Question about Dental Work Required
Discussion
Ok, the other dental post on here got me thinking.
I need to re-register with a dentist ASAP, I went off to Uni, came back in 2006 and haven't re-registered yet, as I'm an idiot, and require some work done on my bottom wisdom teeth.
Now the question I have is:
- As I require work to the bottom wisdom teeth, if I sign up to an NHS dentist, are they more likely to just pull the tooth, than to try and fill it first?
- If I go privately, will I receive better treatment?
- What are the likely costs for filling work done to Wisdom teeth (if at all possible?)
I know I need work, but I can't face the prospect of having teeth pulled, and will do anything to avoid it!
Anyone had a similiar experience? Recommendations?
I need to re-register with a dentist ASAP, I went off to Uni, came back in 2006 and haven't re-registered yet, as I'm an idiot, and require some work done on my bottom wisdom teeth.
Now the question I have is:
- As I require work to the bottom wisdom teeth, if I sign up to an NHS dentist, are they more likely to just pull the tooth, than to try and fill it first?
- If I go privately, will I receive better treatment?
- What are the likely costs for filling work done to Wisdom teeth (if at all possible?)
I know I need work, but I can't face the prospect of having teeth pulled, and will do anything to avoid it!
Anyone had a similiar experience? Recommendations?
Edited by stuart-b on Sunday 19th October 23:09
Right i'm not an expert on this but have been in a similar situation. Prior to going to uni I went to a private dentist along with my Dad. He was very highly qualified had taught dentristry etc and talked a lot of sense. Didn't go to a dentist for a year or two then decided no longer wanting to scrounge off Dad to go nhs. First check up and I'm givena list as long as my arm including removal and a replacment filling. Didn't totally agree so rang my previous private dentist for advice.
The tooth the nhs dentist wanted to remove my private dentist thought could be saved although said it didn't even need any surgery yet, the fillings my nhs dentist wanted to replace were due to them being made from a composite wihich the nhs do not allow their dentists to use.
Basically what I gathered was the nhs will always take the cheapest option which although not likely to cause you any great problems is not always the best long term. There also seem to be massive differences in procedures between nhs and private dentists. Some people will tell you private dentists rip you off which I'm sure some do but I think so long as you have a respectable private dentist they will perhaps advise you and treat you slightly better as their not so constrained by costs and procedures.
This is just my opinion from my personal experiences and i'm sure an nhs dentist will come along now and disagree totally but if your that worried about it I would suggest seeing a private dentist and getting a second opinion first.
The tooth the nhs dentist wanted to remove my private dentist thought could be saved although said it didn't even need any surgery yet, the fillings my nhs dentist wanted to replace were due to them being made from a composite wihich the nhs do not allow their dentists to use.
Basically what I gathered was the nhs will always take the cheapest option which although not likely to cause you any great problems is not always the best long term. There also seem to be massive differences in procedures between nhs and private dentists. Some people will tell you private dentists rip you off which I'm sure some do but I think so long as you have a respectable private dentist they will perhaps advise you and treat you slightly better as their not so constrained by costs and procedures.
This is just my opinion from my personal experiences and i'm sure an nhs dentist will come along now and disagree totally but if your that worried about it I would suggest seeing a private dentist and getting a second opinion first.
Thanks.
Yes I also have a filling which is not "white". That will need replacing too.
I have a feeling that I have quite a bit of work required, so unsure how to go about it, as I want extraction as a _last_ resort. I wondered if it's just cheaper for the NHS dentists to extract the tooth rather than fill and try to save it.
Thanks very much for your feedback.
Yes I also have a filling which is not "white". That will need replacing too.
I have a feeling that I have quite a bit of work required, so unsure how to go about it, as I want extraction as a _last_ resort. I wondered if it's just cheaper for the NHS dentists to extract the tooth rather than fill and try to save it.
Thanks very much for your feedback.
Stuart - I've just come back from my first trip to a dentist in 6 or 7 years... had to go with the local emergency NHS fella down the road because I couldnt eat (back tooth was killing me).
Was VERY unsure about what would happen, also this dental practice is in a rough part of town and not the nicest of buildings... I was a bit worried.
Anyway... went 3 weeks ago. Saw the dentist and it was like no other dentist I've been too! 100% no faffing around... the guy hardly said two words to me. He slapped in a temp filling and said come back for 2 filling next monday and two more the Monday after. s
t I thought... this isnt good! I asked about having white fillings and he pretty much just said no.
I saw this as all my own fault and it was my penance for not going to see a regular dentist more often... I'd have to lump it and maybe learn my lesson.
