My dentist has made me paranoid!

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

Find another dentist, preferably a BUPA one.

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...

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.

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

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????

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.

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

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.

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!

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?

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!!

I was employed as a dental nurse/receptionist for 2 years he was a nice man but had a wife and 2 children who wanted the finer things in life. His practice was in a deprived areas of Manchester and his practice was
NHS as this was 50 year's ago but he never missed an opportunity to try to persuade any patient to have private dentures (which were virtually the same as the NHS ones but ready in 2 weeks instead of 4) but cost 5 times as much so my advise to you would be to look for another Dentist because I think the one you have could be ripping you off.

Apologies BigBertha1, didn’t really reply just ranted on about my area. I would certainly find another dentist, at least for another opinion. Seems strange to going from not requiring any work to needing lots of expensive treatment. Either your last Dentist wasn’t doing his job properly, unlikely, or this one is an overzealous treatment / pricey one.

My friend’s husband has received excellent treatment at a dental hospital about 20 miles away. The students are supervised and although slow are very thorough. He was referred by his dentist but I believe you can self refer under certain circumstances.

I use an NHS dentist and am very satisfied with the treatment. In your place OP I would be changing dentists.

Oldbat1

We lost all our NHS dentists locally as they all went private. Mind you I’m happier to pay Denplan fee so I can always see my dentist if needed rather than having a mobile phone package. I would prefer it still to be NHS funded.

I’m lucky we have a good mix of private and NHS dentists. Another one has been given planning permission recently. In fact in my dentist you can choose. Only thing I would go private for are decent dentures, otherwise my lovely NHS dentist will suffice.

ayse

I can’t afford private dentistry. Nevertheless my love dentist takes good care of my teeth. Following her advice I brush twice daily with an electric toothbrush and use interdental brushes once daily.

My teeth and gums have been very bad over the years but they’ve settled down due to excellent treatment and advice via the NHS.

I am aware that many have little choice but to go private but it seems to me that it’s all about making money and not about caring for teeth.

And as for private dentists sending patients to NHS dental hospitals, well…..I do hope private dentists are charged for using these facilities at the market rate.

It’s the patient that uses the NHS, not the dentist. Perhaps he is unable to do the work, and is referring the patient for treatment. You know the best for the patient.

We lost all our NHS dentists locally as they all went private. Mind you I’m happier to pay Denplan fee so I can always see my dentist if needed rather than having a mobile phone package. I would prefer it still to be NHS funded.

I had a similar experience. I decided to get a second opinion and now have an excellent private dentist. I would ask around for recommendations.

I was with a private dentist, but changed to a NHS one when it opened nearer me. But it isn't much cheaper than the private one and the I never see the same dentist or hygenist twice as they keep changing. So I have gone back to the private one who can take me on

I have recently changed dentists and I'm going back to my previous one who was great but who moved to a different town.
I just didn't trust his replacement, who said I needed not only deep cleaning, but also root canal work on a front tooth. It wasn't causing any pain, it wasn't loose and he wanted me to undergo treatment that would have cost £850 in total.
Maybe he was right, but I was deeply suspicious that it was a money making exercise.

My dentist is great. He actually left his previous practice (where I used to go) because it was taken over by a group and the dentists were told to sell treatments to patients. He didn't agree with that.

He then set up his own practice and I followed him. I'm on Denplan. He has never tried to sell me anything and I completely trust his judgment over what needs to be done.

Very glad I use a NHS dentist who doesn’t do anything more than needed if I m in trouble which isn’t that often
Why have a private dentist that suggests thousands of pounds worth of work that you don’t feel necessary bigbertha change, unless you have unlimited funds to use on your smile

I always hated visiting the Dentist but had to overcome my fears to have work done. I’m a private patient with a Denplan contract which entitles me to 2 checks/treatment from both my Dentist and Hygienist. I did speak to the Receptionist shortly after retiring and said I was considering revering to being an NHS patient at the practice if there were any places as I was trying to reduce my outgoings with a reduce income. They quickly found another Denplan contract for me at half the cost of my original one. It sounds very much as if your new Dentist is trying to get you to have treatment you don’t, and possibly can’t afford. Why not ring you old practice and ask whether they are able to recommend another Dentist in your new area and also explain why. I doubt whether your old Dentist would be happy with anyone casting aspersions on the treatment plan he had for you. How was your new Dentist recommended to you? And if you’re still subscribing to BUPA contact them for recommendations.