I’m an NHS dentist…

[Booyahh]

First time posting… AIBU to think that NHS dentistry is absolutely on its arse? I’ve been in the industry since 2011 and it’s getting so much worse. I’m constantly hearing bad things about dentists or the ability to see a dentist, which makes me so sad. (I’ve started this thread on the back of another post recently just to hear some views)
I’d love to hear people feedback. Also, happy to answer any questions anyone may have

@ainsleysanob I don't understand, you mean you still have the crown and he could re-cement it in, but won't do that? (I have four crowns, fortunately none have ever fallen out!)

Yes! He will not do anything more with this tooth/crown! It was only put in in July!

Can't get an NHS dentist where I am in Central Scotland for love nor money. I know a few people who have just stopped going due to the cost or who choose to have a troublesome tooth pulled rather than filled as that's usually.the cheaper option.

Thank you for practicing an under-appreciated branch of medicine. I have to say both my and DH's recent experience has been fine. Yes it's not cheap even on the NHS but all the staff - receptionists, dentists and nurses - atmy practice are lovely, and I have only had great care from them. I am a rule-following 6 month check-up person, whereas DH doesn't trouble them until he's in pain, but his recent 'three fillings and no judgement' appointment was quickly booked and sorted.

A tooth that is crowned is one that is already badly damaged. Did tooth break off inside the crown? In which case there may not be enough tooth left either to put crown back on or put another crown on.

I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe Lollygaggle is right and the tooth has become more damaged underneath so the original crown can't reattach. Otherwise it sounds very odd.

My tooth was hurting last year so I booked a flight to Budapest for £30 with wizzair,

I got a checkup, white composite filling and a clean for £90 .. also had a couple of days holiday enjoying the city..

I recommend this route to anyone in the UK without NHS dentistry...

Nope! All is well, he did a root canal on it in January and the crown in July! He put what he called a composite layer underneath the crown which is still in tact because he said ‘ooh that’s lucky!’! When I challenged him he just said ‘the guidelines changed recently’! I just don’t think he could be bothered! 🤣

I'm lucky enough to have an NHS dentist, and I can afford regular treatment, but there is a huge number of people who simply don't go, because they can't enrol with NHS practice, and simply can't afford to go. I know someone who superglued a cap back in, as he was skint. Others have pulled their own painful teeth, etc etc.
Thanks for the work you do, dentists have helped me out enormously 😊🦷🪥

I had the same experience, felt as if I were drowning. Couldn’t wait for it to finish. Having heard descriptions of it previously, I expected it to be a much more tolerable experience .

That's kind of reassuring. At the end she was saying "see you again to repeat in 6 months" and I was thinking "not bloody likely!" Then I saw it's described as gentle and recommended for anxious patients and I wondered if I was just unlucky.

It’s an NHS dentist, and the hygienist seems to be private, but using/ renting a room in the same surgery.

I’m in the SE and moved here 15yrs ago . I’ve never been able to have an NHS dentist and have a private dentist . I was very lucky to get on their books because I was the last person they had capacity to take on . I see a lot of people in their 30’s with no teeth or rotted teeth .

The health of your teeth has little to do with the dentist and everything to do with what you eat and drink.
Grazing on food and sipping on drinks that are sugary/starchy are fatal to teeth . Energy drinks, protein shakes, flavoured coffees , which are popular in this age group are full of sugar .
98% of dental treatment is avoidable and it’s not the 20 minutes once or twice a year you spend in the dental chair that makes the difference it’s what you eat and drink that makes the biggest difference .

👏🏻
I’m tired of seeing the “ my teeth have gone bad because I couldn’t find an NHS dentist” posts!
No, your teeth have gone bad because you don’t look after them with a good diet and good oral hygiene.

It must be so frustrating for you. I left the nhs dentist I was seeing when they discovered gum disease with quite severe pocketing. Basically they said there was nothing they could do. I consulted another nhs dentist and he said this couldn’t be treated on the nhs and advised me to get private treatment. I am fortunate I have been able to afford deep cleaning under the gums with local anaesthetic by a periodontist which I’ve followed up with regular hygienist appointments and a good cleaning regime. I still have my teeth 10 years on. While my pocketing is still there it is much better. It’s really sad and unfair - had I not had the money I’d have lost a lot of my teeth by now.

Thank you for being an NHS dentist.

I cannot imagine saying "I hate going to the dentist" in front of the actual person.😁
After 45 years of not having virtually any problems, I now need 7 teeth to be "looked at", cracks, extractions etc. I can only think they went home after a recent treatment I had to undertake.
To say I'm very concerned is an understatement.
😐

You know what I meant 🙄

My dentist has just taken me off the NHS list and pushed me to be an 'independent' patient - what is the benefit to them of doing this?

I'd just love to be able to find an NHS dentist!

You can get on the NHS waiting list here but apparently it's more than a 3 year wait, however the same dentist can fit you in today!
I've given up with the NHS and the dentists by me are so over priced even with denplan, so we travel to Thailand every year and I have all my treatment done there, modern, spotlessly clean, insurances and US trained dentists etc ( I did my research) , had 2 teeth composite bonded last year, deep cleaned, whitened, a composite filling with a follow up appiontment all for under £250, the price quoted by my old dentist was more than treatment and the holiday!

After about a decade of not having one, I finally got an NHS dentist. I am very anxious and hate people touching me but he is very understanding and patient. I never feel judged. if I need 10 minutes to feel ready to get in the chair then I get that.
My teeth are bad due to neglect and that is down to my mental health issues but I have ever felt told off by him.
Before I had an NHS dentist I had some treatments with a private one and I was treated like I was a nuisance. I also feel I was lied to about some things. I was told I had a failed root canal and I would have to pay loads to have it redone. When I got my NHS dentist I asked about it and was told it was fine. Showed me the x-rays too.

Absolutely this! 100% agreed.

I have neglected my teeth and I agree.
Dentists are there to spot issues and treat them.

But there are people pulling their own teeth out because they dont have a dentist to spot those issues and treat them to start with. And for some there are treatments that would have saved the tooth to begin with before things got so bad they had to get the pliers out at home.

Your second point is true, but that’s a separate issue. It doesn’t detract from the truth of those statements.

Taking care of your teeth is a lifetime project. And much of it you can do yourself, on a daily basis. Prevention is better than cure, after all.