My dentist has made me paranoid!

There are some unscrupulous dentists out there and you may have found one of them. I would have a second opinion if I were you and depending on that outcome go from there.

Our local dentist practice was really good. DH and I were NHS patients.
Recently they sold out to a dental chain which has 4 or 5 practices. The dentist we saw now only takes private patients.
The dentist I saw recently tried to give me the hard sell, telling me that my teeth needed deep cleaning, I disagree. I told him quite truthfully, that my nephew's wife is a dentist, and I would ask her about it. He has not mentioned it since.
He saw my DD and told her she needed veneers! She has motled teeth due to a problem with porous enamel, veneers would ruin her teeth!
She complained about him.
These chains are all about making money. Do not be taken in by them.

we've still not managed to see our dentist since covid started ,I have a broken crown that is still in situ and a lost filling .The receptionist tells me/reads from a list when I phone that " unless you have excessive swelling ,are bleeding heavily or are in a great deal of pain we cant see you for now.we hope to be back to normal service by April" My daughter in law has excessive swelling so was seen and given antibiotics with a follow up appointment at the end of MARCH .

Its ridiculous,this area has loads of dental practices usually all advertising for new NHS patients ,all under 22 year olds will get free dental treatment from the end of the month to avoid the awful teeth we see here .Just hope dentists open their doors before us oldies lose OUR teeth .

GagaJo

Hmmm. I have a private dentist. He doesn't do any more than my previous NHS dentist unless I ask. I need to go back to see him but am covid reluctant.

Ours is extremely Covid aware, thoroughly cleans between patients and if treatment requires aspiration then they allow half an hour extra to deep clean the surgery between patients.

I haven't been to the hairdressers (except once when they weren't wearing masks!) nor the optician but I have been to the dentist and had more than the routine checks carried out and was reassured that they were Covid safe.

Hmmm. I have a private dentist. He doesn't do any more than my previous NHS dentist unless I ask. I need to go back to see him but am covid reluctant.

My gums did suffer in lockdown without the regular rescaling so I knew something needed to be done (deep clean/planing).

It seems to have worked but I do need that daily regime with the little interdental brushes. Worth the effort and I know if I skimp.

My regular dentist is content to just fix things as they fall apart? but the specialist deep cleaning one would like to do all sorts of things.

I’m not convinced.

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.

Is the £10-15K purely for your smile or does it involve necessary work for your gum health?

I've got some work on a cracked tooth coming up which will set me back about £400.

Gosh, BigBertha!
I think I'd look for another dentist for at least a second opinion.
When DH needed deep cleaning (is it called gum planing?) our private dentist sent him to the NHS Dental Hospital.

Can you find another BUPA dentist nearby? Having tried various dentists we have discovered that BUPA are absolutely fantastic and the best for us....so much so that we do a 120 mile round trip to see ours.

Sounds like you could take a private jet there and back and still save money.

I would go and get a second opinion.

If you don’t get on with your Dentist change to another one.