Incredulous about what the dentist said to me.

[GranolaLover]

Bit of background first. I had to go to the dentist about a month ago as an emergency as I had had raging toothache for 4 days. It was the first time I'd been to the dentist in 10 years as basically couldn't afford it as I'm not working,on disability benefits. Have only found out from the receptionist at this visit that I am probably entitled to free,or reduced cost treatment as I'm on a low income. Anyway,I had the tooth removed as the dentist said it was 'past saving'. Fine,no problem with that,just wanted to get of the pain. But I asked him what could be done about my front,lower teeth. I lost one of the front middle ones about 2 years ago,and since then the one next to has moved slightly inwards,hence I have a gap at the front,with a wonky tooth next to it. Thankfully,it is not too visible. I have quite bad tartare build-up on the backs of my front teeth,which no amount of brushing or flossing can get rid of. It is probably what caused the tooth to fall out. I was surprised when the dentist said 'nothing could be done' about my teeth,as I had neglected them! I was and . I thought in these days of fantastic dentistry that something could be done to improve the look of them. I rather got the impression his attitude was 'Well what do you expect if you don't go to the dentist regularly?'. Anyone else experienced anything like this,or had a similar tooth problem to mine,but had it sorted?

My NHS dentist charges for the check-up but not for the hygienist.

ginswinger I love my dentist, but I have a hideous phobia of needles, which makes me really nervous about going, although I do religiously every six months. Fortunately she is really kind and patient, even when I have actually cried in the chair and needed the nurse to hold my hand before an injection. I think they see all sorts, and realise when people say they hate the dentist they actually mean they hate pain/drilling noises/injections/feeling vulnerable or whatever.

I thought in these days of fantastic dentistry that something could be done to improve the look of them

No doubt it can - but not courtesy of the NHS

I dont know where you live, but you can check on NHS website for your region
Here is an example

Who is entitled to free NHS dental treatment in England?

www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1786.aspx?categoryid=68&subcategoryid=154

I believe the yearly check up at dentist is not just about your teeth, but your related to your mouth and health in general

If a dentist recommends treatment it is up to you to decide if you want the treatment

I believe if you look at the stats people with "good teeth" generally live longer than people with "poor teeth"

My NHS dentist never did any work on mine. I was just paying for them to look in my mouth. Even when I could see plaque on my teeth, they wouldn't wash it off because it wasn't bad enough.

Private dentist are the other way. They are always trying to sell me stuff I don't need doing.

Can't believe some of the comments here. It's the dentist's job to treat people with tooth problems - that's what they're paid for!! You wouldn't expect to go to your GP with high blood pressure and get told ''what did you expect, eating too much junk food - it's diabetes, go home, nothing can be done" or to rock up at A+E with a broken leg and be told "ttch, that's a result of you neglecting your common sense and falling off a ladder, go home, no treatment".

Seriously. That's not how healthcare works - at least not in this country.

Regardless of whether someone knowingly or unknowingly neglects their health and regardless of the reasons for either - the patient should be offered treatment regardless of the opinions of the healthcare professional. It's their job to treat you, not judge you. As for not being able to see a dentist for a long time - I've no idea why anyone should be shocked or find it difficult to believe - it's quite a common issue because it's so bloody expensive.

OP, there is more that can be done. I suggest you do some googling of your particular problem and look into what financial assistance you're eligible to claim with regards to dentistry. Don't let one dentist with a bad attitude put you off.

People seem to be missing the point. This was an emergency dental appointment. This is not the same as going to 'the your regular dentist'. You don't get to skip waiting lists just because you have an emergency appointment. It's not an emergency dentists job to treat anything other than the immediate problem - which this dentist did.

Maybe there's another side to this story where the OP was demanding treatment for issues not related to the emergency appointment.......

Emergency dentist, he prob meant there was nothing he could personally do about OP's longterm issues? Which is fine.

If op hasn't seen a dentist in 10 years then she's not registered with a dentist. This would have been the NHS emergency dentist who would not be in a position to advise or offer further treatment. His remit is to deal with the emergency. What Op needs to do is register with a dentist and go from there.

I would go somewhere else. I have been to various dentist who have all told me different things. One dentist told me I was not suitable for invisalign and then another tell me I was.

You seem to think it's okay to neglect your dental hygiene for years and then let the tax payer pick up the bill to try and put things right. This is just one of the many things wrong with this country's welfare system, in my opinion.

I would imagine you got an emergency appointment and are probably an unregistered patient? In which case the dentist was only interested in treating the “emergency tooth”, hence not offering any follow up. Though they were rude & should have explained that the rest of your teeth were unfortunately not their concern at this appointment.

I waited 5years to get on my rural nhs dentist register and it was clearly explained when I needed an emmergency appointment that the problem tooth was the only one of interest due to the nature of the appointment.

You should try and register with a dental practice and get the other teeth seen to now you know you can.

OP PLEASE just whiz past all the hectoring negative posts and ignore them entirely.

It is never too late to start looking after your teeth. You are not a lost cause, and things can be improved enormously.

