sambuc

My name is Sam, and I have no problem with being called that by my friends. My dentist is not my friend.

Jerseygirl

I am too...much better than my UK dentist.

NJ_Dave

I'd have to say that my dentist in the US is much better than anyone I had in the UK. For example I'd never had an X-ray on my mouth before I came to the US (cheap enough for my insurance company to cover, yet a little too pricey for the hallowed NHS to provide as standard treatment I guess). Same goes for my teeth cleaning that they do every 6 months -never had that done on the NHS. In fact my average appointment with my UK dentist lasted around 5 minutes -no doubt because the guy had another 70 patients to see that day. A question to those who think that the US dentists are just trying to squeeze more money out of them: would you say that your dental care in the States was better or worse than your five minutes with your NHS dentist?

Bob

Well I've had x-rays and teeth cleaned in the UK, so can't say that it was short, nor crap care, £10 to get teeth cleaned, £3 to a jab when needed a filling.

My old dentist in Maine, he was really good, the other bloke in the practice was a complete tw@ though....but we also had half decent dental insurance then....still not seen m y current dentist, but he came highly recommended by someone at work, so went with him, 15 odd miles away though, and there's dentists a dime a dozen around here it would seem, after I registered *lol*.

AdobePinon

My policy is to visit two dentists about six months apart. On the very rare occasion that both tell me I've got a cavity in the SAME tooth, I'll get it filled. So far I've had two cavities filled, and eight 'cavities' left undone over 12 years.

Bob

problem with that, unless you've seen the dentist, it can take yonks to even get an appointment, hell, my last place, even as a regular, would have to book 6 odd months in advance....that and the huge hassle of changing dentists on the insurance, don't make it easy.

Russ&Jayne

I had to go through 3 dentists before I found one I liked. Now my US dentist lets me go home and get cheaper private treatment in the UK when needed. He even provides me with the x-rays to save cash. I saved $200 on my last crown and as I was going home anyway it didn't make a difference. My insurance company pays 50% for treatment in any country.

Those people that go home -- do you go as an NHS patient or a private one? I didn't think going back as NHS was allowed?

krizzy

I like my new US dentist...one he is cheap...two he asks what I feel needs doing giving me the cheaper option first...

Both me and hubby have found that each time we have a crown...the tooth next to it has problems...so its crown time again with that tooth so I now try not to have any crowns...just repair work...and I've had less problems...

Dan725

Just had a crown done here. Dentist did an excellent job. Insurance paid 50%, so price was similar to that paid in the UK for a crown (according to my mum, I have never had one before). I think you get more choice here as to what you want doing.

As regards the skill level of the dentists, I don't think there is any difference here or elsewhere, you get good ones and bad ones everywhere, I should imagine, but I don't think I've ever come across a bad one yet.

jen_andreson

I like the dentist here as I feel she give recommendations for what we should have done and she also presents options. Our cleanings and x-rays 'preventative care' are free and insurance pays 50% or so for most things. They will pay 100% of silver fillings and we pay the difference for white ones.

My last UK dentist was a nice man and he tried to do a good job. He'd just arrived from Spain and I got on his books as the practice accepted new patients when he arrived. We hadn't had an NHS dentist for a few years. He told me he was limited in what he could do--started to do a crown on me, stopped as he didn't have the tools he needed, and he sent me private. The quote from them was higher than a quote I got here, so I had it done here when we were on a visit.