A Really Good UK-NHS Dentist Experience

I love our NHS dentist - I really do!  She's female (not that it matters) & every bit as good, modern, professional, etc as my US dentists were.

I am now having a transatlantic dental collaboration experience.  When I was visiting with/tending to my mom in the US recently, I had a dental emergency - in which I cracked one of my back lower molars on an unexpected bone in bbq pork.  The tooth was split in two (most of it broken off) & was only tenuously still attached.  I had no choice but to do something whilst I was still in the US.  Fortunately, the dentist who I last saw when I was only 19 years old (25 years ago!) agreed to see me & I had a(n expensive) root canal done.  I was not going to be there long enough for a crown to be affixed, so he filled the hole up with ticky-tacky ( ) & sent me on my way.

So today, I saw my NHS dentist to begin the process of having a crown done.  She did an x-ray to view how the work was done in the US - it's fine, no infection, etc.  Ok - this appointment was just to assess what I need to have done, so an appointment of appropriate length could be booked for me to begin doing the crown.

She took the time to explain to me that this dental practice here is a dual practice - both NHS & private, so they can pursue either course of treatment with me.  An NHS-paid crown will be tin & costs £198, or I can opt for private & get a white crown (£310) or gold (£350).  I can get whichever I choose, but she explained you do get what you pay for - both in quality of workmanship & endurance of material, etc.

Fortunately, our travel insurance should cover most of the root canal expenses I incurred.  I will be looking into a private health policy I have here through work, but have never used (never needed to) to see if they might cover some of the remaining expense - both US & UK.

I will probably 'go private' on the crown, so that I will have a potentially longer-lasting crown on there.

Good UK dentist!  Yaye!

I like my NHS dentist... a really cute young guy who is fascinated by my American fillings!
I was in seeing the hygienist yesterday... got a scale and polish for £20, along with a few freebies - toothpaste & floss.

Lucky you with the freebies!   

I like my NHS dentist as well.  I was very impressed with him as I didn't get a chance to mention TMJ when I first walked in and he was doing my assessment / registry, but he found it within a matter of seconds!  He also has a good sense of humor - too bad he was trying to make me laugh while doing a filling! 

I like my dentist too.  He has taken me on as an NHS patient and does good work.  I've recommended him to a bunch of people and everyone likes him & his work.  Now to get my DH in...

along with a few freebies - toothpaste & floss.

That's not standard? Here, I always get a toothbrush, travel sized toothpaste, and travel sized floss.

That's not standard? Here, I always get a toothbrush, travel sized toothpaste, and travel sized floss.

I've been going to the dentist in the UK my whole life and I've never had anything free from him - except maybe a sticker each time I visited when I was a child .

I've been going to the dentist in the UK my whole life and I've never had anything free from him - except maybe a sticker each time I visited when I was a child .

Wow! I rarely buy toothbrushes and never buy travel sized toothpaste because I just get it from the dentist!

That's not standard? Here, I always get a toothbrush, travel sized toothpaste, and travel sized floss.

That's not standard in the US either. My dentist I had when I was little always gave us a toothbrush and floss, but once I moved to Maryland I got nothing! I was very disappointed when I had to start buying my toothbrush!

That's not standard in the US either. ....once I moved to Maryland I got nothing!

That's funny! I just went to the dentist last week in Maryland and walked away with pocket-fulls of toothbrushes/toothpaste! 

That's not standard in the US either. My dentist I had when I was little always gave us a toothbrush and floss, but once I moved to Maryland I got nothing! I was very disappointed when I had to start buying my toothbrush!

Oh, I didn't know that. Every dentist I've ever went to gave away the toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. I've moved a lot, so been to quite a few.