I never understood the massive impact a hygienist could have until I developed gum disease. I have inherited an extremely aggressive form of periodontitis. I've been seeing a hygienist every few months for a few years now and we've been able to bring things completely under control.

If you can find a way to have a really thorough session with a hygienist and follow their advice religiously thus is a brilliant place to start. And you need a new dentist, a sympathetic one. You were treated appallingly.
No one deserves to be written off. Anyone that has taken the huge step of trying to sort out their dental health after years of avoidance needs cheering, not discouragement.

Keep at it OP.

You seem to think it's okay to neglect your dental hygiene for years and then let the tax payer pick up the bill to try and put things right. This is just one of the many things wrong with this country's welfare system, in my opinion.

Exactly, you want your cosmetic wonky tooth sorted out? You pay for it instead of expecting others to fund it.

I finally have a decent dentist (NHS) who is pleasant and trustworthy.

DM was phobic about dentists after various rough/ dubious treatments so when we moved area during my childhood, she didn't prioritise registering with a dentist for many years. In that time I had an undetected hole, and the tooth broke and it was still years before we actually got registered and the tooth filled.

That dentist wasn't great and had a reputation for being rough. I did maintain regular appointments until I moved on.

When I moved to my current area, I made the mistake of going to the local practice. A grasping bunch more interested in flogging cosmetic treatments and their bank balance than in patient care. At some point I had to cancel an appointment and I didn't muster the enthusiasm to rebook as I couldn't face paying to be whinged at. I did crawl back a while later with a maternity exemption card where I was completely ripped off over possibly unnecessary fillings, and unnecessary hygienist appointments (the hygienist was baffled as to why I had a double appointment when my teeth were normal despite only recently being able to put a toothbrush in my mouth without triggering 5 minutes of gag reaction). I was also charged for the first check-up despite the maternity exemption . I resolved to never go back to them.

Since finding my current one, I've been regularly as he's pleasant and doesn't moan on at me. He talks me through any issues and possible paths of action/ inaction. Patient care is essential in building up a relationship of trust and that's important in securing regular attendance.

As to whether OP's dentist was unreasonable or not, we can't examine her mouth to judge, but unpleasant treatment of patients is not going to result in the best self-care.

Maybe there's another side to this story where the OP was demanding treatment for issues not related to the emergency appointment

Or perhaps the op is not aware of how that system works given that she hasnt used it for a decade and the dentist spoke to her in a way which means she took away the exact message she’s telling us.

op there are a fair few things that can be done on the nhs to reduce or fix the issues dependant on how bad it is, it really is worth registering with a nhs dentist not the emergency one.
It sounds highly likely that a scale and polish would be medically indicated for you and if that is the case then it is covered under the nhs so you wouldn’t need to pay a hygienist fee, they are only excluded if it’s not medically recommended by your dentist otherwise it’s in band one treatment.

This doesn't surprise me to be honest, I went to a dentist privately until I had the kids go on the NHS, the dentist gave no fucks whatsoever about the kids but when you're paying it's super-lavish.

They don't get paid as much from the NHS so there's a good chance they will rush you through because you are 100% a second-class patient, as they earn less.

I'm sure not all dentists do it like this, but fundamentally it's not surprising. I can't be arsed to look up the payment details atm but some of the disparities between private and NHS fees are HUGE

I am shuddering at the thought of no dentist for ten years.

Whether or not you agree with those of us criticising the OP, to advise her ignore the negative comments and skip over them is a bit like what she’s doing with her teeth for a decade. Look where it’s gotten her!

Read the negative comments, take them on board, and try and apply any useful advise in your wider life.

Whether or not you agree with those of us criticising the OP, to advise her ignore the negative comments and skip over them is a bit like what she’s doing with her teeth for a decade. Look where it’s gotten her!

Read the negative comments, take them on board, and try and apply any useful advise in your wider life.

OP - don’t ignore those comments that some posters are deeming negative. That’s what you did with the care of your teeth and look where it got you!

Take them on board and apply any useful parts to your wider life.

OP - don’t ignore those comments that some posters are deeming negative. That’s what you did with the care of your teeth and look where it got you!

Take them on board and apply any useful parts to your wider life.

It’s not just about health or my dd1 wouldn’t be having her braces free on the nhs

I have two kids having orthodontic treatment at the moment. Not everyone who wants braces or who has slightly wonky teeth qualifies under the NHS. the orthodontist had to put together forms with photographs and impressions of their jaws before the NHS agreed to fund it. Some cases are very clear cut, others are borderline. Orthodontist was very surprised that NHS treatment was approved for my son as his overbite was right on the limit.

Anyway. NHS treatment is not about cosrmetics. They won't pay for whitening, or crowns, or veneers or anything to make your teeth look pretty. They won't even pay for white fillings. Grey ones only. You have to take some responsibility for neglecting your teeth so badly. You obvoiusly knew you got free prescriptions, it's common knowledge that those on low incomes get subsidised dental treatment and glasses and you didn't even think to Google it in 10 years???