Dentist Costs Spiralling - What Are My Options?

[TheRealGossipGirl]

I feel like I’m being completely mugged off by my dentist, but I’m getting desperate for treatment and on the verge of paying a ridiculous amount for it. Here’s the backstory:

I’ve never really been a “dentist person”, but thankfully my teeth have always been fine. Back in 2020, I noticed a black spot on a tooth, panicked a bit, and found a local private dentist (I live in London and couldn’t get in anywhere NHS). During the check-up he mentioned my cleaning wasn’t great, my gums were inflamed, and that I needed fillings on the first molars on both sides. Then lockdown happened, and I never went back.

Fast forward to September this year. I decided to look into Invisalign, but was told that any issues like fillings needed to be sorted first, and that my gum health needed improving before we could even consider moving teeth. So I booked back in with the same dentist and got the fillings done. He did an X-ray, said nothing had really changed since 2020, and planned to do two fillings plus a deep clean. Just as he was about to start, he then said my second molar also needed a filling - so two fillings suddenly became three at £245 each.

Anyway, it all got done. Since then I’ve been flossing daily and brushing two minutes twice a day because I’ve paid around £850 for 2 X-rays, 3 fillings and a deep clean, and I want to make sure it wasn’t for nothing. I’m also trying to sort out the gum inflammation so we can review Invisalign again in March.

Two weeks ago, I was drinking a cup of tea and felt a sudden sting in the first molar on my right side - the one with the biggest filling. Ever since then, I haven’t been able to eat or drink on that side without sharp sensitivity. I called the dentist and explained it to the receptionist. She went off to speak to the dentist and when she rang back, she said he instantly knew which molar it was because “back in 2020 there was an old filling that had decayed, and because I waited too long, the decay probably spread and I now likely need a root canal”. He never mentioned ANY of this to me in September, so I was annoyed that this was just being thrown at me over the phone.

I booked an emergency appointment anyway (£60 for the exam and X-ray). He showed me the X-ray and said there’s no decay… but that I still need a root canal if the sensitivity doesn’t go away. Root canal = £800. Crown = £1,000.

I’ve come away from this feeling really frustrated. I had no issues with my teeth before going to this dentist, and now I’ve paid nearly £1,000 for treatment and am being told I may need to spend another £1,800. It’s making me think… what next?

I know dentistry is expensive, but I genuinely can’t afford this. What can I do?

Get a second opinion

Where abouts in the country are you because £245 for a filling is extortionate. My dentist is private and paid £90 per filling but that was the cheapest one they did and other more expensive ones were available.

Definitely get a second opinion, although if a different dentist agrees, there’s not much you can do about it. Could you take out a loan to cover the treatment?

Ive spent £4000 on dentist bills this year, it’s ridiculously expensive

Yup £3.5k this summer…

I’ve never really been a “dentist person”
Is this a code to mean you never had regular dental checks as an adult?
I too would get a 2nd opinion.

White fillings with a post can easily come to over £200

check other dentist costs and shop around

I have always been a dentist person, and always brushed my teeth twice a day and regularly visited the hygienist. Still, I had a filling, which eventually needed a root canal. It was complicated and cost £1k, plus the cost of a crown. My dentist is NHS.
It is not the dentist who has created your oral health problems, they have just discovered them. If you want healthy teeth that last, you really need to be a dentist person and stay on top of any issues as they arise.

Get another opinion but also get dental insurance.

Absolutely. This is why regular dental check ups are essential, as I learned to my (literal) cost.

You neglected your dental health for years and this is the result. You can shop around for dentists though if you’re paying privately, you might find one that can do it a bit cheaper. The cheapest option is usually extraction, it’s your choice you don’t have to get the expensive work done.

You did have issues with the tooth - you admitted yourself that there was a black spot on the tooth

Get a second opinion and ask them about your gum health. I recently had horrific toothache, got a same day appointment because I am on Denplan and have been going to the same dentist twice a year for 20 years. Turns out I had an inflamed gum from some tiny piece of food I hadn't flossed out. I floss every day. They also took x-rays but I was due them as part of my normal dental check ups. This is why it is so important to become a dentist person. They can catch things early and sort it out.

Gum health is massively important.

Yep, this. Too many people seem to see dental check ups as a waste of time/optional but then complain when they have to pay to fix what they’ve neglected.

