To think our NHS dentist should provide the care DP requires!!!

[lilylu22]

Instead of trying to refer him to a private hygienist!!

DP has a severe gum infection... Tried and tried and tried to resolved it at home with almost obsessive brushing and mouthwashing, but to no avail.

Went to see our NHS dentist who told us he required 'deep cleaning'. However that he would only offer one standard NHS clean but DP should 'for the sake of his own health' visit the private hygienist for a deep clean.

Funnily enough, there is NHS literature in his waiting room that states, 'if your dentist says that you need a particular type of treatment, you should not be asked to pay for it privately'.

I just feel his is taking the P and that this is exactly the type of care the NHS is supposed to provide. I was with DP so I triple checked with the dentist the care he was suggesting we seek was 'clinically necessary' (what the NHS says it will provide) - and he was very rude and made out like I was thick, "that's what I just said". I asked that refer us to a NHS hygienist so we could have the treatment done, but he said such a thing doesn't exist.

Have rang our local primary care trust that suggest we go to have the NHS 'brief clean' he is offering then consult a new NHS dentist to see if he has resolved the problem entirely. If not, they will deal with him - for breach of his contact to provide all necessary services to NHS patients..

BUT - it seems unfair we have to go thought consulting a second dentist etc when he himself admits DP will need more than one clean. Imagine how many more people this dentist is exploiting but getting them to privately pay to what they are entitled to under the NHS..

Rant over - AIBU??

gingivitis

basically not cleaning your teeth properly i think

Thank you.

Yes - I think he fully realizes how slack he has been to cause this... Tho it's not like he is yucky with hygiene, just too many night coming home from the pub late and falling into bed...

I also think some people are more "prone" to it than others lilylu. I have also had many nights falling into bed without brushing and seem to have got away with it.

Dh brushes for britain and has just had a load of work done.

I think it's (as with a lot of things) a combo of doing it "right" with luck thrown in as well.

If you don't get on top of gum disease then your teeth will fall out and the NHS will give you dentures.

IMO there is only one way to look after your gums if you are prone to gum disease - excellent dental hygiene - electric toothbrush and daily flossing. Regular visits to the hygenist may also be necessary for some people at around £40 a pop, from either your NHS dentist or private practice. I go 6 at 6 monthly intervals because my teeth are quite close together.

NHS dental health provision is now semi-privatised with only a minimal service provided. It has been like this for some time. I don't imagine you are going to get anywhere on trying to get the hygenist service free - but campaigning for improved NHS dental services is a worthy cause imo.

So no one can tell me what services a dentist must offer on the NHS??

This thread is interesting and I don't really have much to say other than I don't consider 65k (the average wage for a NHS dentist) a pittance.

I have an NHS appointment next week - which incidentally I had no problem obtaining - because since being pregnant my teeth aren't what they used to be. Here's hoping mine will be a good experience.

Glad you got a good result in the end lilylu.

Hello - Got as far as the sentence saying 'Is there a dentist in the house??' - and I am, so I thought I had better respond!
It is a tricky one I'm afraid - technically NHS should provide all treatment that is not cosmetic - so curing gum disease is included in this....
However: it would be hard to maintain a viable NHS practice (ie not go bust) if you did ALL the very best periodontal treatment you could on the NHS - it would take soooo long, and not be reimbursed. We would and often do end up end earning less than the minimal wage if treatment times extend too long. For example, I recently saw a patient for 30mins x 9 appointments - for which I would receive a grand sum of £31.50 - so that's £3.50 an hour. (and that is just one instance of many) The patient doesn't realise this of course, so my charitable act is in vain as he/ everyone else presumes I'm raking it in! So, should we carry on doing everything we can for everyone even if it means going bust? We have to buy our own buildings, and pay our own staff etc etc - we don't get NHS funding.

Well, personally I try my level best - and do fantastic NHS scales for people, rather than make them pay for PRIVATE hygienist rates. Most hygienist refuse to work NHS, so we can't really get them for our practices. All in all it depends on your dentist and what they do and don't do - we can all complain and kick up a fuss because the system is a nuisance - but it is a nuisance from both sides I can assure you! Not much we can do, but find a lovely dentist that we can chat through the issues with, and hopefully realise that we both want the same thing - dental health! Hoorah! Get flossing everyone - and that includes me....
Hope this helps!

LittleBugsMum, out of that money that have to pay

Staff
Lab fees
Mortgage/rent on a practice
dental reg fees
materials needed to treat patients
equipment needed to treat patients
bills...elec, gas, phone etc
post graduate courses/seminars

You really think they profit all they make?

There seems to be a huge amount of ignorance about gum disease on here - yes it can be caused by not cleaning your teeth properly or it can be just one of those things that some people get even when they don't ever smoke, always clean their teeth properly and regularly floss. All my treatment has been private as it isn't offered on the NHS at all including the gum surgery I had at the weekend. (Yes it was horrible.)