A bit dodgy???

For the past few weeks I've been calling every dentist in area trying to get an appointment for Dale to get a tooth pulled.But the earliest appointment I could get was in late December.

Well I seen an ad in the paper from a dentist advertising that they are accepting new patients,so I called it today. Well.... First off the person who answers just says "hello" ,doesnt give the surgery name at all. then when I inquire if its a dentist surgery the guy informs me it is and come to find out hes actually the dentist...no receptionist . Anyway, I ask about appointment and he gives me 3 appointments open that day,then goes on to give more appointment times every day out the week, that to me seemed dodgy since every other surgery has a minimum of 2 month waiting time. So anyway, I ask about cost...Ok first off every other dentist I called they wanted £200 to pull Dales tooth. But this dentist only wanted £40   .
It just doesn't seem right to me and seems well dodgy. Dale is keen on it,because (a) quick appointment time and (b) he'll be saving £160. But I'm a bit leery of it all

Whats everyone else think?

And medical professional has to have credentials- ask to see his.

Check out his office and then decide?

that sounds VERY dodgy!  but if it wasnt, that would be sweet!

Why is it dodgy? Maybe it is a new practice, hence having lots of spare appointments.  Maybe he isn't in it just for the money, hence no receptionist & low fees? Maybe he is an NHS dentist & the others you called were private, hence the fee difference? My husband had a tooth pulled at an excellent practice in Scotland and they only charged £10 and saw him at an hour's notice!

Hell, I would ask...  "Why is every other dental surgery have a two month wait and charge 200 pounds but you are not?"  Even "Why don't you have a receptionist?" or "How long have you been practicing?"

Who says you can't look a gift horse in the mouth?

Hell, I would ask...  "Why is every other dental surgery have a two month wait and charge 200 pounds but you are not?"  Even "Why don't you have a receptionist?" or "How long have you been practicing?"

So would I.

I'd definitely check it out -- but then I'd probably do that with any dentist, regardless of fees/receptionist/etc, unless I'd had a recommendation from someone I trusted. There's no real reason, though, that this dentist isn't completely on the up and up.

Hell, I would ask...  "Why is every other dental surgery have a two month wait and charge 200 pounds but you are not?"  Even "Why don't you have a receptionist?" or "How long have you been practicing?"

Who says you can't look a gift horse in the mouth?

I'd be more inclined to ask the more expensive dentists why they charge so much when the guy down the road is only £40! Maybe the receptionist was off sick. Or maybe the number you had is his direct line.  I rang our GP surgery a couple of weeks ago and one of the dotors answered even though they have three recpetionists at least. It doesn't make him less of a doctor!

If you want to check if he is a legitimate dentist, have a look at the Dental Council's website.

NHS dentist & the others you called were private,

thats the thing. Hes private. We don't qualify for NHS dentists so I made sure I only called private dentists.

I checked the dental council website,he's not listed. But he is listed in the phone book, so I know I got the spelling right. Looks like Dale won't be going there afterall!

I would definitely ask to see a diploma or some kind of credentials. He may be just starting up, who knows, but I'm not familiar with how things work in the UK regarding dentistry, ect.

But if he has a recliner in his garage for an office...RUN!!!!!!!!!!!

thats the thing. Hes private. We don't qualify for NHS dentists so I made sure I only called private dentists.

I checked the dental council website,he's not listed. But he is listed in the phone book, so I know I got the spelling right. Looks like Dale won't be going there afterall!

Sorry, bit off topic, as far as I know everyone is entitled to use an NHS dentist if they want to.  You still have to pay, but it's not as much as a private dentist.  [Free to children & people on certain benefits.]   But if he's not on the Dental Council list that IS strange ...

But if he has a recliner in his garage for an office...RUN!!!!!!!!!!!

and is holding a pair of plyers and tells Dale to drink some vodka


anyway.looks like theres no stopping Dale from going,hes adament about it because hes in constant pain,
so I'm gonna go along with him and ask the dentist a bunch of questions before Dale gets anything done

and is holding a pair of plyers and tells Dale to drink some vodka


anyway.looks like theres no stopping Dale from going,hes adament about it because hes in constant pain,
so I'm gonna go along with him and ask the dentist a bunch of questions before Dale gets anything done including why hes not on the dentist council website

A dentist in practice MUST be registered with the General Dental Council.  You can check his registration here:

http://www.gdc-uk.org/General+public/Check+a+professional+is+registered/

If he is listed, then grab Dale an appointment now before they all fill up.
But if he is not listed, please contact the GDC and let them know about this guy!  Someone trying to pass themselves off as a dentist could cause actual physical harm to the public by performing procedures they are neither trained nor licensed for.