To think dentists just count teeth at an nhs checkup?

[Oucht]

After the checkup I had yesterday - told something was looking ok just for the pain to become agonising during the day.. it got me thinking that NHS checkup is merely counting teeth. Is that the same for everyone who has an NHS dentist?

The teeth are not checked for problems unless you mention them. I said an old filling was catching food.. turns out the tooth next to it needs a filling.

The one that's hurting at the back.. second in molar.. is next to a large filling where I have bone loss which has always been a bit achey.. dentist said that all looked fine.. pain got worse.. now I'm having to go back tomorrow because when I look with a mirror at the back of my tooth it has a big crack through it.

We get judged for DD having a dummy, and then the Dentist quickly checks us both over and is seemingly disappointed that there is absolutely nothing wrong with my teeth and I've never had a filling, gum disease or required any treatment other than the extensive orthodontic work I had as a child to correct overcrowding.

She seems to want to find fault, then sighs and tells me my teeth are fine! But I'm not complaining because at least we're NHS patients so if I do need treatment I'd actually be able to afford it in the future.

Mine still does

My lovely NHS dentist, who is a similar age to me, has recently retired. We have also moved to a different part of the country and have arranged to have a private dentist while on the waiting list for an NHS dentist at the same practice. I have annual checkups and am usually fine. My dentist was always very thorough and l had x-rays and a scale and polish. Occasionally, the need for treatment would arise and she was always extremely caring and understanding. I had part of a tooth break earlier this year and she told me there was no decay and she built it up with glass isonomer, telling me that, as we get older, our teeth have been working very hard and that it is not unusual to have the odd problem here and there. I am in my (very) late fifties and, apart from the teeth that were removed during orthodontic work because of overcrowding, have all my teeth and plan to keep them for the rest of my life. I do have some fillings, as does nearly everyone my age but on the whole my teeth are strong and I thank my wonderful NHS dentists for helping me to keep them that way.

My dentist is great. Yes he counts but he also checks each tooth and checks all round my mouth and under my tongue for anything dodgy. He gives them a descale too if they need it. Yours dentist just sounds shit.

My dentist spent a few minutes looking, then said I needed to make an appointment with the hygienist. I can't afford to keep seeing the hygienist on top of paying for my actual dentist to look in my mouth briefly...

What is the position with X-rays? Years ago I used to have X-rays once every 3-4 years purely as a checkup, but have never had them with my current dentist (who is relatively young). As a former radiographer I assumed this was because it’s no longer encouraged (in general) to use X-rays as a screening tool where avoidable, but it seems that’s not the case?

YANBU
Most of my friends have NHS dentists, and they just get the most basic of checks.
During a checkup, my NHS dentist told the nurse I had a shadow over one of my teeth (and said it could be a something sinister), and a few cavities. She just told me to come back in 6 months.
It has been the same with a lot of people I know.. they have a check up but know they will need a filling etc. But nothing gets done.
Saying that, out of desperation, I went private and had the same experience. Had a tooth removed due to infection, but everything else ignored.

Lots of NHS practices do a mixture of NHS and private work.

Mine does.

So it isn't in any dentists interest to be shitty to patients as don't know from how people are dressed who will be able to pay for a particular piece of private work.