NHS or Private?

[simps]

My wife & kids are registered with an NHS practice and all is well. I have finally decided to get my oral issues seen to and to overcome my phobic tendancies! However, I am wondering if I should register with the same dentists my wife and kids use (not particularly personable or affable people it seems) or to try and find a private dentist who is maybe willing to spend more time on me and my phobia.

What are the pro's and con's - aside from the monetary issue. I can afford private treatment if needs be.

 

[carol999]

I have experienced both and have to the conclusion that its about the personality of the dentist, although private will make you feel that you have a longer time its only because you are paying for it. I always get the feeling with private that the business is whats important. If the NHS dentist knows how scared you are they can book you extra time you just have to talk to them before you make a decision. You are the customer - interview them and go with your gut feeling.

 

[Kim]

Hello and a very warm

I'm not sure if this is going to be of much help, but hopefully you will glean something from it. I after many, many years had to go to the dentist because of a broken crown. Long story short, I went to my families dentist (NHS) and as you have said, not very personable or affable. I couldn't get the work done because of my fear, and so was referred to a sedation clinic (private) The dentist I saw there was 'pleasant' enough, but it just didn't feel right somehow. So I took recommendations from this site, and got the dentist who has carried out my treatment so far.

I have to say, he and his staff, in particular his nurse, have been absolutely fantastic with me. He does have an interest in phobic patients, and although he is private, I have never once got the impression from him that it is more about running a business as Carol has said. Whereas, with the previous private dentist, I did very much get that feeling.

As Carol says, seek some out and interview them - you need to feel as comfortable as possible when you start out on your treatment, and I think it is a bit like looking at houses (well, maybe not, but you may get my meaning) you get a 'feel' for a place when you walk through the door.

You don't say whereabouts in the country you are, but you can look for dentists in your area on here or NHS choices.

Let us know how you get on, and good luck

Kim

 

[simps]

Thanks Kim, I am in Gloucestershire. When you say 'interview' the dentists - do you mean book an appt, turn up with the intention of having work done and hope they are what you are expecting? I need some work doing - have two molars on the bottom that need crowns or maybe pulling but they have been like that for 3 years. I have a molar on top that is causing me ear ache and pain when biting down. I also have an uneven bite due to a butcher removing a molar and wisdom 10 years ago. Where to start!

 

[carol999]

Interview as in talk to the dentist about how they work with nervous patients. You will get a 'feel' of whether you like them or not

 

[Kim]

When I went to Dentist 1 he knew I was petrified because my friends friend is the dental practice and she had told her for me. I didn't get the opportunity to e-mail them. He took no history and one x-ray, then on to Dentist 2 - private sedation clinic - had to pay for second consult also, he took no history, didn't seem to have much time, and went on the one x-ray that Dentist 1 had sent him. Also...... very dodgy website - no info on the practice or anything, and when I rang up, never got a straight answer.

Onto Lincoln - different kettle of fish altogether. He has the facility to e-mail, which I took the opportunity of doing with my life story of dental grief (I think he must be having withdrawal symptoms from not getting my e-mails anymore ) He told me to ring up and ask the receptionist to get him and he would have a chat. I didn't have the courage to speak to him, but managed to make the appointment. Later that night, he rang me, had a chat with me (I got upset, he wasn't phased) and sent me through a dental questionnaire that went into loads of things (really good idea Lincoln, everyone should be given one). Went to see him and his lovely nurse Jean, and such a totally different experience to the previous two times. He spent ages with me, going through just about everything. Took a whole heap of x-rays and photos (promised the pics wouldn't appear on FB - cheeky - and to his word they haven't, well.... not that I have seen )

He then sent through a treatment plan of different options, and after much consideration, loads of tears we got for me to make my decision, and move forward.

I was mortified when someone on here suggested a third opinion as I have said quite a few times before, but it was money well spent, and even tho' Lincoln is private, he is certainly not extortionate, and you can see prices on his website, so you are not going in 'blind' as I did with Dentist 2.

I think I must have swallowed the Blarney stone today, as my fingers are doing all the talking that my mouth would normally do.

I still don't know if that helps, but I hope it does. I get the feeling from different posts on here that it is really quite difficult to find a really good compassionate NHS Dentist, tho' they will be out there, I think it is a case of taking the time to do that, and hoping that where you are located, you are fortunate enough to have one. The same could possibly be said for caring private Dentistsbut I get the impression from looking at different websites, and on here, the good ones are very open and honest on their websites, and more willing to go the extra mile to understand that not all patients are capable of walking through that door without a little bit of help, encouragement and just general niceness.

Hope you get on ok hun.

Kim

 

[coolin]

Like the others I have experience of both NHS and Private.

I absolutely agree that it is down to the personality of the dentist and not necessarily whether they are private or NHS. BUT you will get a much better and more tailored service from a private dentist. He or she will likely be able to offer all sorts of treatments to you (like sedation) without being referred somewhere else. And you will be offered good quality materials for fillings and crowns. NHS are limited in what they can offer.

Some private dentists may be 'about the business' and that's why you need to meet them to 'suss' them out. Look for a dentist who 'specialises in nervous patients'. Some will say so on their website but some don't (mine didn't). Send them an email and as the others said ask how they deal with nervous people. Then you can make an appt but just for a consultation and see how you get on. You will pay for this consultation and it is your time with the dentist. Some people don't even sit in 'the chair' and there are even some dentists who will meet you away from the clinic (like a coffee shop !!).

Maybe you could tell us where in the country you are and we could recommend some to you. We have discovered some of the good ones and they do exist all over the UK (and the rest of the world ).


Cheers
Coolin

 

[Kim]

Gloucester shire

 

[coolin]

Gloucester shire

DOH! My excuse is I'm home from a 12hr shift......

 

[Kim]

Don't worry about that - I get soooo confused at the spelling on this site - because a lot of it I thing comes up with American spelling and then - and it doesn't take much but makes me feel like a real Dumbo