Also I thought it would still cost an arm & a leg.
Well 4 hours later and the numbness has just worn off. This guy was GREAT... no pain whatso ever, I didnt even see him put the needle in my mouth.
AND for the total of £44 pounds I've got 4 fillings (which are so neat and to be honest look white or at least no worse than the rotten tooth underneath did!!) He also did a really good clean up too.
No chit chat or niceness... but it was an excellent & cheap job.
Was VERY unsure about what would happen, also this dental practice is in a rough part of town and not the nicest of buildings... I was a bit worried.
Anyway... went 3 weeks ago. Saw the dentist and it was like no other dentist I've been too! 100% no faffing around... the guy hardly said two words to me. He slapped in a temp filling and said come back for 2 filling next monday and two more the Monday after. s
t I thought... this isnt good! I asked about having white fillings and he pretty much just said no.I saw this as all my own fault and it was my penance for not going to see a regular dentist more often... I'd have to lump it and maybe learn my lesson.
Also I thought it would still cost an arm & a leg.
Well 4 hours later and the numbness has just worn off. This guy was GREAT... no pain whatso ever, I didnt even see him put the needle in my mouth.
AND for the total of £44 pounds I've got 4 fillings (which are so neat and to be honest look white or at least no worse than the rotten tooth underneath did!!) He also did a really good clean up too.
No chit chat or niceness... but it was an excellent & cheap job.Steamer, my tooth occasionally gives me problems with cold liquids, but I don't get tooth ache, so it's probably not as advanced as your cavity. At least some good news...
I really need to sort it out, my only issue was the fact that it was a wisdom tooth, and thus unsure how it's dealt with these days.
Where are you based by the way, sounds like I need to visit your chap!
Thanks.
I really need to sort it out, my only issue was the fact that it was a wisdom tooth, and thus unsure how it's dealt with these days.
Where are you based by the way, sounds like I need to visit your chap!
Thanks.
stuart-b said:
Steamer, my tooth occasionally gives me problems with cold liquids, but I don't get tooth ache, so it's probably not as advanced as your cavity. At least some good news...
I really need to sort it out, my only issue was the fact that it was a wisdom tooth, and thus unsure how it's dealt with these days.
Where are you based by the way, sounds like I need to visit your chap!
Thanks.
I had the exact same worries as you - I hate the dentist because the posh one I saw when i was a kid took 4 of my teeth out for no real reason (I was supposed to have a brace fitted and he was getting ready for that... but then decided I didnt need one afterall!) and for some reason I never had any wisdom teeth either!I really need to sort it out, my only issue was the fact that it was a wisdom tooth, and thus unsure how it's dealt with these days.
Where are you based by the way, sounds like I need to visit your chap!
Thanks.
Anyway - this NHS chap has been a real eye opener for me and totally goes against everything i had heard, but its down to the individual dentist at the end of the day i guess (mine is in the south west midlands by the way).
Never met a less talkative person! he didnt even say goodbye!
but he didnt hurt me so I'll let him off! (and I'm guessing where he is situated he must have to deal with some pretty rough cases! can't blame him for not being a happy chap) And when they asked me for £44... I initially thought that was for each one!!Hope it goes as painlessly as mine did.
PS: I only got the pain when I tried to eat anything, was fine with hot & cold fluids.
It's like any other profession, some are good, some are very good - some are questionable at best 
You can have virtually any treatement on the NHS, however over and above stuff will require extra funds to be added on your part. For example a bog standard metal filling will be in a certain band (2 I think) and will cost X (£45 ish IIRC) However, if you choose composite (white) you will have to add extra to this cost.
There is no financial advantage in the NHS dentist taking a tooth out - there is however a financial motivation in keeping it - it will require maintenance until it comes out Different Dentists have different opinions on these things...
The NHS will always work out far cheaper, particularly when you need more than one thing doing. It's worth noting that costs are capped, and one programme of treatment should never set you back more than £180 IIRC.
You can have virtually any treatement on the NHS, however over and above stuff will require extra funds to be added on your part. For example a bog standard metal filling will be in a certain band (2 I think) and will cost X (£45 ish IIRC) However, if you choose composite (white) you will have to add extra to this cost.
There is no financial advantage in the NHS dentist taking a tooth out - there is however a financial motivation in keeping it - it will require maintenance until it comes out
Different Dentists have different opinions on these things...The NHS will always work out far cheaper, particularly when you need more than one thing doing. It's worth noting that costs are capped, and one programme of treatment should never set you back more than £180 IIRC.
Edited by Kuroblack350 on Monday 20th October 15:47
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff