to wonder why people don't worry about black stubby teeth?

[khaliwali]

I have just watched an episode of Jeremy Kyle for the first time in years. I am not trying to make fun of, or judge people who may be on low income/benefits and those who may have a drink problem, please don't think I am. Quite rightly, as far as I know, in the UK dental treatment is still free to people who can't afford to pay. On this particular show, all of the people under 40 had either teeth missing or blackened rotten front teeth. I wonder why more isn't done to promote dental health, surely gum disease and all of it's related diseases are expensive for the NHS to treat and in 2011, completely unnecessary.
As I said, I am not slating the people on this show although I do think that they are being exploited but that it another story.

Interesting that its the NHS, but people still have to pay.

Worrying that the tories are privatising the rest of the NHS, and every other public service at the moment.

England is going to the dogs.

smokinaces - whereabouts are you?

NHS denistry is so starved of funds to make it impossible to provide a good service. Our NHS dentist was the fastest dentist in the West and this resulted in my son experiencing post traumatic stress.

The nhs is just drill and fill and provides no education. Prehaps we need to teach the mothers of babies how to brush and look after their teeth and make teeth cleaning part of the Early years foundation stage. There would be more sense in teaching a 3 years old how to clean their teeth than teaching phonics.

Yes, in an ideal world parents would teach teeth cleaning, but parents are failing.

I looked for a dentist willing to take new NHS patients in my city when I got pregnant (and therefore supposedly free treatment) but there was not one. In fact I've never had an NHS dentist, or not as an adult anyway. They are too few and far between.

HHLimbo, I'm in Kent.

We have a lot of awareness around early years brushing here too, through the local surestarts, health visitors etc. Again though, it does tend to be the same demographics that dont access those places either.

i had an appointment with my dentist today at tooth hurty.

My teeth were also ruined by crappy shool nhs dentistry (it used to be done in a mobile-esque portacabin type thing,not that that is indicative of poor dentistry but just to illustrate) and my 4 front teeth were ruined and crowned before I was 17. Led me to a distinct fear of dentists. Fast forward 24 years and said crowns, are on their last legs (or posts). my gums have receded and the posts are showing. I am soooo self conscious about my smile.

A bridge would be ideal but they refuse to do it on the NHS as it would only be "for cosmetic reasons". They'll do it privately for around £1500. So I am saving hard.

Not read whole thread but, even when DH lost his job, he wasn't entitled to "free" dental, because "I earn too much" (or work over 16hours a week, depends on who you talk to for a reason).
DH has terrible teeth, and would love to get them fixed. He doesn't drink at all, so the teeth thing is not related to alcohol for him, just bad dental as a kid.
At the last count, he needs 18 fillings. We cannot afford the fillings. Not when I'm on maternity leave.
My teeth on the other hand are perfect. It would be great if the free dental I get at the mo was transferrable to DH, but alas...

I notice people's teeth. If they have bad teeth I struggle to see anything else, I'm afraid.

I've lived in many places over the last twenty years and have always seen an NHS dentist every six months.

I think it's all linked with poverty and social class. You don't tend to see very successful people with bad teeth or very overweight wearing jogging bottoms and a Croydon facelift.

I'm generalising, of course, but it's also about priorities and for some people, teeth are just not up there.

The sad fact is that you're cheaper going for most types of plastic surgery than you are correcting your teeth. I recently had some orthodontic treatment done and the bill came to £3500. All my teeth moved gradually after having 3 kids but there was no way it was being corrected on the NHS.

I agree that prevention is better than cure, as when you go too far you'd be paying ££££££'s out to have anything done to put it right.

Just seen the post re young children and having teeth removed... when I was very young, I had to have the front six teeth removed. My teeth were brown and rotten when I was a kid. My older and younger sister had perfect teeth, mine were just terrible. Maybe I was just born with dodgy baby teeth, or my mum forgot to brush mine with me being the middle kid (I always joke about middle child syndrome). I had the six teeth removed, but other than that, no other dental treatement (except a tooth out at about 16 because I had too many teeth for the space in my mouth), went to the dentist a few weeks ago, the first time in six years, and my teeth were pronounced perfect. So, its not always a disaster if the baby teeth are removed.

Those who live in poverty probably have more pressing matters to spend money on than their teeth.

I had my front teeth capped on the NHS, completely free, 21 years ago because they were crooked. It probably wasn't the best treatment tbh and an appointment to a specialist would have been more appropriate.

Anyway fast forward and they are visibly coming away from the gum. I also have gum disease apparently. I am under an exemption for NHS treatment as a single mum on a low income (paying a good percentage in tax etc).

My original dentist went completely private so I had to move to a new practice set up in my town to treat NHS patients. New dentist refuses to replace the crowns which make my teeth look bad as 'they just don't look nice' but nothing wrong with them.