OP - you knew you had decay in 2020 but then never bothered to do anything about it for almost 5 years - unfortunately this is the consequence.

We are paying twice for dentistry really - the privatisation of dentistry is so wrong

it means that no matter what your income we all pay the same and that means that many people won’t be able to afford it all their lives and teeth and mouth health will get worse on average

it’s a bummer
but it’s saves a penny off the income tax

You were told you had problems and did not go back for 5 years
That is incredible
What did you expect
Sounds to me like you may have a cracked tooth in which case you need a crown not a filling
I do not
I use a private dentist
Costs a fortune
Crown£1,200
Filling was 600white
But he is brilliants and a totally different level of treatment time and care than I ever had with the NHS
You ask what you should so - I can only say go to the dentist without fail every 6 months and the hygienist
You have gum issues that will cause you to lose teeth if they continue interdental brushes every day and a waiter flosser every day

I don’t think you are getting “mugged off”, OP. Modern dentistry is phenomenally advanced in technology and care, even leaving aside the rocketing costs of surgeries and staff.

Unfortunately, I need a great deal of dental care, because of past poor care by NHS dentists, congenital teeth placement and a generally aging mouth. The option was basically dentures or massive conservation work, which made me feel like something out of ann ancient monument society. Per tooth, it’s eye watering but I have no doubt that it’s the genuine cost. In fact, I know from a passing remark that my dentist made at a visit a few months ago, that he is in stiff competition with other dentists and is always having to think about business management and survival.

I’m really lucky that I have a local dentist who keeps up to date with technological advances, but I can see from just walking into the surgery that the stuff must cost tens of thousands to purchase and maintain. It has taken most of my savings but that’s the deal.

And then there’s a cost of hearing aids and cataract surgery…

How are you going to pay for Invisalign if you can't afford routine dental treatment?

You can’t expect five years of avoidance to not have repercussions. You done yet know that it won’t settle down. Deep cleans can increase sensitivity short term and it would be worth seeing a hygienist at intervals to improve your gum health. Invisilign won’t compensate for poor dental care. Most dentists offer instalment payments or a monthly care plan.

Dental insurance won’t cover pre-existing issues.

I had no issues with my teeth before going to this dentist, and now I’ve paid nearly £1,000 for treatment and am being told I may need to spend another £1,800. It’s making me think… what next?

You definitely had issues with your teeth but they were very slow progressing and would only have caused problems a long time down the line. He caught the problem at 2-3 cavities which was quite impressive if you never went to the dentist for many years.

It's quite normal for deep fillings to fail and require a root canal. You may grind your teeth during sleep that causes microscopic fractures which results in a worsening of the cavity or exposed nerves. Sometimes cavities get worse just from normal wear and tear. Brushing and flossing won't reverse any damage in problematic teeth. That just prevents new cavities from forming in healthy teeth.

If you really cannot afford the costs right now then you can always get it extracted. However if you want to fix that down the line, then the only option is an implant which is more expensive than a root canal and crown. The other option is to go to another country like Hungary, Czech Republic or Turkey.

Dental.insuramce is worth having though for future treatments.

Could you find an NHS dentist? Even if you had to travel e.g. 40 miles it would still be cheaper than private. There aren't many near me but I found one that was taking new patients about 15 miles away after a long search.

White fillings are more expensive. I have paid over £200 for a large white filling so I think the amount the OP paid is the going rate.

I don’t think you are getting “mugged off”, OP. Modern dentistry is phenomenally advanced in technology and care, even leaving aside the rocketing costs of surgeries and staff.

Unfortunately, I need a great deal of dental care, because of past poor care by NHS dentists, congenital teeth placement and a generally aging mouth. The option was basically dentures or massive conservation work, which made me feel like something out of ann ancient monument society. Per tooth, it’s eye watering but I have no doubt that it’s the genuine cost. In fact, I know from a passing remark that my dentist made at a visit a few months ago, that he is in stiff competition with other dentists and is always having to think about business management and survival.

I’m really lucky that I have a local dentist who keeps up to date with technological advances, but I can see from just walking into the surgery that the stuff must cost tens of thousands to purchase and maintain. It has taken most of my savings but that’s the deal.

And then there’s a cost of hearing aids and cataract surgery…