Dentists
 

Hi anyone

Is it possible to find such a thing in Canada (specifically in Vancouver) as a dentist who does a similar sort of thing as an NHS dentist will do in the UK, i.e. check your teeth, clean and polish them and do the work that needs doing on them rather than all the work you could possibly have done, whether you need it or not, with a large bill at the end?

I would be grateful for any pointers.

Thank you.

S

Re: Dentists
 

Yes, it is possible. Not easy to find though. Our dentist is Surrey is happy enough to stick to the basics. That said, they sill insist that it takes an hour to clean your teeth. The best thing I can suggest is to ask around.

Re: Dentists
 

Thank you. Surrey is a little far but I get the idea! It's possible although difficult.

We had my younger daughter's teeth checked a couple of years ago here. It was ridiculously expensive. And then they said she needed a further 5 fillings and quoted another ridiculous amount on top (nearly $1,000). I read the report very carefully of what work *needed* to be done, did some web research and took a chance. I took her to the dentist on the next visit to the UK where she had one filling. By chance, I came across a review for the particular dentist I had taken her to here and others had reported extortionate pricing as well. No current plans go travel back to the UK (I would rather pay privately there at the NHS dentist as it's not as much).

After that experience, I am very wary. I'm sure others have had similar experiences.

S

Re: Dentists
 

On a slightly different point but dentist related (and this applies to doctors too) do UK dentists/doctors follow the (I assume) North American model whereby patients are put in different rooms (or cubicles as was the case with a dentist I used in Montreal) and the dentist flits between rooms?

There's a certain sense in it - Patient A has mouth numbed and while waiting for it to take effect the dentist can work on Patient B, while Patient C is made ready for a quick something before Patient A gets attention again.

But what if the dentist forgets which is which and removes the tooth of the wrong patient? :rofl:

The main advantage is you don't feel like you're waiting so long, but it does feel like you're on a production line a bit.

Re: Dentists
 

I wasn't sure whether I should respond for fear of being accused of giving a biased view but heh ho, I will give it a go. I may be best placed of anyone to comment in view of being both Medically and Dentally qualified so have experience in both fields. Re the switching of rooms, yes this happens with dentists and family physicians in Canada. In UK, GPs work out of one room. Typically UK dentists typically work out of two and if the practice is large then if they have a hygienist then they will also use a further room for a quick review though hygienists usually work more as independent practitioners in the surgery though employed by the dentist- similar to here.

Working in more than one room does indeed increase time efficiency as their ancillary staff can be taking x-Rays, taking impressions etc and as Bristol says, waiting to numb teeth etc

With regard to unnecessary treatment, it is difficult to compare NHS dentistry with private UK let alone Canadian treatment. They will be less interventional in the NHS, sometimes good, sometimes bad with regard to benefit to the patient. They cannot get complicated work done without Dental Estimate Board approval and often will get turned due to cost, not clinical benefit at the detriment to the patient.


As I have said elsewhere there are bad , disreputable dentists on either side of the Atlantic. I'm intrigued how people can jump to the conclusion that treatment is necessary.. Says who? Public opinion- not the firmest ground surely? Oral hygiene is crucial to dental health- I question whether extensive hygienist treatment is suggested in a mouth that is clean as a whistle. I'm not saying all dentists or for that matter doctors are saints- I'm not! :demon: there are ones that should be avoided. If you are concerned then look at Ratemd- also applies to dentists as well as docs. It will give you an idea as to whether the dentist is a profiteering cowboy. If there are multiple bad comments then there is usually a reason and in that case avoid them like the plague. Re cost, dentists are expensive on both sides of the Atlantic- you cannot compare NHS with Canadian private. Canadian, ie private dentistry versus UK private dentistry is more comparable and I would say their isn't much to it. Snowy, you have been fortunate to get an NHS dentist for the snowlets, they are few and far between and less and less dentists in the UK are working I the NHS because the remuneration is quite honestly, crap. At least there seems to be a lot more extended medical plans that cover treatment costs, a lot more than in the UK. Sure, that doesn't help the less fortunate that don't gave such coverage - they have to try and seek scattered community dentists who tbh are as rare as unicorn sh1t.

If the dentist forgets what he/she was supposed to be doing then they have dementia and should see their doctor. :rofl:
I hope that helps to some degree.
My paws are tired as I wrote this whilst on my exercise bike on my iPad- bloody tricky!:cool:

Re: Dentists
 

Perhaps I haven't been on the forum long enough to know. I didn't know you were dentally qualified.

