Rant about dentists

[welsh dragon]

That is exactly how I feel, robbed.

I'd like to report this dentist cause I think he does that to everybody, but I don't think anybody cares so that is why these people get away with it.

I don't honestly think it's because people dont care, but more along the line that people are resigned to being ripped off these day, and perhaps dont think anything can or will be done.

at least with my dentist, I know she is private only, and she has her prices displayed in the reception, so everyone can see what she charges. I am lucky to have such a good dentist. Don't be put off. There are great ones out there, it's just a case of finding the right one for you. Good luck.

 

[Chromatic]

All dental appointments should be made for 2.30.

I'm going to the dentist this afternoon and my appointment time is indeed 2:30, although it does say 14:30 on the little card they gave me. I deliberately asked for 2:30 when making the appointment but it didn't raise much of a smile on the receptionist's face when I did.

 

[numbnuts]

I've got an NHS dentist and I have an HC2 certificate so I don't have to pay anything

 

[lesley_x]

White filling bonds to the tooth so often a tooth has gone past the point of a silver filling but you don't necessarily want to crown it. Crowning is a destructive process and shortens the lifespan of the tooth. The NHS will not allow dentists to place white fillings on any tooth further back than the canine.

Doesn't sound like he is fleecing you, just sounds like his communication is terrible. You should have all options, good or bad, explained to you.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Last trip to the dentist was non eventful....inside the surgery....anyway....the guy did his check up and spoke in code to the assistant who ummed and arrged at pre arranged intervals....I was then informed that I had been a good boy the past six months and didnt deserved any additional pain punishment....good I said....so what about that tiny cavity you mentioned last time has it miraculously evaporated?........erm....I am so very sorry really sir I am being checking with x ray and am embarrassed I am forgetting to find it.....right.....

 

[hoopdriver]

Yes, £150 for a filling seems very high indeed

 

[Spoked Wheels]

White filling bonds to the tooth so often a tooth has gone past the point of a silver filling but you don't necessarily want to crown it. Crowning is a destructive process and shortens the lifespan of the tooth. The NHS will not allow dentists to place white fillings on any tooth further back than the canine.

Doesn't sound like he is fleecing you, just sounds like his communication is terrible. You should have all options, good or bad, explained to you.

Thank you for your post. somehow I feel better. Nobody likes being taken advantage of and I for one like to protect my rights and those of other people. I have got into trouble so many times, since I was a child, for getting involved into issues that don't concern me... I guess I just cannot help myself

 

[Tim Hall]

I must say I'm disappointed. I read the thread title and had a bet with myself: Someone would mention Pinarellos by post 7. Not a dicky bird.

 

[lesley_x]

[QUOTE 3174073, member: 1314"]Couple of years ago I went to 2 dentists for quotes. I had bleeding gums.

They both said blahdy blahdy blah - £700-£800, bridge, anti-bios etc.

I took the list of works to a dentist in the Punjab. Father and son outfit, said 'Just do it' expecting the cost to be £200-£300.

'Oh no' the father dentist said 'you just need a clean and polish.'

2 sessions cost me a tenner, teeth gums all kosher.

Dentists are snake-oil sales-peeps.

My theory is that they are all bitter, being failed medics, and try to fleece the public because their job involves staring into people's mouths all day long.[/QUOTE]

Errrrr what? I have never applied for medicine. I have never wanted to be a doctor. I do not fleece the public. I am not bitter and quite enjoy my life, thanks.

 

[Amanda P]

We had to sign with a private dentist when we came to Yorkshire because there were no NHS dentists who'd take us - their books were all full.

The private dentist was okay, although perhaps a little too keen to tell us about his latest ski-ing holiday or safari trip. That smarts a little when you know there's a big bill coming that'll contribute to his next trip - that I couldn't possibly ever afford.

What annoyed us about him was that Mrs Uncle Phil has very tough teeth, never needs anything more than a check-up. I've had trouble with wisdom teeth growing the wrong way and needing extraction, and a couple of small fillings. So how come SHE gets the pressure to sign up to an insurance scheme that'd cover all her costs, and I don't? When, based on our dental history, I'd get the most benefit from it? Answer: because if I keep claiming, there's less in it for the dentist.

We've since been accepted into a practice that only does NHS work. It's all young, newly-qualified dentists, who stick around for two or three years and then, presumably, move onto better and higher (-paid) things, but they seem competent. There's a kind of pile-em-high, sell-em-cheap ethos to the place, but it seems like no-nonsense straightforward care and treatment with no pressue to have hygeinist appointments or anything that's not necessary.

I broke some teeth in a collision a few years back. One of the broken ones started to wear a hole in my lip, so I asked if it could be fixed. The dentist put some acrylic on it to round it over, and said 'this probably won't hold more than a couple of months, but it's guaranteed so come back when it drops off and we'll do it again'. It dropped off, they did it again. It dropped off again and this time he just filed the broken stump so that it wasn't sharp (no cost) and it's been fine ever since.

I'd never have metal fillings. Putting a mixture of heavy metals permanently in your mouth, so that you're chronically exposed to those heavy metals.... I know enough toxicology to know that doesn't sound like a good idea.

 

[Leaway2]

Ah here is my hobby horse, I'll just climb on. If dentistry is on the NHS, ie prepaid as tax, then why is there a charge at all.
We don't go to the hospital and just before they remove your appendix say do you want the pain free anaesthetic or the NHS stuff.
Sorry @lesley_x I know we have been here before.

 

[compo]

I went to a local dentist when many of my teeth were playing up. There was nothing he could do on the NHS he said. I said about having them out and dentures. He claimed it would cost me over a thousand pounds, and that I wouldn't find an NHS dentist anywhere to do that amount of work under the NHS. Not long after I found an NHS dentist who removed all the bad teeth, had a full denture made and the whole lot was covered by the NHS.

 

[coffeejo]

I had a tooth removed yesterday and asked my dentist if she could just remove the lot. She rolled her eyes at me. Don't think she realised it was a serious question.

 

[Leaway2]

Because large parts of the NHS never have been totally free...

Because, does not answer the question. Which parts of the NHS are not "pre-paid"?

 

[lesley_x]

I have a private dentist who is a real sweetie and very kind to me because he knows I am terrified of dentistry due to bad experiences years ago. Given the amounts people are prepared to spend on bits for their bikes, or monthly bills for using a mobile phone, I find it amazing that anyone would moan that dentistry is particularly expensive.

People want bits for their bike, so they're willing to pay for them. They don't want to have dentistry and lot of dental problems are largely self inflicted through diet and neglect of oral hygiene. They certainly do not want to pay for something which 1) is going to be painful 2) they feel is not their fault 3) they feel due to public perception that dentists are rich crooks they are going to be ripped off. Nothing is good value if you don't want it in the first place.