Wonderfully efficient NHS [hmm]

Out patients appointment regarding my brain tumour. Appointment was at 4:45, arrived at 4:30, called through immediately and back on the way home by 5pm.

Dentistry does seem to be the real weak point. Our NHS dentist is very good but if we have an out of hours emergency it's a nightmare.

I was pleasantly surprised when I was referred to another surgery for an extraction that my dentist didn't feel she could do. I was wondering how much it was going to cost and was told there was no charge!

Yes - two aspects of the NHS, the good and the bad, in one day!

Now that is the efficient NHS! What a lovely dentist she was.

Virtually pain free now I am glad to say - a bit of paracetamol seems to be doing the trick. I am hoping it will all settle by tomorrow.

I am going to seek out a new dentist when I get home - I have not been happy with mine for some time - he is very off-hand, and I have told him on several occasions that there was something wrong with the crown on one of my teeth. Having just experienced dentistry as it should be, I know that I was right to be unhappy with him. As well as sorting the main problem, this dentist took one look at the crown, said it was ill-fitting and also that it was about to fall out. She removed it for me, reshaped it and cemented it back securely. She did not have to do this as it was not the problem I went in with - and all for £13.70 emergency dentistry fee!

The S.O. is 300 miles from home and suffering with an abscess on his gum. Thankfully he has some antibiotics with him from another complaint as a phone call to a NHS emergency centre was no help at all. He was in terrible pain. It's no wonder people just go to A&E all the time. A doctor won't prescribe anything for tooth/mouth problems as they have no training in that area, even though all they need do is prescribe the same antibiotics that the dentist will.

Hope it's better soon lucky. Too many protocols, as I keep saying. Ggggrrrr!

Hope your tooth is better now luckygirl

I did some temp work with a well -known dental plan company a few years ago and I was amazed at the difference in cost/month for the same benefits depending on where you live - to the extent of double in some places

Oh dear Lucky - that's miserable on all fronts. The NHS seems to be like the girl with the curl; when it's good, it's very good, but when it's bad........! and hope your toothache is soon resolved (without too much expense).

I am with Denplan. Lovely assistant to my dentist, knowing that I was going to India, that I should claim dentists bill on my return.

One of my crowns became loose, this was at a time when we got about 12 hours electricity per day!

Went to a reccomended dentist, but no power, he ad a genset which ran on t he smelliest fuel possible.

Dentist took a look at the tooth, assistant turned his light off, did a bit more work, lights on and off to save fuel.

He did a good job fitting the crown on so I did not look alike the wicked witch.

Charge the equivalent of £5.

Denplan does not reimburse such low amounts.

Cost an arm and a leg to get a titanium implant, but it does seem to work. fine

I am with an NHS dentist back home - but I do not know what I will be charged today. I will add that to the £13 odd that the phone call cost!

Ps hope toothache is gone soon!

Presumably you're with an NHS dentist at home Luckygirl
However, if you are in a dental plan you should be able to be seen as an emergency anywhere in the world - in theory, although we have not tested the theory - yet

Even in deepest, darkest Wales Peru

I think a heartfelt Bloody Hell! would be in order here, lucky. Hope the toothache is relieved.

Just checked my phone - I started with a balance of £30 and it now stands at £17.90! - unbelievable!