The Student Room Group

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Reply 1
AT82
I really need to go to the dentist and I need a lot of cosmetic work doing as well as the usual fillings and god knows what.

However I've had a really bad experience of an NHS dentist, I am also scared stiff of them. Would I better going private? I can't afford go to private but I have a bit overdraft I could use. My teeth are starting to effect my confidence now.

Not really, a dentist is a dentist, the work u have done should be the same through out the spectrum. i dont see how going private will be any better

look at it like this if u wanted ur hair cut, u wouldnt pay extra just to have it done private would you ? as the treatment / end result will be the same :smile:
Reply 2
Ok will private dentist be any nicer? What I am getting at won't all the NHS dentist be all the crappy ones people who have no choice will use? My last one seemed to be. I need a dentist than understands peoples feers not one that will be "shut up you wimp" type thing.
Reply 3
My dad's scared of the dentist. Last time he went, he went to King's College hospital (I think) because they knocked him out while they worked, or summat..

Anything like that in manc?
Reply 4
most private denists, are in fact NHS denists who want more money. You wont get a better service, since any extra money they make they will pocket.
Reply 5
i dotn think so, usually private might a bigger more plush place but the actual treatment should be the same, if ur on about attitude of staff that might be better on private but ur shud still get the same treament. just look at it like this, ur confidence is gettin dented so for a few hours suffer, then u can look forward with a big white smile on ur face hehe
Reply 6
AT82
I really need to go to the dentist and I need a lot of cosmetic work doing as well as the usual fillings and god knows what.

However I've had a really bad experience of an NHS dentist, I am also scared stiff of them. Would I better going private? I can't afford go to private but I have a bit overdraft I could use. My teeth are starting to effect my confidence now.


You could try. The vast majority of dentists work in both NHS and private practice - so just simply seeing someone privately does not unfortunately guarantee any better quality.

Often the best strategy is to get a personal recommendation of a dentist from friends/family who have had excellent treatment.

Alternatively you could try and contact the local dental hospital. You may be able to see one of their Consultants on the NHS - although seeing a Dental Consultant privately is likely to cost you more pennies.

Good luck. :smile:


PS - I blame the watered down Subway Fanta. :wink:
Reply 7
Lol thanks, I think attitude is as important as the treatement, I did have a good NHS dentist once but I never kept the appointments and his since retired. The problem is a lot of the good NHS dentists seem fully booked.

I am not bothered about bleaching or anything like that but I think will need at least three veniers(sp) or crowns. Three of my front teeth look like they need replacing :frown:
Reply 8
afarid no matter where u go it will be as bad :frown:

good luck tho :hugs;
anyone who lives in london should sign up to NHS dentists. (thats the name - its in fulham)
its the bees knees and they will take anyone on.
never been anywhere like it. cant beat it. sooo professional
Reply 10
lessthanthree
I think that you can't beat private dental care if you're omparing it to NHS stuff - expecially when you're in cosmetic territory. Explain the situation to the dentist, though - sometimes they can knock down the price.


This why I am confused people are saying different things. I don't want to have superstars teeth or anything I just don't want them to look a mess like they do now, they are only really bad when I open wide though so its hard to notice at the moment but I know its there and they need seeing to.

Jamie Fulham's a bit too far from me I am afraid, my dads from those parts I know the area fairly well but its 170 miles away via the west coast main line and a cool £50 train fare.

I've found an NHS dentist 3 miles away from me, so I might try them I guess if I don't like what they have to say I can look into going private. It could end up costing £1000+ private though and I only really have £200 or so at the most to spend on private care :frown:
Reply 11
Ian you can get to Euston in 2 hours for a tenner if you book a couple of weeks in advance. It's probably that much from Bury to Altrincham.
Reply 12
I don't see how there would be that much difference in treatment quality. My NHS dentist at home also takes on private patients. If you are having quite a bit of work done it'll cost alot even NHS but I think as you aren't working you can fill out one of those forms for assistance with dental treatment.
Reply 13
homoterror
Ian you can get to Euston in 2 hours for a tenner if you book a couple of weeks in advance. It's probably that much from Bury to Altrincham.


I tried a week ago as I wanted somthing do but I couldn't get it less than £40. Even if I could get there free in real terms of leaving my house it will take a good three to four hours to get to Fulham. When you're having god knows what done its not really practical you just need some where local.

viviki
I don't see how there would be that much difference in treatment quality. My NHS dentist at home also takes on private patients.


Is your dentist nice? I.e does she/he understand that you want them to ease the pain as much as possible etc? I just hope they don't say I need my teeth removed but as I am not getting much pain I think it is just the mainly cosmetic I just need some veneers I think.

I should force my dad to go as well he's not been for 25 years :eek:
Reply 14
yeah my NHS dentist in Sheffield is nice and professional too. They are all qualified dentists they aren't just going to rip your teeth out.

Veneers might be costly though but you could go for a consultation and find out.
Reply 15
viviki
yeah my NHS dentist in Sheffield is nice and professional too. They are all qualified dentists they aren't just going to rip your teeth out.

Veneers might be costly though but you could go for a consultation and find out.


Yeah I am willing to pay a bit of money, the maximum cost under the NHS is £384 and if I get my account upgraded to a graduate one I should be able to pay with my overdraft.
Reply 16
Private dentists are expensive though... but they are worth the money rather than get a very long queue foryour appointment
Reply 17
its £378 per course of treatment according to the NHS website
Reply 18
viviki
its £378 per course of treatment according to the NHS website


What do they mean by that though? Does a course of treatment put everything right apart from stuff which is excluded on the NHS such as bleaching which I won't bother with anyway as I think I need it?.
Reply 19
I'm not sure if there was more than one problem then I'm guessing you'd need more than one course of treatment. ???

Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
The dentist is registering patients for NHS treatment, however, you pay eighty per cent of the cost of the treatment up to a maximum of £378 per course of treatment.

Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
The dentist is registering patients that are charge exempt for NHS treatment. To be exempt you are getting, or your partner gets, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, you are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate, or you are named on a valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2).