How do the Dentists Compare

what's a 'dentist' ?

I get my teeth cleaned every three months. I think he uses some sort of ultrasound device. Quick and painless.
I love my dentist here. I've had lots and lots of work done. All painless and very professional.

My only complaint is that the exams are much more cursory here.  I'm suspicious because my US dentist always read me the riot act about not flossing and starting to form periodontal pockets, but my UK dentist says my oral health is "perfect".   

i've had completely the opposite experience.  my US dentist royally screwed up my teeth- one side of my mouth was 3mm closer together than the other side.  putting large composite fillings in cavities so large a composite had no place going anywhere near.  they also were always telling me i had good oral hygine (the fact i was getting several cavities a year should have made me wake up- but it didnt).

cue UK dentist.  nice but firm.  layed down the riot act on my teeth.  sorted out the tmj.  sorted out the large composites that were tender 18 months after getting them.  great through cleaning. 

I've only been to him twice for normal checkups, so maybe I'm fine and need to cut him some slack. 

This thread is of interest to me because I need to have a new crown put on my tooth. I'm currently in the US, but will be moving to the UK soon.

Quote in the US = $1000. But I LOVE my dentist and totally trust her with my life.

Any experience of new crowns? (just the crown; I already had a root canal, original crown fell out).

How much did you pay?

My husband recently had a crown but I can't remember the cost but if you're pregnant or less than one year post natal you can get it done for free! That's when I got all my dental work done 

 

Not EVER again!! I'm through being pregnant, that's for sure! Been there, done that. But thanks for the tip, anyway.

If you're with an NHS dentist, I believe the cost of a crown is £194 (have a look at http://www.whatprice.co.uk/dentist/nhs-prices.html), but I don't know what sort of cost you'd be looking at with a private dentist.

My only complaint is that the exams are much more cursory here.  I'm suspicious because my US dentist always read me the riot act about not flossing and starting to form periodontal pockets, but my UK dentist says my oral health is "perfect".   

I felt the same! Everytime i went to the dentist in the US without fail... i had at least 1 cavity and was told that my teeth were 'soft'.  Here, I went to the dentist.. he poked around a bit ...  took some xrays and said my teeth were in GREAT shape... I sat back and said 'what? i've never heard that one before' and kept asking him to 'just check here... and here'.. but nothing!  I thought it was strange but Im not complaining... 

The only slightly weird thing I found with my dentist office in London is that when I made an appointment to have my teeth cleaned, I didn't see the dentist at all.  In the US, I always had the cleaning first with the Hygienist and then the dentist would pop in to check everything over and review any x-rays.  At my first UK appt, I got the cleaning from the hygenist and then when I asked if I would see a dentist, she said I would need another appt for the dentist to look over everything.  I have no idea if that is standard, but when making an appt, it might be worth asking if you will see the dentist.

It could be to do with the contracts involved. Most dental surgeries contract in hygienists and so the appointments are separate because the revenue/pay streams are different. And in the case of an NHS practice, the Primary Care Trust has a contract with the surgery to provide necessary dental work, which includes clinically necessary "scale and polish" but not cosmetic treatments - so if your teeth don't actually NEED to be cleaned for clinical reasons they will make you an appointment with the hygienist which will have to be paid for privately....

If you're with an NHS dentist, I believe the cost of a crown is £194 (have a look at http://www.whatprice.co.uk/dentist/nhs-prices.html), but I don't know what sort of cost you'd be looking at with a private dentist.

Yes, £194 is right. Keeping in mind that that is the highest treatment band for NHS dental work and will cover the entire course of treatment - in other words if you need to come in for x-rays, cleanings, a root canal, and a crown, that is one course of treatment and as long as it's all done within two months, you only need to pay the £194 one time.... A private crown will vary from practice to practice but I think you'd be lucky to keep it under the very high hundreds.

In terms of US dentists seeming more thorough, do keep in mind that US dentists are in it to make a profit and it works in their favour to keep you coming in (and paying every time you do). I'm not saying that NHS dentists don't care about making a profit (and many do private work along side NHS work which is very lucrative), but it's not money in an NHS dentist's pocket to tell you to keep coming in unless it really is necessary....

Yes, I was surprised when I went to the dentist here (UK) - the appointment took almost no time at all.  They said my teeth were in great shape, no work needed - not even a cleaning, because they said my teeth were so clean, if they did clean them they'd only be taking off the tooth enamel instead.  Same thing with my husband -- we had appointments last July at the same time (note to self -- need to book our 6-month appointments now).

Being at the dentist in the US always took so much longer!  Not to mention that I spent hundreds of dollars (possibly more) just before I left the US for intensive gum treatments, replacing old fillings (I have all white ones now instead of the old grungy looking amalgams), and other procedures (I had let my teeth go for a long time due to being impoverished).  I am now a lot more careful with my teeth - using a Sonicare toothbrush plus my health overall is considerably improved.  But I was really surprised a) how little time the appointment took, and b) that my teeth are now all in good working order.

That said, my last US dentist was gorgeous -- looked like a male model, and had enough money that he routinely traveled to see all the major tennis tournaments in the world.

WOW  I can't believe how many replies I got over night. Thanks for all the help guys. I'll start looking for a dentist today! On NHS, do you normally pay for a cleaning? or check up, both?

ta,
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WOW  I can't believe how many replies I got over night. Thanks for all the help guys. I'll start looking for a dentist today! On NHS, do you normally pay for a cleaning? or check up, both?

All of that comes under the first band which costs £15.90. That will get you an examination, diagnosis (which would include x-rays), advice on treatments or future needs, and scale and polish (dentist cleaning) if needed. If you need more treatment after that, the next band is £43.60 and includes fillings, root canals, and extractions. The third band (£194) is for crowns, dentures and bridges.

All of that comes under the first band which costs £15.90. That will get you an examination, diagnosis (which would include x-rays), advice on treatments or future needs, and scale and polish (dentist cleaning) if needed. If you need more treatment after that, the next band is £43.60 and includes fillings, root canals, and extractions. The third band (£194) is for crowns, dentures and bridges.

Thanks for posting this information Anne. I pay for my cleanings a few times a year and once a year a check up but all my major work was done while I had my maternity certificate. I saved a bundle!

When I first went to the dentist here for a check up and cleaning the first thing he said to me was "So what's the problem". Like people only go to the dentist when they have a problem. 

All of that comes under the first band which costs £15.90. That will get you an examination, diagnosis (which would include x-rays), advice on treatments or future needs, and scale and polish (dentist cleaning) if needed. If you need more treatment after that, the next band is £43.60 and includes fillings, root canals, and extractions. The third band (£194) is for crowns, dentures and bridges.

See, now I'm confused.  I have been with my dentist about eight months, and I still haven't had an X-ray.  I have had a surface checkup and a scale and polish.