Finally made first appointment

[MountainMama]

Yay for taking the first step! It can be overwhelming!

I hope things go well for you. I have no experience with the deep cleanings, but from what others have said on here, it sounds like it really helps.

I wish you luck on your next appointment and a painless recovery.

 

[ReginaPhalange]

Thanks so much Kitkat!

The trick now will be pacing yourself and not allowing yourself to become too overwhelmed.

Yes, I think that was my problem. I just suddenly read it as a big never-ending list. It's probably why the dentist only told me about the 3 root canals and crown when I saw him. He didn't say that was all I needed, so it doesn't really surprise me that I also need fillings. He just said we would concentrate on them. He also only showed me the x rays of those individual 3 teeth, rather than the whole mouth. I'm not sure if that's how it's usually done, or maybe he didn't want to overwhelm me.

As far as the order of treatment, people tend to start off with smaller/simpler things. This will help to build your confidence and give you time to establish rapport and a trusting relationship with the dental team.

This makes sense, although I think the root canals are the most urgent, those teeth are broken, and on both sides, so it would be nice to not have to think before eating.

Good idea about the "boxes". I think it was just frustrating because nothing can happen until they get the NHS approval, which takes "a few" weeks, up to 12. Hopefully it won't be as long as that. It's like having a big messy pile of boxes sitting there and not being able to touch them for 3 months. I should really just put them aside until it's time to open them, and stop tripping up over them!

Yes, perio was referring to the deep clean. Thanks for the reassurance. None of my teeth are moving, so hopefully that means damage can be reversed.

You should really take a moment and allow yourself to be proud of how far you’ve already come. Many would argue making the appointment and showing up is the biggest step so well done! I look forward to reading how you get on and being your cheerleader along the way!

Thank you! I really was proud of making and going to the first appointment. And I'm sure when I look back, these few weeks will be nothing, and I'm reminding myself that this wait doesn't mean nothing is happening. They've applied to the health board who will one day get back to them. It's not the same as the nothing that was happening over the years, when I was just going backwards, things are moving forward now.

I'm half dreading it all, but nowhere near as much as I was dreading taking the first step. If I can do that, I can do the rest.

Thanks again!

 

[ReginaPhalange]

Yay for taking the first step! It can be overwhelming!

I hope things go well for you. I have no experience with the deep cleanings, but from what others have said on here, it sounds like it really helps.

I wish you luck on your next appointment and a painless recovery.

Thanks very much!

 

[Judythecat]

I am in Scotland, so I don’t understand why you have to wait for NHS approval - the only thing I have ever needed that for is custom mouth guards. The system here is different though, so we pay per treatment - ten fillings would cost 10 x one filling, or whatever.

In terms of NHS v private treatment, my surgery does both, and it’s the same dentists and consulting rooms. I’m an NHS patient, and my dentist is amazing. I also had private root canal treatment with a specialist last year, and the only real difference in treatment was that he used a microscope. The surgery itself was much fancier, it had a Nespresso machine in the waiting room. Price-wise, the difference was huge, and I paid just shy of £1,000. I think it would have been about £85 on the NHS in Scotland.

Unless you are rolling in money, or can’t wait to have the treatment, I would stick with the NHS!

 

[ReginaPhalange]

am in Scotland, so I don’t understand why you have to wait for NHS approval - the only thing I have ever needed that for is custom mouth guards. The system here is different though, so we pay per treatment - ten fillings would cost 10 x one filling, or whatever.

I'm in Scotland too, apparently there is a prior approval limit (for what the NHS pays towards it, not the patient's part). According to https://nhsnss.org/services/practitioner/dental/clinical/prior-approval/, it's £410. So because my treatment would cost over that, the health board need to approve it. The price cap is £384 though, so that's the maximum I will pay for everything. That was one of the Q's I emailed them about, if it was £384 per root canal etc, but as you say, it's per treatment. Thank goodness, I hate to think how I'd manage to pay it privately! I found an article on google that there were complaints from dentists that ithe approval was taking up to 12 weeks for some of their patients. 2 down, 10 or less to go!

