To think my new dentist is taking the piss?

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I used to have a lovely NHS dentist and whenever I went for a check up I really felt that he had taken the time to examine my teeth carefully. Unfortunately he moved practices and the last two times I have had a new NHS dentist. She's very pleasant but she just seems to waft the mirror around in my mouth for around 30 seconds and then tells me everything is fine. Obvs I'm happy that my teeth seem ok but how can she really tell in such a short space of time? I've booked my next appt with a different dentist, but wondered if IABU and was just v lucky with my old dentist?

They all do that now since covid. Also, all that poking about dentists used to do actually damaged people's teeth.

I’ve always had thorough examinations.

I'd like to know how you managed to find all these NHS dentists.

My dentist spends more time telling me how to look after my teeth than examining them 😣

Isn’t that the point of a dentist to advise you on how to ensure you don’t need treatment?

No, I go for a check up so I can have my teeth examined 🙄

They are supposed to check your gums with a probe, and teeth, if they see anything suspicious - they no longer poke each tooth everytime. And X-ray if they feel they need to take a further look. If they are not doing that then I’d try to find another one (if you can!). My DS was seeing an NHS dentist very regularly who was similarly slapdash. Moved and went to another dentist and needed about 15 fillings. There’s no way that at least some of this deterioration wasn’t obvious on previous checkups. I sent him to a private dentist to double check it wasn’t the second dentist creating work for themselves but they confirmed it and said that at least some of the deeper fillings would have bern obvious for a while.

My dentist was more thorough when she did NHS work. Since going private, her check up is about 2 minutes long and she seems to leave most things to the hygienist.

Sometimes it’s a 30 second waft with a mirror and a cheery see you in 9 months. The next it’s oh you need a filling. Then it’s back to wafting a mirror around for less than a minute

My NHS dentist does a full inspection each time including a quick oral cancer screening. He seems to be following an examination checklist so I assumed they all did the same.

Whereas my private dentist (moved to him last year after NHS one closed and no there close enough) spends ages checking my teeth, my mouth, my jaw and my neck.

This is the reason I’m now looking at an alternative dental practice. I’ve been with my current one for years but recently they’ve become part of a large group and consequently the appointments are definitely getting shorter and less thorough - and I’m paying privately too! There’s also a much quicker turnover of staff as well, which is never a good sign.

You get what you pay for, I’m afraid. I moved from the UK to the US and I’m shocked at how much better dental treatment is here. The technology is on another level. Crazy expensive without insurance though, of course.

My dentist always says 'nice brushing' which makes me feel quite chuffed.
She has a good look at my teeth before that.