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Original poster

my dental hell: please come to mock, commiserate or offer professional advice

30 replies

policywonk · 09/10/2007 20:09

Sooo... I've just come back from my first visit to the dentist in about three years, and I have:

one ordinary filling to do (but white, cos b'feeding)
one ordinary root canal plus crown
two extractions (cos would require specialist root canal work that would cost about £1300 per tooth)
Grand total: over £1000

DP says it's because I brush my teeth too much (he never brushes his and has had one filling in the last 15 years).

It's practically impossible to get in to see NHS dentists round here - and even if I did, last year the NHS dentistry budget for this area was all used up by November and no-one could get any dental work done on the NHS until the new budget became available in April. The dentist I saw today reckoned that NHS dentists would not touch the specialist root canal work and would recommend extraction anyway.

If any actual dentists are reading this - is it worth getting a second opinion? Does this price bracket sound reasonable or insane (given that I am in Surrey)?

Do I have the worst teeth in the UK?

OP posts:
Nbg · 09/10/2007 20:11

I think that sounds about right I'm afraid.

I know my dad paid £500 for a crown !! [faint]

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 09/10/2007 20:12

Crikey - no advice policy just thankful that I still have an NHS dentist.

GreatHauntieWurly · 09/10/2007 20:12

when I went to the dentist, I hadnt been in 10 years due to panic attacks, anyway I needed

5 fillings
1 root canal
1 extraction.
had all of the work done under sedation and it cost a total of £600

Again I was told that I had to be treated as a private patient due to the work that had to be done and also cos I wanted it all done in one go.

If it helps, I cried all the way home from the dentist when he gave me his first "quote".

moondog · 09/10/2007 20:13

I've been reading a lot about Swiss Smile

Sounds like it could fill the gap in the market.

They won the Veuve Clicquot business woman of the year award.

Yuck at your dh not cleaning his teeth though.How can you stand to kiss him?

Original poster
policywonk · 09/10/2007 20:14

Wurly - I did feel quite tearful. It's a bit like someone telling you you're dirty and unhygienic, punching you in the face and then presenting you with a big bill, isn't it?

OP posts:
Cadmum · 09/10/2007 20:15

This may sound ridiculous, but would you consider a dental holiday to Hungary?

There are MANY brilliant English-speaking dentists that charge a fraction of the price. I am familiar with the details because we live in Austria and everyone that DH works with has a dentist in Hungary. We all went when we were back in Canada but I need to have work done and will be going to Hungary as soon as I find the time and courage!

I will find you a link if you are at all interested...

CarGirl · 09/10/2007 20:15

Not sure whereabouts you are but my dentist is in Addlestone near WEybridge - absolutely fantastic!!! Anyway they now recommend you join HSA - think top band is £17 per month, you can't claim for 3 months after joining but could you join and then wait 3 months to get some of the work done??? (only get 75% of treatment costs back but all of check ups, cleaning etc)

moondog · 09/10/2007 20:17

Sorry Policy but lol lol at your punching in the face analogy.
Hilarious!!!

GreatHauntieWurly · 09/10/2007 20:19

pc, I had known for ages that I had to go, 1 of my teeth had totally crumbled but the thought of going to the dentist turned me into a quivering wreck. It was only when I had toothache for about 4 months constant that I went for a check up. I cried before I was even in the surgery. Dentist was fantastic and was took his time with everything, but I still opted for sedation that cost me £120, but was best £120 I ever spent.

Original poster
policywonk · 09/10/2007 20:23

DO you know Cadmum, that does not sound entirely insane.

CarGirl - my dentist does HSA, but the problem is they won't cover pre-existing problems (ie, now that these things have been diagnosed they won't cover them). My dentist hinted that I could take out HSA cover now and then go to another dentist and act all innocent, but I'm a bit lily-livered and guess this would be technically fraudulent!

moondog - You can kiss him if you like, what with your mutual taste in bizarre musicians

OP posts:
BarbieGirl · 09/10/2007 20:24

Bloody hell that sounds like a rip off. I have had lots of work done on my teeth (similar to you) and it didn't amount to that.

blousy · 09/10/2007 20:25

I feel your pain Policy. I went after a 4 year hiatus and was still going a year later and was £2500 worse off! So I have the worst teeth in the UK (or an extremely expensive dentist .

Original poster
policywonk · 09/10/2007 20:26

Funnily enough I'm not too panicky about dentists - I don't like 'em, and obviously don't go often enough, but I don't get really panicky, thankfully. I guess you can't remember much about your extraction, Wurly? I have visions of the dentist getting a big pair of pliers out and putting his knee on my chest.

OP posts:
CarGirl · 09/10/2007 20:27

I know the lab fees for a crown are around £80 and I'm sure MIL paid around £500 to have it all done around here. I also compared the private vs NHS cost for new patient appt inc full xray it was about £3.50 cheaper!

ChippyMinton · 09/10/2007 20:28

policywonk, i have just signed up to a local NHS dentist, in NE Surrey, if that's any use? If you want the practice name let me know.

Original poster
policywonk · 09/10/2007 20:29

Barbie, can I be rude and ask what you had done and for how much? And also roughly where you live? I suspect that Surrey dentists are more expensive than the average (like everything else in Surrey)

Thank God for you, blousy, I really was beginning to think I was the worst.

DP just came in on his way to the shops and said 'I'm not buying you any chocolate, it's not cost-effective'.

OP posts:
Original poster
policywonk · 09/10/2007 20:31

CarGirl - my crown is costing £350, so maybe that's not too bad?

Chippy - yes please, that would be great if you don't mind. I am round your way (and CG's way).

OP posts:
CarGirl · 09/10/2007 20:33

If you want to know mine just ask. I've had really bad dentists in the past and she is fab does just what you need, very calm, pain relief given if needed etc etc etc I have cr*p teeth and she is looking after them very well for me, I know they have one NHS dentist there too.

bookwormmum · 09/10/2007 20:35

I went last week and required 2 fillings which is going to cost me in the region of £150. I've been going to him for 16 years - he used to run a mixed practice but now he has one NHS and one private practice. Guess which one I'm under??!

Original poster
policywonk · 09/10/2007 20:36

Oh go on then, yes please CG - is it one of the ones on Monument Green?

OP posts:
CarGirl · 09/10/2007 20:47

No, I go to Portmore Dental in Addlestone and see Mrs cole (yes they do have a practice in Weybridge though), don't know what the NHS dentist is called but they def had one 18 months ago but like I said the price difference was so little DH stumped up the extra dosh and got seen 2 months quicker!

Original poster
policywonk · 09/10/2007 20:52

Thank you - just as well to get a second opinion I suppose!

OP posts:
ChippyMinton · 09/10/2007 21:16

Village Dental Practice, Church Road, Ashford.
I don't know if they are any good, as none of us have needed treatment, but i was astonished that it was so easy to sign up given the bad things you hear about the NHS.

Original poster
policywonk · 10/10/2007 11:43

Thanks chippy, I'll look into it and get a costing.

Bumping for the daytime crowd on the off-chance that there's a real-life dentist about.

OP posts:
Cadmum · 10/10/2007 12:46

Sorry for running off yesterday. DD2 had a rough night.

I will get the name of the dentist that DH's friend used the other day. It was 50 Euros to replace a lost filling, fix a broken tooth and clean his teeth as well. It all took 45 minutes and he felt no pain...

I know that there are many dental clinics in Budapest that cater specifically to UK patients with inexpensive hotels and tours included. Just google to confirm.