My dentist has made me paranoid!

I have taken advice and it was suggested that you get a second opinion - or even 2 - even if you have to pay. And don't worry!!

A doctor or dentist, like a solicitor, is offering a service, which you avail yourself of and pay for. Either indirectly through your taxes, or directly.

None of these professional people are any different to a chain of supermarkets or your greengrocer.

If you are dissatisfied go somewhere else.

Would you willingly pay a new plumber twice what your old one used to demand, or replace a boiler instead of having a minor repair done?

Probably not.

So why blindly take everything your dentist says on trust?

A very sweeping statement grandtante. As you said these are professional people.

pudding, things are different now!

A dentist of my acquaintance is an advocate of well supervised neglect!

All our family are at the NHS dental surgery up the road. We are very fortunate in this. We do pay separately to see the hygienist of course. His costs have recently increased to £48 for a 20 minute session. As Himself said, years ago a ‘scrape and polish’ done by the dentist, was all in the fee. Now? It’s a whole new business model. Cosmetic dentistry is very expensive but ought not to be confused with generalised dental care. Two different platforms altogether. A very lucrative business for some practitioners nowadays.

Knowing your family set up, that last comment made me smile kitty!

There is a argument about having to pay for a hygienist appointment as an NHS patient. If it is clinically necessary it should be part of the NHS payment.

If it isn't necessary, you shouldn't be having one.

Thank you for your responses. Unfortunately neither NHS or private dentists around here are taking new patients. We now have a ton of insurance policies to cover bills. DH who selected this dental practice when we moved here is talking about trying someone else - we will have to travel but its not a problem.

Thank you kitty I appreciate your help. Can I go back to eating toffees????

Definitely not!! You could find yourself in a very sticky situation!!!

BigBertha You do not have to do anything (4 hygenist appointments a year). You decide what treatment/care you do or do not want, not your dentist. He can recommend only.

I think you need to sit down quietly with a cup of tea and think about where you went previously. Your previous dentists were also private dentists. If you had needed all the work this dentist is claiming you need, wouldn't they have noticed you need it as well and offered it? But they didn't, so the chances are you do not need it.

There are good dentists and bad ones and ones who want to make as much money as possible by persuading patients they need lots of quite unnecessary treatments.

The best and most sensible thing you can do is ask around in your area, ask people you know to recommend a dentist, but mainly you must go and see another dentist and see what they say you need and stop visiting this dentist, who sounds most unpleasant.

I seriously love going to my dentist, I used to go to a private dentist since i was at school, the prices went up and up and UP.

I changed to an NHS dentist and he is brilliant, so pleasant and extremely thorough.

I am very 'big' on making sure my teeth look like i take care of them, there is nothing worse ( well there IS but i am going to list then ALLLLL hahah ) than someone who dresses well, takes care of their appearance and then ... opens their mouth to speak and Jaws is stood before me ( 007 films ) eeeeek.

Going back to your thread, I for 1 would be changing dentists ASAP...

Find another dentist, preferably a BUPA one.

Not sure why you think BUPA dentists are better than any other?