I want to cry as I cannot afford a denplan and even if I could they would insist on getting this problem sorted out first. My dentist is polish and they do a lovely sideline in botox at £150 a pop.

It's disgusting and wish this government would refund some of my tax so I could afford private dental treatment (they replace crowns every 5 yrs as a matter or course) and ultimately would prefer to pay into a private health insurance so that my treatment wouldn't be what is becoming third world standards.

You should try being and NHS dental patient which covers only the basics and nothing else. I fear for the future of our health service as I can see it going exactly the same way, well fine, give us money back that we pay these so called dentist with and we will buy ourselves an adequate service.

For people who don't work and therefore cannot pay less tax to buy a service then I fear for them even more.

i have worked in many dental surgeries some private charging fortunes and the place did really shoddy work and was filthy, i have worked in lovely nhs places that are delivering good treatment, ask around and find a dentist you like and trust.

people lost teeth years ago due to gum disease which is now simply treated with good oral hygiene instruction.

YANBU OP. There seems to be a lack of acceptance in this country that bad diet, lack of teeth brushing and drinking fizzy drinks has little to do with bad teeth, and that unlucky or bad genes explain all teeth problems.

I also think that sadly many people with really bad teeth are unaware of quite how bad they look, and how they can spoil someone's looks when they would otherwise be quite attractive. (they can also cause seriously bad breath...)

Loads of NHS dentists round here too. And loads of people with bad teeth...
Indeed lots of people with tattoos too, a correlation noted by a previous poster too...

Shakey 1500, just read your post, same, read mine.

I'm being referred to the second dentist at the practise, then, if not I'm going to the complaints with it.

Replacement crowns are available on the NHS, the reason they were fitted in the first place was 'cosmetic'

I find the dentist really expensive (NHS) - and it's like rogue traders out there.

DH needs a crown, £200 odd - except the dentist suggested he do it private. DH asked what the difference would be. Dentist said the 'private one won't fall out'.

I can't get NHS treatment for gum disease. I hate my teeth and am saving to fix them but don't even know what to do. I've spent loads seeing different dentists - all say different things. A couple said I should have implants (a few thousand ££). One, who I did trust, said 'who on earth suggested implants'?! when he looked at my x-rays. Whenever I go back the previous dentist has left. The hygienist is £50.

If these 'Jeremy Kyle' people can't get to see a NHS dentist then I'm sure even a private dentist would be cheaper than the cost of 20 fags a day they probably smoke.

i disagree with a lot that has been said about NHS dentists

I use an NHS dentist, and have done since I was a child (same place) and they are fantastic! they are very, very big on preventative dentistry, they run a "kids club" in a special room for little ones and encourage you to bring children along as soon as they have their first teeth,

my dentist is just wonderful. she always fully explains any work that needs doing and what ALL of my options are so that I can make an informed decision. she has never done anything unnecessary..

it's sad that so many people have had bad experiences, but I know people who've had terrible experiences with private dentists too who were just out to make as much money as possible. it isn't fair to tar them all with the same brush because plenty of them are doing a fantastic job without having the money to support it..

HHLimbo, if you are poor, you get free treatment.

Does anyone else have a dental access centre near them?

I couldn't get on a list for an NHS dentist where we used to live, so didn't see a dentist for well over ten years, until I got an abcess caused by an impacted wisdom tooth. I called NHS Direct and they made me an appt with the local access centre for the next day. I went, got given antibiotics to clear up the infection, another appt for a week later to have a look at the wisdom tooth, then two further appointments for two fillings (which were white), then an appt to have two wisdom teeth taken out under sedation.

Cost to me was £45.80 for everything.

Plaque causesgum disease. Plaque is food debris left on the tooth /gum. There is some evidence that gum disease is heriditary but it's misleading to say most tooth problems are not caused by poor dental hygiene, they are. In fact those who inherit peridenitus can do much to prevent it by practising excellent oral hygiene. People just don't bother. How many people in this country floss? Not even the majority I suspect

At the dental practice I use there is a private dentist which I use through Denplan working along side an NHS dentist. I had an appointment yesterday for my 6 monthly check up and a scale and polish.

I was in the waiting room chatting to a girl who was waiting for the NHS dentist - to have zoom whitening at £200 a treatment! She gets free dentistry because she is on income support but can afford a cosmetic procedure which my private plan doesn't cover - the mind boggles!!!

Carnival, then her dentist must be on the fiddle! NHS just about covers you if your teeth actually drop out.

adamschic- yes, it was your post that prompted mine (apologies for not highlighting it)

My NHS dentist won't replace my crowns citing that, whilst unsightly, they are still functioning.

My mother complained at the time (1970's) but was told that she would be unlikely to prove that the butcher dentist involved was solely responsible for wrecking my teeth. In that era you kind of "trusted" what the professionals told you.

I'll get my pearly white smile eventually but sadly, have also lost most of the back teeth and haven't even begun contemplating replacing them yet.