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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it must be crap to be a dentist?

69 replies

SileneOliveira · 13/03/2019 19:19

Had a filling this morning. Wasn't a pleasant experience. Is it ever.

So if you're a dentist, nobody's pleased to see you, everyone dreads their appointments, you spend your days peering into people's manky mouths.

Poor dentists.

OP posts:
Watto1 · 13/03/2019 19:56

My sister is a hygienist. She loves it! Typical line from her - “Had this guy in today who obviously hadn’t brushed his teeth in years. His teeth were covered in sheets of grot. It was fantastic!”

MsVestibule · 13/03/2019 19:59

My dentist is lovely. He was only about 12 when I started going to him with the DCs, with a very caring manner. He always puts them at ease and tells me that my teeth are the best he's seen all week .

I found it a bit odd when I saw him in our local McDonald's with his mates, though.

TroysMammy · 13/03/2019 20:00

I like going to my dentist and I happily make future appointments. Whereas on the flip side, I hate going to the hairdressers and my last haircut was 8 months ago.

Original poster
SileneOliveira · 13/03/2019 20:02

My dentist does a mix of NHS and private. The kids are treated on the NHS. Part of my work today - the xrays and scale and polish - were done on the NHS. I could have had a metal filling if i'd wanted one, on the NHS. But i chose a white one and that was privately charged. Think it was about £100 total.

And yes to the sewage workers, those people who break up fatbergs must have iron constitutions.

OP posts:
Myusernameismud · 13/03/2019 20:02

Ha Troysmummy snap. Absolutely hate getting my hair cut. I go, on average, once a year. I've left it 18 months before Blush

MsVestibule · 13/03/2019 20:03

Watto1 I can be a bit skanky (well, certainly by MN standards) but I really don't understand how people can not clean their teeth twice a day! Surely their mouth feels and smells disgusting?

evaperonspoodle · 13/03/2019 20:04

I know quite a few dentists. The ones who work in the clinic are much happier than those who work in academia. Dentistry is an art, there must be a lot of satisfaction when the job is done. The salary seems to help too Grin

FurrySlipperBoots · 13/03/2019 20:04

My dentist earns £££££££££! He has multiple exotic holidays a year works part time, has a Norland nanny and his children go to private school. I think he's ok!

junebirthdaygirl · 13/03/2019 20:09

I am getting implants and my dentist is so thorough and gentle and calm. I feel l am in good hands and that he gets real satisfaction from doing a good job. I often think with the screws/ stitching etc he is a type of craftsman. And l pay him a fortune!
I don't see much misery there although l couldn't do it.

Arnoldthecat · 13/03/2019 20:29

how can it be that the dentistry profession can hold us all and the NHS to ransom? Why can i not go to the hospital and have dentistry done under the NHS in the same way as i would have any other surgical procedure? It needs reforming..

SerenDippitty · 13/03/2019 20:33

Dentists are a high suicide risk.

Heatherjayne1972 · 13/03/2019 20:41

I’m a hygienist so similar field
I actually like looking into manky mouths !

It’s a nice feeling to help someone get a healthier mouth
As for dentists it’s hugely stressful - we-/ they have to deal with everyone from the rude and obnoxious to the The delighted happy patients
Some are nervous some aren’t

Actually I think there’s a lot of acting involved -I used to know an awful dentist who was an amazing people person The patients adored him

NCforthis2019 · 13/03/2019 20:51

My dentist is a millionaire a few time’s over and owns a few dental practices in Harley street - he’s quite happy being a dentist I think 😂 - I hate dentists though - and I tell him that everytime I have to see him 😊. He’s a lovely guy - very skilled. His father is a dentist too and he loves telling the story of how he was Princess Diana’s dentist....... my daughter sees him now and he puts her at ease straight away - he’s has two kids so hers great with them.

Ragnarthe · 13/03/2019 20:52

Years ago I had the most gorgeous dentist, it was mortifying.
I don't feel sorry for them as I walk out of the car park past the Ferraris and Porsches.

Fluffyears · 13/03/2019 20:52

They choose the profession so I don’t feel sorry for them. I have a fantastic dentist and he’s a big cheery bloke.

BlueCornishPixie · 13/03/2019 20:57

I'm a dentist! Tbh I'm really not paid that much. I do a lot of NHS and it's really not paid well. It's not bad of course but everyone seems to think I'm earning loads!

The two things everyone says to me is I hate coming to the dentist and you must earn so much money. It's a tad sole destroying Grin

I also get a bit fed up with scraping plaque and food off peoples teeth, I don't mind grotty mouths with decay and calculus but food gets me. And everyone is always suspicious, there are people who always assume you are doing something for the money when I'm just telling them what's best for their teeth. I have literally never made a decision based on money for me.

Everyone always lies to me too! Everyone flosses twice a day and brushes really well, the last dentist just took out their teeth because they were evil/money hungry, I don't really care as such how often they brush, I just want to prevent further problems for them!

But I do like it, it can be so satisfying when someone comes in who is nervous, needing lots of work and leave happy with healthy teeth! The majority of people are lovely, and you meet so many different people.

BlueCornishPixie · 13/03/2019 20:59

Arnold I wish to god I was holding the NHS to ransom! Sadly it is the other way round

Cegbee · 13/03/2019 21:00

They get paid sh*t loads so don't feel too bad for them!

ssd · 13/03/2019 21:04

Blue come on tell us what you actually earn

itsasmallworldafterall · 13/03/2019 21:16

I'm a dentist, working in the NHS and I earn about 30,000 working 3 and a half days a week. It's a good wage but hardly the £££££ mentioned.

BlueCornishPixie · 13/03/2019 21:19

I earnt 50k last year, so it's definitely not bad but it's not multiple foreign Holidays or Ferraris. Most of my friends earn similar up to about 70.

BlueCornishPixie · 13/03/2019 21:20

I work 5 days a week as well 😊

Arnoldthecat · 13/03/2019 21:22

If the NHS directly employed more dentists in the way they employed other clinicians, and they provided high quality impartial dentistry,then there would be far fewer dentists who charge so much for "private" dentistry. As it is,why would a dentist take on loads of NHS work when his colleague down the road shuts them out and makes a wad doing private work?

SnagAndChips · 13/03/2019 21:23

My dentist is young (to me) and gorgeous so it makes a dental appointment so much better. He is such a lovely person too.

I'm in Australia- all dentistry is private. A check up costs about GBP90.
A descale about GBP150 and a crown about GBP1000.
Kids are subsidised. I realise dentists in UK are a bargain.

Brownpigeon · 13/03/2019 21:25

I'm a hygienist. I gave it up (although still registered) and took a job for less than a quarter of the pay, but where I can talk to others!

I ended up hating being a hygienist. Self employed, so no sick / holiday pay. Lonely. Several patients a day telling you they hated you / coming to the dentist. They think they're being funny, but I was always sighing inside! No chance to have a wee / get a coffee.

I needed a break.... 5 years and counting...!