Dentist - NHS or private?

[pigsinmud]

I go to the only NHS dentist in town. I have about 8 fillings which I've had since about 14 - apparently I have deep fissures! Obviously these have to be replaced every now & then. I worry about going to the dentist so much although I always go every 6 months for a check up and I look fine - no-one would guess I was shaking! My problem with the dentist is that I don't trust him/her. They are always changing - I've has Spanish, Israeli, polish .... and sometimes can barely understand them. My last one was German, which was fine as I could understand him and he was there for 3 years. That is the other problem - sometimes I meet the dentist, return in 6 months and it's a different one ... another 6 months and different again.

A little part of a filing has broken off, so I rang the dentist - can't see me for 3 weeks and my lovely German dentist has gone. I'm now worrying about the new one. I'm starting to think I should swap to a private dentist - they seem to stay put for longer!

What would you do? My dh has never had a single filling so doesn't understand my fear. I'd leave dh & children with the NHS dentist.

If you can afford it, I would go private. I work for a dentist, and the NHS ones are really pushed for time and constrained in what they can do for patients, they love being able to offer a better service to their private patients.

We had no choice. We had to go private as we could not find any NHS dentists with spaces available on their waiting lists. Dh and I are private atients; the lovely dentist has put DD down as NHS until she turns 18 (she is only 5 so a long way yet).

So far been very impressed although only had to have routine appointments. Can always get a decent appointent without having to wait ages.

I really want to be able to tell you to stick with the NHS but I had 2 years with a brilliant private dentist then we moved and have an NHS dental surgery opposite our house so we swapped - I haven't seen the same dentist twice they are always moving on - they don't give a sh*t who I am and I really considering traveling a great distance to be able to go back to my old dentist.

Good luck with your choice - sorry can't be more help.

That's it JingleyJen - mine are always moving on. We could afford it. I feel the time problem - even with my last dentist. I never quite trusted what he did - always in a hurry. I just want to see a dentist more than once!

I had private for years, since a child, never even had a filling. The only thing that used to bug me was the expense, 2 check ups a year (£35 each), plus 2 hygienist appointments (£40 each).

I have gone to NHS since I had a baby and I hate my new dentists, already had a couple of different ones. Thinking of re-budgeting and going private again. They spend about 30 seconds looking in my mouth they wave me out the door. NHS hygienist is crap too, a couple of little scrapes and thats all.

For the sake of DS's teeth I think we are going to have to find the money and get fancy dental insurance.