Gum disease - How do the dentists charge?

Toothsmith

red_bertie wrote: »

Well Toothsmith I must be dummy from NI :rolleyes:

If you're in Northern Ireland, you still have the old NHS dental system, with individual prices for different things. It can be a bit confusing, but nothing like the 'simplified' 3 band system foisted on the dentists of England and Wales!

It's also eisier for the dentist to 'mix & match' private and NHS items under the old system.

it is the dentist's responsibility to be absolutely sure that you understand exactly what you're paying what for. If you don't feel he has done,then you may well have grounds for a complaint.

pennymakespounds

Toothsmith .. thanks for the excellent reply .. i really do appreciate . Responding on some of the points you make ...

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,

Toothsmith

Sorry - I did see that reply earlier - just forgot to respond!

I think you're being looked after well here.

Your regular dentist probably has to be a bit more 'nice' about it, as he wants you to ome back time after time. if he started getting all cross and stressed about your brushing, you might go somewhere else, and that might not be in your best interest. (Or his!!)

The specialist though, can really give you the third degree. Scare you into better brushing!!

I think you've got a bit of 'good cop/bad cop' going on here!!

From what you've written though, I'm sure they'll all look after you very well.

Stephb1986_2

I DID IT I DID IT!!!!

Sorry im just showing off that i finally went the dentist today and had a check up need 3 fillings but thats it! i was really brave

Toothsmith do you know anything about this new invisible brace by any chance??

many thanks

Steph xx

red_bertie

:T bet you feel dead chuffed. Good on you.

RB

Stephb1986_2

yeah i was dead nervous sat there but i did it ive not been for about 2 years because of my fear.

I know my next appointment will be 40 mins though for 3 fillings that sounds like ages! thats going to be the challenge!

Steph xx

Toothsmith

There are several sorts of 'invisible' brace Stephb.

Some are only suitable for certain problems.

I know your feeling very pleased with yourself, and you deserve a big 'well done'.

But don't go leaping ahead to all sorts of fancy treatments just yet. Get yourself used to going regularly, happily and surviving basic treatments first!

Stephb1986_2

its the new one thats just coming out now invisgalin? been wanting a brace since i was younger been told its 2-3k

its my two front top teeth that just need doing i dont need it anywhere else

where are you based coz i might come for a visit i know u'll be nice to me

Steph xx

Toothsmith

Invisalign has been around for a few years now.

It's pretty good, but only at dealing with relatively minor problems. It may only be the top two that seem to look out of place, but if they're going to be moved, they need space to move to, which would involve shuffling others around as well.

I'm not an orthodontist, so I'm not sure about what Invisalign can or can't do. I just know there's more to it than often meets the eye!

Stephb1986_2

does that mean pulling teeth out? i have all 4 wisdom teeth and they was a right pain coming out there wasnt enough room for them so would i be able to have them removed so there was more room for my front teeth to move back?

Steph xx