lansbury

Yes I know I should go once every 6 months but I don't. Even having to phone and get an appointment made me Thanks to an NHS dentist some, ok many, years ago who drilled through my tooth into the nerve when he didn't think it necessary to use a local anesthetic for fillings. Ever since then the very thought of the dentist churns the pit of my stomach.

Anyway the whole point of this is to see what others experiences are of US dentists and UK NHS cared for teeth. What can I expect when they see my by US standards less then regimented non white teeth? I wish to prepare myself for attempts to sell me what by UK standards might be considered luxury cosmetic treatments.

BubbleChog

I quit my first US dentist (a chain place) because not only were they crap but The guy kept making hysterical jokes about how bad English teeth are.

My Current guy is from the Caribbean and is much harsher on my USC husbands teeth than mine. I had not been to a dentist in over 10 years except to have my wisdom teeth removed

Nutmegger

I had terrible experiences with the NHS dentist I saw all my life until moving to London at the age of 21 (including a syringe nearly broken off in my gum). It was only then that I discovered what havoc he had wreaked in my mouth. The views of the London dentist were then corroborated by the NYC dentists who took over the reclamation work when I moved there. I have been extremely happy with the dentistry in this country. No-one has attempted to sell anything to me -- though I do have naturally even teeth, despite the UK dentist's attempts to totally destroy my mouth. My dentist told me a year ago about a crack in a rear tooth (which was very visible through his little dental cam), and we agreed to put it on the watch list rather than jump in. All my dental decisions have been discussed in such a way, there has been no pressure, which has made it easier to make the decision on the occasions when I have been told that I really ought to act immediately.

If you haven't seen a dentist for a long time, I'd be more concerned about the state of your gums and the necessity for periodontal work, rather than by any attempt to sell cosmetic procedures.

SarahG

I had a real phobia of dentists and had not been to one for over 10 years. I have been in the US for almost 6 years and I finally went to a dentist here about 2 years ago. My dentist was recommended to me by a friend and she is great. I did need some periodontal work done but it wasn't too bad. I had a deep clean over a few visits and I survived it. I no longer have sweaty palms when I go to the office. (Weirdly my dentist also offers botox and Juvederm, but I am not interested in that.) Anyway, she has been so good with me and my fear, that I actually decided to see an orthodontist and get braces fitted. I'd wanted straighter teeth since I was young but was told by my UK dentist that I could not have braces because I have a crown on one of my front teeth. I now know that it total horse shit but I believed it. I am due to get my braces off in a couple weeks and will get a new crown fitted not long after. I won't have a perfect smile because I didn't want to have teeth pulled and an appliance fitted. But I am happy with how they are looking. My kids go to the same dentist as me and my daughter is going to be getting braces soon, she currently has a palate expander and will get her braces after Christmas.

lansbury

I have resigned myself to not getting a quick in and out visit, and needing further treatment. No doubt I am going to suffer for having left it so long, the thought of which is what stops me going in the first place. Anyway appointment booked 90 minutes for the first visit. My NHS dentist only did things in 30 minute stints so how I am going to last 90 minutes I have no idea.

petitefrancaise

Depends how long it's been since you last had treatment, what state your teeth were in and what your diet and oral hygiene care has been like in the meantime.

Any dentist worth their salt, either side of the Atlantic, will be highly suspicious of work done by another dentist. Anything that looks slightly dodgy will be put down for replacement/re-doing. A new dentist has no idea how quickly your teeth deteriorate, what your diet is really like. Your oral hygiene/gum disease we can see the minute we get a mirror and probe in there....

Expect them to want to replace everything you've had done, especially if it's more than 5-10 yrs old. Techniques and especially materials have improved enormously in the last 5-10 years.
A better question to ask them is what needs to be done now (obvious signs of disease/decay easy to spot visually or on xray), what needs to be done in the next year and then what can they keep an eye on. Don't blame them if they don't trust you to return though if you haven't been in years......

Root canals I would fork out for a specialist. if it's done well, it will last.

scot47

I really do not understand this "Dentist Phobia".

petitefrancaise

me neither!!!

Nutek

You are lucky. I'm terrified of them.

lansbury

That is just what I was afraid of. I have fillings which have seen many years of service and I would prefer to keep them.

I am quite resigned to having necessary work down. I had found a good, as in only mild pain and suffering inflicted, dentist back in London and went for every 6 months. If this one is hopefully better I would return. Mild pain and suffering is charter building Mrs L tells me.

Was it necessary to mention those.

lansbury

It is a phobia to the pain and suffering they inflict.

Lion in Winter

Drugs. US dentists don't believe in pain. Lots of novocaine. They will even prescribe you sedatives to get you there if you are severely phobic and want them.

A good dentist should not try to sell you stuff you don't need. Mine doesn't.

Bob

Had some great dentists here but also some really shit ones, much like the UK.

Haven't had to much of a upsell over here but then I have stuck to recommendations for the most part.

They do want to replace the old silver fillings for white ones and have only started doing that with the current dentist as they're pretty old, he's done one a cleaning to get the most out of the co-pay and coverage.

Bob

Well they'll probably be about an hour late and the rest of the time will be the hygienist scraping your teeth down

scrubbedexpat091

Pain, discomfort, someone else sticking fingers and tools into your mouth, unpleasant sounds from said tools, and the odd smell dental offices always have, second I step in and smell the dentist office smell, I am nervous.

I went to the dentist last September for the first time in eons, 8 or 9 years, and got a full check up and x-ray's and the dentist didn't find anything that needed work, said the wisdom teeth that are there could cause issues in the future but they have been there who knows how long and haven't caused issues yet, until they do removal isn't covered, and not causing issues so why pay to remove them?

He didn't even think the one filling I have that was done 15 some years ago looks fine.

Granted he knows I have little funds, and coverage is limited to what can be done, but would think he would have said if something was wrong.

I brush 3 times a day, but do eat a lot of sugar, but somehow my teeth survive.