

My current dental work has had some minor issues so I want to change dentist. I have googled local dentists but there is little in the way of customer feedback online, google reviews etc. Is there any way to find a good dentist before having them poke around in my gob?

I'm looking for private treatment. NHS treatment sounds a PITA.

Not on the Consumer Rights forum.

DigForVictory

I'm plugged into several opinion networks, the school gate, Scouts, the lady who runs the local chippy (and yes there is some overlap, but it's all useful).

If you can locate where the private dentists are based (and the two I know are NHS am, private pm), I'd try the local post office, grumbling of toothache & see whom they suggest. Even better on a market day...

LilElvis

TyreLever wrote: »

No idea what forum this belongs on.

My current dental work has had some minor issues so I want to change dentist. I have googled local dentists but there is little in the way of customer feedback online, google reviews etc. Is there any way to find a good dentist before having them poke around in my gob?

I'm looking for private treatment. NHS treatment sounds a PITA.

If you have an NHS dentist I would at least maintain it for basic stuff. I've had private dentists since I was an adult and it's damned expensive. I couldn't even get my daughter signed on with the NHS - my private dentist kindly does her check ups for free, but any treatment is payable. Perhaps look at dental insurance to minimise some of your private dental costs - Denplan were pretty good when I had it offered by my employer.

Lizabeth21

Have you got friends? Where do they go?

shaun_from_Africa

There are review sites such as this one:
https://www.mostrecommendeddentist.co.uk/
but the problem with using them is you've no idea how truthful the comments are.
As with many Amazon, Trustpilot, Checkatrade, etc reviews, they could be from genuine customers but then again, they could be from employees of the business or people paid to leave good comments especially as the dentists concerned have to pay to be on the site.

The best way is to get recommendations is word of mouth from friends or work colleagues.

[Deleted User]

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

The best way is to get recommendations is word of mouth

How very appropriate for a dentist!:D

oldagetraveller

"NHS treatment sounds a PITA."
Why would you say that. I've used NHS dentists from being a child and always had excellent treatment. I'm now 72 and have only two missing back teeth with the remainder in good nick. Had my last dental check up, hygienist and a XRay two weeks ago and all's well, £20. There's no way I would pay for private treatment.
All down to personal choice in the end.:)

glider3560

TyreLever wrote: »

NHS treatment sounds a PITA.

I've used a private dentist for the last few years because my employer was paying for it. Think £160 for a check-up, £200 for the simplest of fillings, £150 for the hygienest, high brow newspapers and magazines in the waiting room etc.

I don't work there now so needed a NHS dentist. This morning I found one locally. They had non-emergency appointments available within three hours. Booked online, paid my £20.60 and was seen promptly.

Dentist was friendly, paperwork was simple and surroundings were fine (okay, the waiting room wasn't in an orangery, but it did the job).

neilmcl

Agree with others. The only PITA thing about an NHS dentist is finding one with availability, apart from this I've had just as good a service as I've ever had from private, in fact I've been seriously ripped off in the past going private.