I've finally found a dentist willing to take me on as an NHS patient after almost 2 years of looking.
Funnily enough its the same practice I went to 2 years ago for a private check up.
Anyway.
I went for the initial consultation which nowadays is nothing more than a visual check and an xray.
The first and main issue is I have a wisdom tooth with a big hole in it at a crap angle right at the back of my mouth thats fully grown out into my cheek. It doesnt hurt yet.
2 years ago a dentist at the same practice told me as I knew, that it needed to be removed. He said he couldnt do it because its complex, awkward angle and likely to break mid procedure. Referral to hospital was the solution. But privately he said it may cost £1,500-£2,000 so, yeah never going to happen.
The new dentist (same practice) said she thought she could do it, which really put me off to be honest.
She said, if its going to break, it will break at a point where she will abandon the procedure, prescribe me anti biotics and then refer to hospital. Meanwhile I have a half broken and fucked with wisdom tooth in my mouth.. going into my cheek for however long.
I told her no, because if one dentist 2 years ago wouldnt touch it, then I'd rather just be referred to nhs hospital to have the ordeal done at least in one day.
I really get nervous with dental stuff...
So £70 odd and shes referred me, could be 12-14 months though. Fine as its not hurting.
Then she said I should go to the hygienist for £85 odd. Again fine, my teeth havent been cleaned by a dentist for probably 10 years since whenever they stopped doing it as part of a check up. She also said I have the beginnings of gum disease so, ok fine.
The final part is that she said I have a small cavity in one tooth. Small enough that I would not be able to have a filling on the 'NHS'.
She said I have two options.
1. Wait for the cavity to get worse until I can get it on the nhs cost.
2. Pay for a private 'mini filling' at £65.
She said its basically a filling but they use smaller drills.
I thought prevention is better so agreed and paid a £30 deposit. Figuring I could leave it then have to pay nhs cost for a filling in however long, at probably the same or similar cost.
The mini filling is tomorrow.. but I tried googling and really couldnt find much about it. I found something on temporary fillings.. which the dentist did not mention that it would be temporary.. because if it is I would have not bothered, and opted to wait for a proper filling.
I guess it is dentists discretion as to how bad it needs to get before I can pay the nhs price and have a proper filling.. and the whole wisdom tooth thing above kinda didnt inspire my confidence in them to be honest.. now I'm wondering if theyre trying it on.
A second opinion would be pointless because the cost of it would be the same as just paying for the bloody mini filling and it would save another days holiday needing to be taken.
Anyone had experience of this?
Comments
Bandcamp
This does remind me I need to see a dentist. I was with the same NHS dentist for 30-odd years but they dumped me during the Covid lockdowns, which seemed a bit unfair since they were the ones cancelling appointments, not me. I guess I'll have to go for some kind of private plan.
No drooling afterward too, although that's something I'm fairly used to these days with getting older...
I agree with @Philly_Q the NHS doesn't have a mini fillings category, you either need a filling or you don't.
Bandcamp
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-much-will-i-pay-for-nhs-dental-treatment/
The final part is that she said I have a small cavity in one tooth. Small enough that I would not be able to have a filling on the 'NHS'.
I actually rang the dentist earlier to have it done again so there goes another £160 or so on Wednesday
Surely the dentist should be re-doing it free of charge if it fell out after a few months?
Bandcamp
I recently had a tooth extracted (back molar next to my wisdom tooth), it cost £250. My NHS dentist couldn't do it - what do they teach them at dentistry school nowadays? Anyway, I took the course of antibiotics then saw this guy from a private company - he said he only did extractions - but he was brilliant. He said it might be possible to save it with a root fill, but no guarantee, so I asked for him to remove it. 5 minutes later after some anaesthetic it was gone.
There's a pretty big hole there now but it's ok and no problems eating anything.
I've had three adult teeth removed now, plus one root fill, all performed by my old private dentist except this latest one. My NHS dentist of the last 10 years is ok for check-ups but I wouldn't trust him with anything more than that and I don't think he trusts himself either, hence the recent referral.
I think the NHS dentists make their money through check-ups, hygienists and small fillings. Anything more complex and someone else can have the hassle.
I would certainly be demanding that, unless he gave you fair warning before that the filling might not hold. Dentists sometimes do this when they're trying to give you a cheaper option that they're not sure will work.
Bandcamp
(I have PRS guitars, but I'm not a dentist.)