I'll keep looking. I'm sure I'll find someone who'll suit eventually.



S

Re: Dentists
 

Crap- I blew my own cover! :banghead:

Re: Dentists
 

In Canada, dentistry is purely a business and not a profession.

Your level of 'treatment' depends on how much they can milk your Plan.

Re: Dentists
 

Oh dear, I just wasted half hour frantically typing for nowt... oh well:banghead:
Again, I would like to reiterate that I have no loyalty to dentists or indeed my medical colleagues. I just thought it maybe useful to express my view from a position of experience rather than generalisation or anecdote, maybe I should have just watched some amusing dog videos on youtube whilst getting my daily exercise rather than giving my fourpeneth .. at length.

Withabix you clearly havent had a good experience with your dentist(s) - dont tar them all with the same brush, I feel that would be unfair. Dentistry is a profession just as yours is and to suggest otherwise is somewhat puzzling and insulting.

Oh well if I liked tea then I would reach for a cup of PG tips ;)

Re: Dentists
 

By 'not a profession' I meant they do far too much up-selling for my liking...they should be providing the treatment that is needed....

Trying to sell me orthodontic treatment a the age of 46....:blink: even after I told them that at the age of 12 I knew that the only way to deal with my underbite was actually to remove some jawbone....

Re: Dentists
 

A lot changes in 34 years- the need for orthognathic surgery is significantly reduced nowadays because of improved orthodontic techniques and technology. You can say no, you are a big boy now;) Maybe they felt that they could improve on perfection!!
Maybe it is time to look elsewhere for a dentist that you can trust and personally have faith in. I would again suggest that you might try and avoid generalisation, there are some fantastic dentists around, you just need to find one!

Re: Dentists
 

I had a private dentist in England and I found a dentist in Calgary that provided a similar level of service, at a similar price, to the one I had in England.

In both cases, I was/am the client and I ask questions and, with informed consent, make decisions that I am happy with.

I fund my own insurance premiums and the cost of the work that isn't covered by insurance.

With the number of dentists in Canada, I have to admit that I am completely amazed by those on this board that appear to have to fund work that they don't want or that continue to use dentists that they believe are ripping them off. If you don't like your dentist, change to another one. Speak to other people and take their recommendations. Alternatively, continue doing what you do and vent on the internet.

Re: Dentists
 

I'd recommend my dentist: Dr. Garry Lunn - Dentistry in Broadway, Vancouver Invisalign , General Dentistry in Vancouver, Botox in Vancouver - Botox in Broadway, Cosmetic Dentistry in Vancouver, Vancouver Oral Surgery, Vancouver Orthodontics

He does all the usual extra stuff, but in my experience he doesn't push it.

Re: Dentists
 

I hoped you'd respond :)
My original UK dentist (joint practice of two) had a room each. If a hygienist was involved they used the same room. But my man did the cleaning and polishing when he did the check-up.

At my last dentist, there were about eight, all with their own room. I believe there was one hygienist with their own room.

Plus the patient knows they're being dealt with. Even if you are waiting 15 minutes in the waiting area and 15 minutes in an empty room it just seems better than 30 minutes in a waiting area. :lol:

I'm unconvinced about that site - unless there's a ton of negative stuff. Or gushing stuff. Usually for every "awful doctor" comment there's one for "great doctor" and you just can't tell.

I think it's the suspicion that the insurance is funding unnecessary work, not the patient - although there may be a co-payment.

If you're insured and the co-pay is low, who cares if it's unnecessary or just cosmetic? :nod:

If not unnecessary, what would be the alternative explanation for the dentists annual email pointing out it's approaching the end of the year and that there may be unused insurance coverage? :sneaky:

You know, you've already had your check up or had some treatment completed and they're sending that email out. What else could it be?

Re: Dentists
 

My original UK dentist (joint practice of two) had a room each. If a hygienist was involved they used the same room. But my man did the cleaning and polishing when he did the check-up.

That is unusual and dare I say it, a little archaic- get the best person for the job- she is trained- his time is also more valuable financially speaking than hours costing out rates per hour- cheaper labour, higher profit and a better job for the patient

I'm unconvinced about that site - unless there's a ton of negative stuff. Or gushing stuff. Usually for every "awful doctor" comment there's one for "great doctor" and you just can't tell.

I absolutely agree with your comments here- there is a bad doc in town here and the comments that he almost universally gets are cringe-worthy but do make you chuckle- I just think, poor patients- trouble is, choice of GP is non existent like everywhere else.



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