Gum disease - How do the dentists charge?

alison999

afm wrote: »

Toothsmith, many thanks for replying to my message. I have sent a message to my local PCT. Let's see what they say.



Why should I ask something? Shoudn't the dentist do the best for me?That's what I've paid him for.
Anyway, I wasn't sure of the NHS rules so I couldn't ask much.

Of course I don't have to do everything that my dentist says but if he says that I have gum disease and that I need to treat it by going to an hygienist every 3 months, then of course I'll go. I have to treat the problem before it gets worse. What's the point in going for a check-up if your not going to treat the problems you have?!?!

It's not about him refusing to see me. It's about taking care of my teeth. That's why I went for a check-up in the first place!

What matters here is if the dentist did or not did what he should and what is his obligation. I've paid for a consultation in which the cleaning and the polish is included. I shouldn't have been told to go there again and pay more. That's what really matters .

i think i'll leave this one to toothsmith or anyone else that might want to help you. i put up with that kind of talk enough at work, i dont need it here too. i was asking you those questions because i was trying to help you but nevermind

moomin_white

Toothsmith wrote: »

Get in touch with the PCT dental person and let them know what has happened.

The £25 isn't an NHS charge. You have been charged privately to see the hygienist - and if you need to have your teeth cleaned so frequently, then somebody should do it on the NHS. Either a hygienist or the dentist.

Plus - 10 mins with a hygienist for £25.00 is rubbish! Admittedly, it's £68.00 for one of my hygienist appointments, but that's always a full half hour, and with me being purely private, nobody comes to me thinking it will be NHS and then gets stiffed with 'extras'.

if she had 30mins with her hygienist it would only be 7quid more than yours Toothsmith!! btw, are you in London? i can't imagine £68 for 30mins hyg being anywhere else

Toothsmith

Nope - Nth Yorks.

The point is she isn't having 30 mins with the hygienist. I don't know any hygienists that would work to 10 min appts!

Parisien

Gee....so much dishonesty in such a small profession....2nd hand car salesmen, double glazing salesmen..... dentists!

Why TS do you have to spend so much time defending your profession........doesn't it strike you as a bit of a joke....???

Just asking!

msmicawber

I don't think that's fair, Parisien. Toothsmith has just advised someone that they haven't been treated correctly under the NHS contract - how is that defending dentists? I've always found him even-handed in his posts, so am not sure where you're coming from.

Toothsmith

msmicawber wrote: »

so am not sure where you're coming from.

Parisien and I are old friends!

He has a problem with people who earn more than he does - they can only be doing that by ripping people off.

He has a problem with people who pay money for a service that he personally can see no value in - they must have been brainwashed.

And he has a problem with people paying quite a bit of money when they can get what he sees as 'the same thing' much cheaper. Even if they have to go abroad.

All these factors come together for him with dentistry, and he just likes to pop in his tuppenceworth.

He doesn't mean any harm.

moomin_white

Toothsmith wrote: »

Nope - Nth Yorks.

The point is she isn't having 30 mins with the hygienist. I don't know any hygienists that would work to 10 min appts!

i've seen a few in my time and just don't understand how it's possible. Wasn't a dig btw
actually if my fella ever gets a job at the British Library i might come and work for you! lol!

pennymakespounds

i go to my dentist & hygenist every 3 months .. (denplan £20 a month) .. and do everything i can to clean well .. but clearly still fail.

Had been told by dentist over last year that i should go and see a gum specialist ... and was referred recently to someone who i was told is expensive but is very top class .

Initial 45 minute assessment .. £150 .... "severe periodentis" .. need 8 appointments , each one hour at £170 .

One of the appointments was used to teach me how to clean my teeth properly .. i'd clearly been doing a very poor job for 40 years !

Further £200 for x-rays and "mapping" of every tooth.

Then need an appointment with his partner re dentures. Needs & costs unknown .

I went into this seeing that i was paying extremely high costs but have to believe (?) i am getting the best treatment . ( nb ...and this is in the north)

Difficult in these situations to know .

Would appreciate Toothsmiths views and comments.

Toothsmith

Bit hard without actually seeing you.

How long did your dentist have you on 3 monthly recalls before deciding to refer you?

The actual appointmnet costs are par for the course for a specialist periodontist.

They key to beating gum diseases is impecable patient care. You will loose teeth if your brushing can't be brought up to perfect.

without gum disease, you can get away with reasonable to slightly poor brushing, but once it sets in, then it's perfection or dentures really.

Do you smoke, or have you smoked in the recent past?Smoking is disasterous for teeth. If you do smoke - STOP!

It concerns me a bit that the periodontologist is referring you on to a denture guy.

Is it really a SPECALIST denture guy you need as well, or could the dentist you pay your Denplan payments to sort this bit out for you? If he can, you would only need to pay the technicians fee for constructing the denture rather than the full fee of a specialist.

Worth just asking your regular dentist if that's what he intended to happen.

The tooth mapping bit is an important part of your treatment. It shows exactly how much bone is supporting each tooth s that the results of all the treatment can be assessed as either a success or failure. It's pointless carrying on with treatment if you're still loosing bone despite it.

Good luck.

It's a pig of a disease, and takes a lot of hard work by everybody to halt.

pennymakespounds

Toothsmith .. thanks for the excellent reply .. i really do appreciate .

My dentist had been saying for up to a year that he would give me longer hygenist appointments in order to get them the best possible before referring me to gum specialist . ..

I have continually been saying .. "as i do have fairly sensitive gums / teeth .. what more can i do" ..

I was somewhat shocked at the initial assessment from the specialist who said he thought they were very bad .. my brushing was useless etc ... I keep thinking my dentist/hygenist should have been tougher on me if that was the case.??

Specialist unimpressed with me thinking i was doing a good job with best
oral b elec brush .. te-pe.. floss..etc etc ...

he's got me using an ordinary toothbrush .. without toothpaste ...but in a specific.. painful way ( which he says shouldn't /won't be when my teeth are better ).. differrent angle etc for each tooth .. ..

and great big "bottle brushes" , which he proved me so wrong when i kept saying " that big one won't go in that gap !! " etc.

Each visit he checks/scores a handful of teeth ... for plaque and bleeding .. do seem to be getting from "two point something " down to "zero point something".

The denture conversation was because i've got various back teeth missing .. and as a result he says my jaw/mouth doesn't work properly when eating .. leading to .. widening gap between top two front teeth .. of which he says one is coming loose also.

He did make comment that towards end of treatment we'd need to consider .. going forward..what he does .. and what my dentist does .

smoking .. i stopped on the day i had a heart attack 12 years ago !!

regards,