T
the fearful one
Junior member
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2009
- Messages
- 9
when I was a child I went to NHS dentists that really weren't that great, they just wanted me in then out.
When I was a teenager I really didn't want to visit a dentist because I'd started neglecting my teeth but I got forced and bribed to go and see a private dentist that could do my work on the NHS anyway because I was under 16, he however charged more for me to have porcelain fillings (from what I remember and understood at the time). Anyway this private dentist was really nice, and didn't make me look at my teeth, see the damage or bat an eyelid at my teeth even though he would have been able to tell they were neglected. He just wanted to be a "friend". I remember him once asking if I'd ever had an pain from a cavity and I lied and said "no", which I think he believed but found odd... that is all I remember of it - a pleasant experience in general.
I however continued to neglect my teeth and through the years two of the main fillings have dropped out and my teeth got worse. I get tooth aches quite often but I had a high pain threshold and sleep them off - only get real pain when I get an abscess, even then a certain painkiller (I won't encourage people to take rather than see a dentist) works wonders and I get on with my life.
So anyway my brother also neglected his teeth for seemingly different reasons to me - and he started smoking, in his very early 20s all his teeth were black and he had very red gums, - I luckily only have one black tooth (almost hidden, but if you're looking you'd notice it) and my gums bleed only rarely, when I occasionally brush my teeth now (although has got better since my attempts at trying to start looking after my teeth a bit more) - but I know that this is only going to get worse. Is there a reason why my teeth have lasted better than his? purely smoking and better diet?
Anyway going back to his black teeth, he went to an NHS dentist, this dentist told him that all his teeth had to come out, he was like "no way!" so went to see a private dentist, who sorted them all out for him and now his has a lovely set of teeth. He claimed that this is because NHS dentists get paid the same no matter what so they go for the easiest option however a private dentist gets paid per the job, so will do what is best of the patient and hope that he/she will come back, is this true?
Is there much difference in what NHS dentists charge and what private dentist charge? I know that NHS dentists are restricted, but surely private dentists wouldn't want to price themselves too high or everyone would go NHS?
I ask this because I've been looking for a dentist and I've found one or two locally that are private that seem to want to help if you have phobias, but I really can't afford to be ripped off too much as I only take home about £1200 a month - if I'm lucky!
And if a private dentist is out of my budget would an NHS dentist not be as good? There is always the credit card option if private is recommended.
Am I also right in thinking that a private dentist is more likely to take the time out for a consultation pre looking in my mouth, because he/she would be getting paid more for it? Rather than just trying to get through all the treatments they can, I imagine them to be pushed for time like a GP, and just push people through as quickly as possible?
When I was a teenager I really didn't want to visit a dentist because I'd started neglecting my teeth but I got forced and bribed to go and see a private dentist that could do my work on the NHS anyway because I was under 16, he however charged more for me to have porcelain fillings (from what I remember and understood at the time). Anyway this private dentist was really nice, and didn't make me look at my teeth, see the damage or bat an eyelid at my teeth even though he would have been able to tell they were neglected. He just wanted to be a "friend". I remember him once asking if I'd ever had an pain from a cavity and I lied and said "no", which I think he believed but found odd... that is all I remember of it - a pleasant experience in general.
I however continued to neglect my teeth and through the years two of the main fillings have dropped out and my teeth got worse. I get tooth aches quite often but I had a high pain threshold and sleep them off - only get real pain when I get an abscess, even then a certain painkiller (I won't encourage people to take rather than see a dentist) works wonders and I get on with my life.
So anyway my brother also neglected his teeth for seemingly different reasons to me - and he started smoking, in his very early 20s all his teeth were black and he had very red gums, - I luckily only have one black tooth (almost hidden, but if you're looking you'd notice it) and my gums bleed only rarely, when I occasionally brush my teeth now (although has got better since my attempts at trying to start looking after my teeth a bit more) - but I know that this is only going to get worse. Is there a reason why my teeth have lasted better than his? purely smoking and better diet?
Anyway going back to his black teeth, he went to an NHS dentist, this dentist told him that all his teeth had to come out, he was like "no way!" so went to see a private dentist, who sorted them all out for him and now his has a lovely set of teeth. He claimed that this is because NHS dentists get paid the same no matter what so they go for the easiest option however a private dentist gets paid per the job, so will do what is best of the patient and hope that he/she will come back, is this true?
Is there much difference in what NHS dentists charge and what private dentist charge? I know that NHS dentists are restricted, but surely private dentists wouldn't want to price themselves too high or everyone would go NHS?
I ask this because I've been looking for a dentist and I've found one or two locally that are private that seem to want to help if you have phobias, but I really can't afford to be ripped off too much as I only take home about £1200 a month - if I'm lucky!
And if a private dentist is out of my budget would an NHS dentist not be as good? There is always the credit card option if private is recommended.
Am I also right in thinking that a private dentist is more likely to take the time out for a consultation pre looking in my mouth, because he/she would be getting paid more for it? Rather than just trying to get through all the treatments they can, I imagine them to be pushed for time like a GP, and just push people through as quickly as possible?