To be upset dentist said this about my teeth (pics included)

[Teethproblems]

Hi,
Not even sure why I’m posting, just in case someone can help.
I have my NHS dentist (been with him for almost 10 years) who is absolutely brilliant and never had any issues with my teeth other than the odd filling, but no issues with the layout or structure of them. However I was also at a private dentist during the in between lockdowns when dentists could open but the NHS check up backlog was so long, so I went to a private dentist to get a check up. He was fab too, however he pointed out so many issues with my teeth and gave me a quotation of around 5k (bleaching, composite bonds and some kind of brace too), ever since then I’ve absolutely hated my teeth. He pointed out that I have a huge overbite or overjet (can’t remember exactly which one) and something to do with the layout of my bottom jaw being too far back and I could get surgery if I wanted to fix it. I said I’d never noticed it and he said if I take some side profile pictures I’ll see it. So I did, and ever since then, I’ve hated my face. My bottom jaw is so far behind my top jaw it looks awful. And when I smile it looks like my teeth are projecting forwards and sticking out. He said it’s a combination of 25 years worth of nail biting and just the layout of my jaw.

I had train tracks as a teen for the straightness and I’m fine with the straightness of my teeth now, but now I absolutely despise my face because of how ridiculous it looks having my jaw that far back and my teeth sticking out, it looks like I’ve got buck teeth. I don’t want to get surgery on my jaw either but ever since he said that I’ve never got it out of my head. Looking at my side profile, does it look so far from normal? Is it completely obvious that my bottom jaw is really far back and my top teeth stick out? When I went back to my NHS dentist and told him he was appalled and said it’s slightly lower back but not awfully so and he would never have flagged it as a problem, and obviously I trust him, but it’s so hard to stop feeling self conscious about it now

You look lovely OP- straight, even teeth. I think what he said has triggered off dysmorphia about your face.

Don't listen to him. It's like going to a consult with a private plastic surgeon and saying 'what should I get?' Of course it is in their best interest to suggest a bunch of expensive procedures. They aren't going to say, 'Nah, you don't need anything mate. Off you go'.

My answer would be different if him telling you that was in response to you having pain or chronic issues with your teeth. People who get surgery that serious are usually suffering in their day-to-day life and really need the correction.

If you feel good and healthy and you aren't suffering any pain, grinding your teeth, headaches or difficulty breathing through your mouth/nose, you shouldn't be putting yourself through what he suggested.

I had to have a lot of adult teeth removed and dentures fitted when I was 16 due to a severe facial injury and I dream of having teeth like yours. Stick with your NHS dentist and trust what he says, the private one just has ££ signs in his eyes.

Well, he is right about your jaw, but your teeth are gorgeous and your smile is beautiful!

The dentist is trying to sell you things. Ignore them.

This, 100%. And let me tell you from first hand experience, the surgery that he is suggesting is horrific (I had an severe underbite). Don't let them tell you otherwise. The pain and the recovery is unimaginable.

You have lovely teeth, far nicer than mine. The private dentist was just out for the £££.

Wow your teeth are superb! Dismiss what he said, just up selling his services.

Have you ever whitened them?

They are absolutely gorgeous!
And I wouldn’t have even noticed the overbite thing unless you said and it doesn’t look bad anyway.

He’s taking the absolute piss.

I had a similar experience when I get to a private dentist.
NHS dentists are known to under diagnose your teeth (especially if you’re getting it for free) and private are known to over diagnose

I remember seeing an NHS dentist who said I needed X, Y, Z and would have cost me 100s which I was really worried about.

I’d actually ticked the wrong box that said I pay for my treatment but I was eligible for free treatment.
Surprise surprise, a few days later the dentist rang to say after re-checking my x-rays he believes me having the treatment may actually cause more harm than good so he won’t do it.

My teeth were so nice back then too and I believed him because he was a dentist.
Unfortunately now untreated abscess during lockdown have deformed and broken my teeth and I’m gutted.

I’d give anything for your teeth!

Private dentist here.
You have a beautiful smile.

Didn't know how to vote but voted YABU as your teeth are lovely. Your face, from what is in the picture is also lovely!! Don't mind the dentist, he's trying to make money, awful way to do so actually, to make people so self conscious.

