to be bereft after a bollocking from my dentist?

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My dentist treated me like someone who rinses with Irn Bru every night before bed. Apparently, I have a 'really neglected mouth'.

"I look in your mouth and it's screaming sugar. Really, you should never have let it get this bad. Do you have a lot of fizzy drinks?"

Whattttt?!!! Meeee?!! I brush twice a day! I am middle class ffs. My children are dressed in Boden and I am having steamed vegetables for supper. No, I don't have a lot of fizzy drinks.

"I can fit you in for root canal surgery first thing tomorrow, and we'll deal with the most urgent issues then." Um, OK, guess so.

So now I feel like the Fairytale of New York guy. But with toothache. Does tonic water count as a fizzy drink?

Jennifer my private endodentist saved my front tooth that had been filed down to expose the root by an NHS dentist. So safe to say I now only used aforementioned private dentists at that practice. I consider any money spent there very well spent.

Oooh and I forgot to mention the first root canal on my massacred tooth was done (and totally fucked up) by an NHS dentist. Thankfully I found the private endodentist who drilled out the root canal and amazingly did a second that has saved my tooth. I will be forever grateful to him although the likelihood is that it will need a post in it at some point or will have to be replaced by an implant.

I would get the root canal surgery done if you're in pain but in future visit another dentist (i.e. one that doesn't make you feel stressed).

I go to a private dentist as it doesn't cost me that much more than NHS and I only go once a year for a check up. I like him because he always says that my teeth are really good and doesn't hassle me to go more often.

Last time that I went to an NHS dentist they said that according to guidelines I'm only supposed to go every two years which doesn't seem often enough.

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I use a water pik daily, my gums would occasionally bleed a little prior to getting it, now they never do. I think it's a brilliant gadget, but would be interested to know if the dentists on the thread agree??
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(Always found flossing with floss a problem because my teeth are very tightly packed?)

It's interesting to read how muh people slate NHS dentists when more often than not, NHS and private dentists are the same person, they just subcontract part of their time to the NHS.

also interesting to note is that a very dear and incredibly ethical friend of mine has had her NHS contract changed unilaterally so that she will now get paid £4 for a check up. The patient fee will top that up to £11. This is how much the NHS values your teeth. £4.

As well as the gdc raising our annual retention fee by 54% so it can spend over £70k investigating a dental nurse who has been convicted of speeding.

It's not a happy profession in the UK at present and I would imagine lots more practices not being awarded NHS contracts in the next 12 months so be prepared!

Mrsmorton The dentists that only do private work tend to be better than the NHS ones in my experience presumably as if they're not good people take their custom else where. Where I live, NHS ones get patients whether they are good or not as there are so many people who want/need an NHS dentist.

Mrs Morton - the pittance that NHS dentists get for a checkup is why I wouldn't get NHS treatment. I want my dentist to get enough from my checkup to not need to suggest unnecessary/borderline unnecessary work. £11 can't possibly cover equipment, rent, a receptionist & dental nurse. Not to mention the dentist being paid.

Exactly Pico. It's unsustainable and sad for the dentists who really believe in the NHS.

How rude! You are a paying customer and need education from a dentist, not insults and humiliation. I think a second opinion from someone with a better chair side manner.

As a midwife I never would speak to someone in this way. People who neglect their health (I'm not saying you do) whilst needing education deserve to be given it with respect, as any client does.

AddToBasket, can I tell you that since I started using an ultrasonic toothbrush my gum health has improved by around 75%. You can reverse to some extent receding gums and plaque removal is fantastic from teeth. It hurts when you first start using the ultrasonic toothbrush, but that's because the gums are soft and easily damaged, they soon toughen up.

Look in Boots for special offers, you can sometimes get them for half price. They are more expensive than ordinary toothbrushes but I think they are worth it.

However I think your dentist could have phrased his criticisms more tactfully while still getting his opinions across.

A question for Mrsmorton I guess from girlys post
Is something that hurts your gums until they toughen up good for them?
I had to have a mouth biopsy recently - had a dodgy patch on the roof my mouth (probably caused by tasting hot food -I keep burning the same bit) - but I have some other patches that are 'toughen areas' probably caused by too forceful brushing...and that didn't hurt...

toughened not toughen

Yes, you get keratosis where the cells produce the tough protein keratin to protect themselves. Typically its frictional (from brushing, chewing etc) or from smoking.

Would the ultrasonic toothbrush cause that? And could that not lead to having to have it checked out? (A mouth biopsy isn't a pleasant experience - not horrendous, but not pleasant either...)

It's impossible to say without seeing you. I don't really want to give such specific advice without the benefit of a patient in front of me!!

Not me - it was girly saying it hurt her gums before they toughened up - that just made me think that might not be a good thing to use...she might get the same thing.
(I'm fine ... from what was said (and I could have it wrong) I think it was the marks on my gums coupled with my patch (frequent ulcerated area) that seemed to cause concern...)