To think this dentist was conning me?

[breadybread]

About 7 years ago I went to the dentist for the first time in years, I went private as there were no nhs dentists available locally. The dentist told me that I'd need a tooth out and to book an extraction on the way out, once I heard what the cost would be I thought hmmm maybe I'll travel for an nhs dentist. So I did. The nhs dentist has never even murmured the idea of having a tooth out and have had one tiny filling (in a different area) in the 7 years since.

So was that original dentist trying to extract a tooth and lots of money out of me? Or was it just a professional difference of opinion?

Was it a wisdom tooth? I'm not a dentist but I've heard that opinions about WT differ. Some are happy to leave it until it starts to cause problems, whereas others prefer to extract them preemptively.

Hmmm interesting, I can't actually remember but I think it was about a wisdom tooth being too close to another tooth..this is a vague recollection!

How are you still thinking about this after seven(!) years?!

NHS dentists will usually go for the cheapest, most minimally invasive option, even if it leads to problems later on.

Private dentists will be more conservative with their recommendations.

Both have their merit in certain situations.

I don't believe he was conning you, he probably thought the tooth would cause issues at some point.

I’ve had similar experience, private dentist said I needed root canal and 2 fillings, went for second opinion to a different private dentist and they said I didn’t need anything doing. 5 years later my teeth are all fine! I wish it was easier to put complaints in about this sort of scamming.

Haha I had the dentist today and it reminded me 😅

Yes my husband also got told by a different dentist that he needed 3 fillings, switched to another and they've never suggested anything of the sort.

I felt my private denist was more of a salesman! Gave me a huge preventative treatment plan, its wasn't necessary at all, went back to nhs and they didn't mention any of what they suggested, you do need to be careful.

And also I nearly paid £300 to lose a tooth unnecessarily!

Well gosh if nothing has happened in 7 years then having the tooth out would've been very VERY conservative.

If they said I needed to lose the tooth I would need them to give me a very good reason why.
If it didn't hurt, have decay, smell bad or be loose then why?
A decent dentist is all about conservative treatment. Losing teeth is the last option.
Anyone who insists on a removal without explanation isn't a good dentist.
But seven years is a very long time to dwell on a situation that didn't actually happen.
Go to the dentist every year for a checkup and a hygeine every six months, then it's unlikely you'll suddenly need to have any teeth removed.

I guess the worry is that the NHS one might be too light on treatment and what could have been treated earlier when it was a small issue that needed a small filling becomes a big problem.