OP, your teeth may not be entirely technically perfect, but like so many others on here I dream of teeth like yours. Mine were always crooked but not enough for nhs braces when I was young, I have a significant overbite and somehow since having children my teeth have all shifted so that they overlap, it truly looks like some joke picture of bad teeth. I have no nhs dentists near me and I can't afford to go private. Honestly, you have a beautiful smile and a nice NHS dentist, it really could be worse.

Ha ha what a twit! So obvious he is upselling. What a twat! Like a certain high street store (won't say which,) trying to flog massively overpriced hearing aids to my friend, (THREE FUCKING THOUSAND POUNDS!) when the NHS ones do the same job, and even other private ones were/are less than half the price.

Some people are pure scum and will con anyone and everyone to get their pound of flesh - and their profits up, and bonuses, and Brownie points from head office!

Your teeth are gorgeous @Teethproblems

Maybe the dentist has private school fees to pay/ is going through an expensive divorce 🤔? Your teeth look great.

You have beautiful teeth! And you look great, there's nothing of any significance. That dentist is a money-hungry shyster who obviously makes a lucrative living out of making people feel awful about themselves. Tosspot. To have surgery on your face is totally unnecessary, you look great.

To further this point, my husband had it done, it was brutal (and honestly I preferred him before. I will never tell him that though). His dentist made him feel revolting so he put himself through two years of pain.

Surely this private dentist wouldn't be able to provide the jaw surgery himself anyway, would he?
He'd have to refer you to a maxillofacial surgeon somewhere.

You have a beautiful smile and your jaw looks perfectly normal!

I could have had the jaw surgery he mentioned to you but when my bottom jaw was slid forward to visualise what it would look like, it changed my face and jaw into a more manly shape. The jaw looked harsh and severe. Yes it looked better in profile but how often do you talk to people side on?

Please don’t let this man affect your self-esteem and confidence. I see people with jaws like yours and mine day in, day out. It might not be the ideal but it’s definitely not abnormal!

Well you do have a bit of an overbite, mainly because your bottom jaw/chin is small. Teeth look fine though.

I have both an overbite and a crossbite and it was wearing my bottom teeth unevenly plus had several other issues so I had the lot fixed at admittedly vast expense.
Unless you have significant mechanical problems. I wouldn't bother.

They look much, much better.

You have gorgeous teeth OP. Private dentists now live to flog more and more expensive treatments and need to make people insecure in order to do so. Stay strong and ignore!!

Haven't read all the posts but your teeth are beautiful and need no work. Can I recommend you report this dentist to the relevant professional body. They have recommended unnecessary surgery and behaved unethically. Private or not private recommending unnecessary extensive surgery is a no no.

Oh, yes. I remember the NHS dentists of the seventies. As children, we nearly all had masses of work done and l am sure nearly all of it was totally unnecessary. We would go every six months for a checkup and would "need" two, three or even four amalgam fillings - and these were often performed without any pain relief whatsoever. Thankfully, by the time my adult teeth came through, things were changing and, as far as I am aware, only necessary treatment was undertaken. I have been able to go years at a time without needing a filling. It was scandalous and it is no wonder that so many people who were born before around 1975 are afraid of the dentist.

Both this poster and op have really beautiful teeth.

I’ve had to change to a private dentist (moved). NHS one always said everything fine. Private one wants to do all sorts. This seems as though it needs a bit of regulation.

OP you have gorgeous smile and I see nothing at all wrong with your teeth or profile. I wish my teeth looked like that. I definitely could do with braces.

Your teeth are lovely and you have a beautiful smile.I have an overbite much bigger than yours and a very small jaw, my jaw doesn’t line up in fact the middle of my top teeth lines up with the middle of one of my bottom teeth. I get the tmj thing and I can’t open my mouth wide when I go
to the dentist it’s very uncomfortable. My dentist has told me you can do exercises to help tmj discomfort called Rocabado 6x6 exercises so this might help you. I would completely leave your teeth as they are!

OP, your teeth are beautiful! He's talking crap.
Stick with your lovely NHS dentist.

You have beautiful teeth! Don’t fret