In terms of NHS v private treatment, my surgery does both, and it’s the same dentists and consulting rooms. I’m an NHS patient, and my dentist is amazing. I also had private root canal treatment with a specialist last year, and the only real difference in treatment was that he used a microscope. The surgery itself was much fancier, it had a Nespresso machine in the waiting room. Price-wise, the difference was huge, and I paid just shy of £1,000. I think it would have been about £85 on the NHS in Scotland.

Unless you are rolling in money, or can’t wait to have the treatment, I would stick with the NHS!

That's good to hear, thanks for the reassurance!

 

[kitkat]

Thanks so much Kitkat!

Yes, I think that was my problem. I just suddenly read it as a big never-ending list. It's probably why the dentist only told me about the 3 root canals and crown when I saw him. He didn't say that was all I needed, so it doesn't really surprise me that I also need fillings. He just said we would concentrate on them. He also only showed me the x rays of those individual 3 teeth, rather than the whole mouth. I'm not sure if that's how it's usually done, or maybe he didn't want to overwhelm me.

You are probably correct in that he does not want to overwhelm you with too many things at once. My dentist typically only ever shows me x-rays that need root canals or if there is something very unusual or if she is in a teaching mood. If it’s just fillings then she usually just says ”you need a filling on tooth number _____.” And I just take her word for it...typically when she shows me x-rays I’m not sure what she’s trying to show me anyway so it doesn’t really matter to me!

This makes sense, although I think the root canals are the most urgent, those teeth are broken, and on both sides, so it would be nice to not have to think before eating.

Good idea about the "boxes". I think it was just frustrating because nothing can happen until they get the NHS approval, which takes "a few" weeks, up to 12. Hopefully it won't be as long as that. It's like having a big messy pile of boxes sitting there and not being able to touch them for 3 months. I should really just put them aside until it's time to open them, and stop tripping up over them!

Yes, perio was referring to the deep clean. Thanks for the reassurance. None of my teeth are moving, so hopefully that means damage can be reversed.

You make a point about the root canals being the most urgent. I am in the US so I am not very familiar with the NHS. 12 weeks is quite a long time to wait! I can imagine the frustration when it’s taken so long to mentally prepare yourself to do it! I think the time will go by much faster than you think.

 

[Judythecat]

I'm in Scotland too, apparently there is a prior approval limit (for what the NHS pays towards it, not the patient's part). According to https://nhsnss.org/services/practitioner/dental/clinical/prior-approval/, it's £410. So because my treatment would cost over that, the health board need to approve it. The price cap is £384 though, so that's the maximum I will pay for everything. That was one of the Q's I emailed them about, if it was £384 per root canal etc, but as you say, it's per treatment. Thank goodness, I hate to think how I'd manage to pay it privately! I found an article on google that there were complaints from dentists that ithe approval was taking up to 12 weeks for some of their patients. 2 down, 10 or less to go!


That's good to hear, thanks for the reassurance!

I would double check that as my understanding is quite different (but possibly totally wrong) - you pay for each treatment, with a treatment being a single piece of work. So if you need one filling at (say) £50, ten fillings would cost you £500. Gordon might be able to advise.

 

[ReginaPhalange]

I would double check that as my understanding is quite different (but possibly totally wrong) - you pay for each treatment, with a treatment being a single piece of work. So if you need one filling at (say) £50, ten fillings would cost you £500. Gordon might be able to advise.

I think we're kind of both right. It would be £50 x 10 (sorry, I misread your first 10 x one filling bit), but the price cap is for everything. So if it was 4 fillings at £50, I would have to pay £200. But if it was ten, I would only have to pay £384 of that £500. Ten fillings being one course of treatment.

I just found this on https://www.scottishdental.org/public/treatment-charges/
"Unless you are in one of the groups entitled to free NHS dental treatment or help with the cost you will require to pay 80% of the cost of your NHS dental treatment up to a maximum of £384 per course of treatment."

That must be why it needs approval, because I'm not going to be paying as much as the normal 80%, probably less than 50%.

That'll also be why I would have to pay privately if I want the deep cleaning done before the approval, but if I wait, it'll be included in the £384.

I'm not sure if that all makes sense, but it's the way I understand it!

 

[Judythecat]

I think we're kind of both right. It would be £50 x 10 (sorry, I misread your first 10 x one filling bit), but the price cap is for everything. So if it was 4 fillings at £50, I would have to pay £200. But if it was ten, I would only have to pay £384 of that £500. Ten fillings being one course of treatment.

