Is dentist ripping me off?

Riddledwithanxiety

Hiya, 4 years ago my dentist said I had mild gum disease and that I needed to see her every 3 months to stop it getting worse, and even though I had no symptoms, I trusted her, I noticed that after every scale and polish my gums started to recede badly, I asked her why and she said that my mild gum disease was now severe peridontal disease and I'd be lucky to have my teeth in 2 years, I asked her if I could get the gum graft done which it states is done on nhs band and she said no, so I decided to get my new dentist, she told me she would try to help me keep my teeth for as long as possible and on my first appointment she told me the same thing, to see her every 3 months for scale and polish, so when I left her office I made my appointment for 3 months time and when I got there 3 months later she looked in my mouth and said I needed the scale and polish and I would have to make appointment at reception for next week....I should have said something then but I didn't, now everytime I go in for my scale and polish , she just looks at my teeth tells me I need a scale and polish and to book another appointment for a week later. Is this normal? Do dentist now make you pay and see them twice before they do the scale and polish? I wish I had never started having them done because my teeth looked lovely, now 4 years later I have no gum on the bottom for teeth and I can feel my jaw caving in from where I now have severe bone loss. I really feel like if she had done the gum graft when I first asked I wouldn't be in the state I am now, I don't want to be 29 with no teeth, but now there wobbly I just don't know what to do and have no money for implants.

loulou41

I see a dentist and hygienist every 6 months. It used to be every three months for first year with the hygienist for deep cleaning but now sees her every 6 months followed by a routine check up with the dentist. I have been seeing her for past three years due to gum disease. Previous dentist never said anything about gum disease before so I changed dentist. It is better if your practice has an hygienist. She seemed very pleased with my dental hygiene . Once a year she measured the pockets of the gums. Do you use tepe, ask her to show how to brush and flossing techniques. My gums does not bleed at all and it is not uncomfortable when she does the scale and polish. Does she deep cleaning. You will need to ask questions . I had two loose back teeth and I coped with them for past three years but have decided to take them out now as the pockets are very deep 9 mm and no signs of improvement. My sons dentist recommends him to come back in three months and asked him to floss. I bet when he goes back then she will recommend a scale and polish. I do think it is a ripped off. Hope this helps

brook2jack

You will not get a gum graft at a general dentist on the NHS . It's inclusion on the list is historical, like silicate fillings. Any periodontal surgery (gum surgery) is done by specialists only and periodontal specialists on the NHS are few and far between with long waiting lists.

To have severe gum disease in your 20s is unusual and you may well benefit from seeing a specialist if you can get the basics right. You cannot be referredfor NHS gum specialists , if they are available in your area , if the basics are not right.

If you smoke stop. Smoking decreases the blood supply to the gums and stops the immune system working properly in the gums.

If you have diabetes it needs to be under proper control. Diabetes affects gum disease and vica versa.

Any other medical problems that may affect your general, oral health need to be controlled and any medications you currently take need to be looked at. Ask your dentist for advice.

You need to clean well and effectively. If you have bone loss you probably need to use interdental brushes such as Tepe every day , rather than floss. Ask your dentist for advice on sizes and technique. Whatever treatment you have is useless if you do not clean properly.

Current NHS regulations and monitoring means most, if not all , treatment needs to have a check up first. In England and Walesthe dentist does not receive any extra money for the check up.

Scaling does not cause gum recession but if your gums are very inflamed (swollen) once tartar is removed they may become less inflamed and shrink down a bit. It is important to remove the tartar toilet you clean effectively. If you do not change your cleaning habits all treatment is useless.

Elizabeth.Brown

Gums are getting redish in color. Do I need to visit the dentist?

And Is there any problem, if I continue using waterflosser?

Toothsmith

Water flossers are nowhere near as effective as good use of conventional interdental brushes.

calleyw

Toothsmith wrote: »

Water flossers are nowhere near as effective as good use of conventional interdental brushes.

Thanks, that answer's the question I was going to ask. Won't bother getting one now.


Yours


Calley x