NHS/Private dentists. May I ask your opinion, please?

[RapunzelsSplitEnds]

Firstly, I'll admit to having a real fear of dentists since a wisdom tooth extraction caused a complete loss of feeling in my lower jaw and half of my tongue. I have had help to cope with subsequent visits.

Today, I have had three very strange looking (gum to tooth) fillings done, strange that they feel like rough polyfiller, they look hideous and were not 'smoothed' down. They are a completely different colour to my teeth and are causing irritation to my inner cheek.

The second issue baffles me. The dentist briefly discussed impending root canal treatment with me. She showed me a photo of two lots of drills, one set being NHS drills, the other were 'superior' private drills. Dentist said she 'thought she would reach' with the NHS drills but the private ones would be finer and make a better job.

I am an NHS patient and feel that the appearance of the filled teeth /gums have been ruined and they feel unnaturally rough. It is very noticeable when I smile as the three fillings are at the edge of a smile iykwim.

Is this normal? Is the line between private dentistry and NHS treatment so marked? I wondered if other NHS patients were ever made to feel so inferior?
I can honestly say that it is the last time I will ever visit a dentist as I've now completely lost trust.

Anyone?

Not a dentist, but ring up and go back about the fillings - it will take the dentist ten seconds to smooth them off. I had one where my bite was off because I was so frozen up and it was sitting slightly too high once the anaesthetic wore off, and it was resolved instantly and painlessly.

I am an NHS patient in a mainly private practice and my dentist is absolutely super (and I've had months of issues due to a newly acquired night-time clenching habit, plus am a very, very anxious patient). I definitely don't feel inferior. Can you change to a different surgery?

Thank you, Judy.

It is very difficult to find another NHS dentist here but I'm not going to continue with this practice any more.
My family are shocked at the state of the new fillings, where the gum receded and exposed the bone. I honestly don't know what to do as it is really bad. I think it would cost a fortune to be fixed privately, not that it would be an option.
Why, when the dentist was made aware of my anxiety (plus anxiolytic meds) would she show me the 'inferior' drills and say she 'might' manage the root canal?

If all else fails and I leave this practice, there is a good dental hospital in one of the bigger cities although it is a fair distance away.

Definitely go back regarding the feel of the fillings at least. If they are causing irritation, that shouldn't be allowed to continue. As Judy said, it should take no time at all to smooth them down.

I had an exact same filling done a couple of months ago.
It isnt the exact same colour of the tooth (quite close though) but it is very good and it feels ok as well.
Go back get it sorted, esp as it is rubbing on your cheek.

You must go back re the fillings, OP. I think I have misunderstood, are they on the front of your teeth at the gum line rather than the top so you can see them at the base when you smile? Regardless, you are a paying customer and you are not happy.

Thank you all for replying.

The fillings begin on the fourth tooth on the upper right hand side in one lump until the sixth tooth (second back molar). The lower filling is on the forth right tooth.
I have decided to write a letter of complaint to the senior dentist on account of an initial misdiagnosis ( diagnosed as sinus issues instead of tooth abscess), filling from hell and the comparison between inferior NHS drills and superior private ones.
I'm also cancelling the root canal treatment as I simply couldn't cope with the extreme anxiety especially as I have have to accept the 'inferior' NHS drills and the dentist's throwaway comment that 'She might reach with them'.
I was at a meeting yesterday and someone who knew me made a comment on the weird fillings when I smiled. It wasn't said nastily but I secretly died a bit and feel very self conscious now.

Can you understand dental anxiety or am I just being a coward? I can't face going back to get the horrible fillings sanded down.

The difference between NHS and privately funded everything is huge.

It seems that way Ttbb and it is really sad that people are either made to feel bad about not being able to pay privately or given 'inferior' service. A white filling was going to cost circa £400!
What bothers me is we have all paid albeit through National Insurance contributions, etc.

I 100% sympathise with dental anxiety, rapunzel, and I totally understand your frustration. You are not being a coward. For me, I can manage the anxiety enough to have treatment because I know the alternative is being in pain - I know I am very lucky to have an excellent NHS dentist though. I really hope you get some resolution.