I just found this on https://www.scottishdental.org/public/treatment-charges/
"Unless you are in one of the groups entitled to free NHS dental treatment or help with the cost you will require to pay 80% of the cost of your NHS dental treatment up to a maximum of £384 per course of treatment."

That must be why it needs approval, because I'm not going to be paying as much as the normal 80%, probably less than 50%.

That'll also be why I would have to pay privately if I want the deep cleaning done before the approval, but if I wait, it'll be included in the £384.

I'm not sure if that all makes sense, but it's the way I understand it!

That totally makes sense. I've never had multiple things done as one "course of treatment", and I've only ever had scale and polishes rather than a deep cleaning. I've seen "each thing that needs doing" as a course of treatment, but in my case it's been A Filling at £50 rather than Ten x Fillings at £50 or whatever.

 

[ReginaPhalange]

That totally makes sense. I've never had multiple things done as one "course of treatment", and I've only ever had scale and polishes rather than a deep cleaning. I've seen "each thing that needs doing" as a course of treatment, but in my case it's been A Filling at £50 rather than Ten x Fillings at £50 or whatever.

Most people probably don't wait until they have as many issues as me!

 

[ReginaPhalange]

Most people probably don't wait until they have as many issues as me!

Wait, what am I talking about? It's thanks to others taking as long as me that I realised I wasn't alone and finally took action!

 

[Sam44]

Your so brave ?I’ve had major anxiety issues since I was about 15. In the last year I found the best dentist ever, so patient with me that I’ve had teeth removed and a bridge fitted. I have major gum issues so my teeth loosen, I went regularly for 8 months, then he retired ?. I’ve not been back but desperately need to..awful tooth ache! I have now made an appointment but not sure I’ll stick to going. So Disappointed in myself but you should be very proud

 

[ReginaPhalange]

Your so brave ?I’ve had major anxiety issues since I was about 15. In the last year I found the best dentist ever, so patient with me that I’ve had teeth removed and a bridge fitted. I have major gum issues so my teeth loosen, I went regularly for 8 months, then he retired ?. I’ve not been back but desperately need to..awful tooth ache! I have now made an appointment but not sure I’ll stick to going. So Disappointed in myself but you should be very proud

Don't be disappointed in yourself, you've worked through anxiety and had a lot done, and even went regularly. You have plenty to be proud of. Look back to how far you have come since you started going.

Sorry the dentist that you were happy with retired. I hope the next one is as patient. It's quite possible you will like them just as much. Whenever the appointment is, just think, by this time that day, it'll be over and you won't be in pain anymore. That was the way I had to think. And if I didn't go, what would happen? Nothing, and that thought was worse than whatever I would face at the dentist. Which actually turned out to be completely fine! Although my mouth is no different yet and it's still on my mind plenty, I know I've set the wheels in motion and a huge weight has been lifted.

I really hope you make it too. The courage is in there somewhere!

 

[Sam44]

Thanks I’ve got to go, regardless of my fear! Mine is more embarrassment of how horrible my teeth are?I know i can cope with the pain and treatment but it’s just that thought of letting them look in my mouth..especially as I spend half my time covering it lol

 

[ReginaPhalange]

Thanks I’ve got to go, regardless of my fear! Mine is more embarrassment of how horrible my teeth are?I know i can cope with the pain and treatment but it’s just that thought of letting them look in my mouth..especially as I spend half my time covering it lol

Trust me, I know that feeling!

 

[krlovesherkids777]

So get that too!

 

[ReginaPhalange]

Small success... I managed to listen to workmates talking about taking kids to the orthodontist, and I didn't leave the room or change the subject! I didn't contribute to the conversation either, but not freaking out is a good step!

 

[krlovesherkids777]

Every step is great! . I cherish every small one myself.

 

[Sam44]

Well done ?I took my daughter to the orthodontist yesterday. I’m completely fine if it’s not me having to get in the chair ? My appt is on the 20th but my front tooth is so wobbly I’m worried it’s going to come out so may have to get an emergency appt?

 

[ReginaPhalange]

Well done you! Even walking past a dentist would make me uncomfortable! Hope the appointment goes well ?