Dentistry after a long time avoiding the dentist

vivvov · 26 May 2016 at 3:56AM

Hello All

I've avoided seeing a dentist for a good few years now after too much trauma..bike accident..smashed 3 front top teeth, one completely out, two pegs either side ( one live one root canalled) and hospital holiday..bridge was put in..then few years later..abscess on the live tooth..bridge cut ..2 courses of antibiotics ..dentist went on honeymoon halfway through the infection..root canal..pus blasting out..twice..that was a relief ..saved half the bridge but root canalled and crowned the errant tooth..awful time,just freaked me right out!

So after badging by partner..6 years later I 've visited the dentist she goes to..it's a walk in nhs provider.

I had the initial check up appointment..and went back for a further appointment because the dentist said I had plaque build up that had caused an amount of peridontitis...mainly 3s and 4s but around the bridge an area pointed at 7...he used a pick and worked away at the plaque and gave me some advice on what to do to help arrest further gum disease ( predictive text had written bum disease!..glad I spotted that!).

So initial visit: £19.70.....check up, xrays, booked in for next visit...no fillings!! ..but gum disease
... next visit plaque removal...but an odd amount £37 and change....not a large amount but neither band one charge or band 2....is this procedure a polish and scale?
So was just wondering why the odd amount??

Plus also, while I'm here..does the following info add up?
Also stated a chipped molar could be crowned in silver for 200 odd band three amount...but around £600 if I want white.

...and my original bridge is looking a bit dodge on the xray...he showed me ..the dark anchor pin has a sort of nick out of it..he said something like 'absorbed?? Due too trauma??' (I asked him to say it a couple of times but English isn't his first language plus he speaks quietly)..and it's structural integrity therefore might be a bit dodge....he then mentioned implants as the remedy...let's hope the tooth fairy sends a generous amount when that day arrives.
...but.could a bridge be re done at a lower cost than implants??

Just trying to get an idea on how the costs all work so as when it comes to my bridge finally giving up the ghost (after 25 years plus!) I'll have an idea of the likely costs.

Many thanks

justme111 · 26 May 2016 at 7:37AM

The dentist should have given you a form specifying charges and itemising treatment. To me it sounds like band 2 treatment £53.90 part if which you already paid on first appointment , the remainder paid second time.
Bridge - if dentist you see will volunteer to do it on the NHS then it is band 3 charge. Most likely he will not , that's probably indeed implants and thousands. To find out how much see people who do implants.

brook2jack · 26 May 2016 at 9:17AM

The amount charged looks as though its probably a band two , which is correct for treatment of gum disease.

If you have gum disease this is the most important thing to control because it will also affect implants, if you have them, and the rest of your teeth. So you need to follow the dentists advice re cleaning, flossing, tepe brushes and if you smoke, stop.

The costs of a crown are correct.

From the sound of it one of the roots of the teeth is resorping I'd it is being eaten away. This can often happen to teeth that have had a bang , there is little you can do to stop it and then eventually you will lose the tooth and the bridge that tooth supports. It will be unlikely in this scenario that another bridge would be provided. Gold standard would be implants at around £2000 a tooth. NHS solution is likely to be a part denture which you would probably have to wear for a while anyway with implant treatment.

However implants can be lost as easily or easier than your own teeth with gum disease. So that is an issue you need to address now.