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Original poster

To be annoyed with dentist upselling

39 replies

GingerBeverage · 11/10/2024 22:32

Private dentist (no NHS in area). And I didn’t ask to be his patient, I just got told the old dentist was trimming his books and I was being moved.
Fine, I said.
So next time I needed the dentist they duly charged me the full new patient fee with a whole new set of x-rays. Even though they’re in the same damn building.
And now every time I see this guy he is UPSELLING UPSELLING UPSELLING.
Today I had booked a check and polish.
He casually mentions that it’s better to do an air polish and it’s only £39 more.
I DO NOT SAY YES. I don’t think I even said anything.
Then he spends the rest of the time hinting I need braces, I need xrays, I need another filling next year.
The bill arrives, fucking £39 extra for air polishing on it.
That’s it, I’m moving dentists but what a shag.
Old dentist never did this, he just sighed and complained about his back.
*And another thing, registered DC because they made a big deal about “we’re private but we can do kids on NHS” and then with no warning at the next appointment charged full private. “Oh, no we don’t do kids on NHS anymore.”
Please tell me most dentists don’t do this?

OP posts:
BIossomtoes · 12/10/2024 09:32

Ours doesn’t offer air cleaning. I wish they did, it’s much more effective than a traditional scale and polish.

Somerandomerontheinternet · 12/10/2024 09:10

I used to have one of those. Not any more!

It’s pure luck but managed to register for NHS dentist practice. Strangely it’s a very swanky offering lots of treatments but owned by a large family of dentists and seem to have achieved a balance of cosmetic for those who want them and healthcare for those, like me, with no desire for cosmetic treatments. Solidarity OP as I hated the endless upselling at the old place.

welshwanderwoman · 12/10/2024 08:55

My private dental practice has recently changed hands. Previous dentist tried to convince me at every appointment to have my (completely healthy) bottom set of wisdom teeth removed and have a brace to push back a single tooth on the bottom row that is slightly wonky. When I said I have never thought of it as a problem, she said ‘without making you paranoid, you sometimes look like you have a missing tooth when you speak.’ Multiple friends and family members confirmed they’ve never thought this or even noticed this slightly wonky tooth. My mum pointed out that her bottom set look exactly the same - so it’s hereditary - and I had never before noticed this about her! Saw new dentist for the first time last month who read my previous notes, asked to see which tooth the other dentist had said needed to be straightened and then said he was baffled that any dentist would recommend removing unproblematic wisdom teeth just for that ….

VelvetUndergrounds · 12/10/2024 08:25

Oh wow, me too! Really pushy dentist constantly trying to refer me to the orthodontist and telling me I need implants and all of my fillings need replacing - just constant up sell, making it it out like don't have a choice. So pushy. I have been thinking about moving dentists but it now seems that they are all the same! She thinks I'm going to say yeah to ££££'s of work! I keep saying that I don't have the funds for that at the moment but she just doesn't listen. Needless to say, I won't be having that done.

MermaidMummy06 · 12/10/2024 08:19

I'm finding this. Also once my DC were off our kids' dental benefits (income cutoff) & onto our private cover, they charged a massive gap payment. Kids were in chair maybe 10 minutes each!!

New dentist was upselling me on an expensive mouthguard. I'd chipped a tooth so it must be night grinding so we can make you a night guard that's costs two weeks wages. I said no!!! Also telling me constantly to bring my kids in.

I am sad that wereat the point health professionals are more interested in selling than your health. It erodes trust.

thereitgoes · 12/10/2024 08:08

I had this when I tried a new dentist a couple of years ago (my regular one is near my work so in COVID WFH era I went locally). I was fuming - they tried to upsell various aesthetic stuff, which I really really do not need. I had braces as a teenager and my teeth are great; they are one of the aspects of my appearance I'm most confident about and didn't appreciate their 'suggestions' for improvement (and not sure how someone with lower self esteem would have taken it). Plus yes x-rays, mouthguard etc. You trust someone doing something semi medical to have your best interests at heart and it's totally disheartening when you realise it's a cash grab.

My recommendation is to change dentist - I went back to my regular guy and he's so much better!

sandgrown · 12/10/2024 08:06

My NHS dentist closed down . We went for a private check up . Adult DS has fabulous teeth that he really looks after . They wanted to charge him £270 for a “special” clean. They know they have a captive market!

Original poster
GingerBeverage · 12/10/2024 08:04

MeMyCatsAndI · 12/10/2024 08:01

Mine is the same, I went for a check up as a new patient and they started trying to sell me £7,000 implants they know was wayyy out of my budget as I'm a NHS patient!
Like way to make people feel awkward.

I’ve had this at another dentist. Started telling me I needed a referral to an orthodontist and the work would be about £3000.
I walked out trembling as was only on minimum wage back then and bf said to get second opinion, which I did, they said it was ridiculous, my teeth were completely and obviously fine.
So are dentists actually being taught HOW to rip off customers?

OP posts:
TheNeverEndingOver · 12/10/2024 08:04

My old one was the same, literally made me feel like my teeth would fall out at any second!

Managed to secure an NHS spot when I was pregnant and have been there for three year. Always say my teeth are great

MeMyCatsAndI · 12/10/2024 08:02

Oh they did offer me a payment plan, three thousand pound down payment which was so kind of them. 😂

Original poster
GingerBeverage · 12/10/2024 08:01

ahemfem · 12/10/2024 07:17

I DO NOT SAY YES. I don’t think I even said anything. why didn't you say "No thanks"

DC about to knock over stool.
Good to see that active consent is yet to be applied to dentistry.
I actually though he was informing about an option, not telling me he would do it if I didn’t say no.

OP posts:
MeMyCatsAndI · 12/10/2024 08:01

Mine is the same, I went for a check up as a new patient and they started trying to sell me £7,000 implants they know was wayyy out of my budget as I'm a NHS patient!
Like way to make people feel awkward.

shockeditellyou · 12/10/2024 07:55

Mine is the same. I have no faith in their clinical judgement at the moment, so I ask for time to think about it and then just go back for my next check up.

ahemfem · 12/10/2024 07:17

I DO NOT SAY YES. I don’t think I even said anything. why didn't you say "No thanks"