I have experiencing tooth problems and I have failed to look after my teeth
As I cannot get an appointment with my own Dentist. I went to a very different Dentist who said my teeth are in the advanced stages of gum disease and that I will lose many
I agree my teeth have been neglected but I do not think I would go back to him ever
I tried my existing Dentist but not taking patients in the mean time
He said my teeth are so bad that I need a deep clean costing £800
But I rang my own dental practice who are prepared to charge NHS rates of up to £62
I am quite disappointed as I have neglected my own self care and this is the cost of neglect
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Roukaya
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46 Replies
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Hi Roukaya,
Don't be too disappointed in yourself. Most of us infamously fail to take proper care of our teeth. Have you ever read the very funny Pam Ayres poem "I wish I'd looked after my teeth". I think many people find it funny because we identify with it.
Maybe going back to your own dentist isn't the best move if he has failed to help you with your gum disease, because that's something that doesn't happen overnight. And the second one has come up with a very expensive solution.
But in any case, this is another challenge for you in a situation which you can turn around if you will take control of it with the help of, probably, a good dental hygienist, so just determine to take better care of your teeth in future. 🙏
Invest in some interdental brushes and brush between your teeth. Also, brush your teeth and gums with salt after you have cleaned them. A water flosser is also useful for flushing around the teeth at gum level, including the backs, bit messy, but there we go.
This is the regime I adopted when I had gum disease while I was waiting for an appointment with the hygienist. When the appointment did come around, my gums had recovered and I just needed a small amount of plaque removing.
Yes, my teeth were ok, but my gums were bleeding and a bit swollen. The gum was a bit loose around a couple of my teeth.
Salt is a very good antiseptic and the water flosser can flush any nasties where the gum has a gap.
It worked well for me and it should help you improve your condition while you wait for an appointment with an nhs dentist. I wouldn’t be paying £800. That is just extortionist.
Corsdyl mouthwash is also very good. ( I think they do a toothpaste as well, but I have never used it.)
I think they because Dental Practices have been closed during Lock Down he is looking for ways to recover his lost profit levels
This is sadly how some people can behave
In my own experience of running a business I have met many to try to exploit or over charge
Even recently , I trusted a retired contractor with renovations for a small flat and I have seen through the last two quotes he has overcharged mr double all because I trust him and also invents work that is not needed so he can make money
I have been way overcharged, total $14,000, when I had a broken bridge, that either they couldn’t or didn’t want to fix. Instead, they sent me to an orthodontist, where they pulled all my uppers, and gave me a plastic false teeth plate, that never has fitted well. For the bottom, they sent me to a specialist, who did 4 root canals, and they fixed up a few fillings. Then, after that, once they got all my money, meanwhile, building a new beautiful office, they did NOT offer any follow-up, checking and cleaning services. As an elderly, senior citizen, with neurodegenerative disease, I truly felt, that I was taken advantage of! My budget has been messed up, for at least 5 years. So, now, I feel traumatized, and don’t feel I can trust going back to a dentist’s office, again!
I am well thank you. Yes that looks like excellent advice Trolious has given you. There are very good products over the counter to help with good dental hygiene and once you have the treatment from a dentist, they can advise you on how to maintain a routine. 🌼😊
I have been to the dentist three times recently...
Temporary repair of a broken tooth - the rules at the time did not allow a permanent repair.
Permanent repair of the tooth.
Routine hygenist and dentist check-up.
If I paid £800 occasionally it might be cheaper than my Denplan subscription.
Dentists are only allowed to open if they can have an extraction fan in each surgery... many surgeries do not have windows - so it is difficult... but I would have thought that knocking a hole in a wall and putting a fan in would be better than not being able to open for a month or two!
I had two teeth taken out at the top to make room - and I should have had two more taken out at the bottom - but the dentist left it too late, so my bottom teeth are crooked.
I got some apple cor stuck betow the gum between two teeth - this caused an abscess -and I eventually lost both of the teeth.
Denplan is a private dentistry policy - the dentist decides the premium depending on the condition of your teeth.
I think my teeth are in a state of neglect but it will depend on the Dentist and eligibility
I hope you are keeping well
Dentists have seen a surge in their costs, whilst only seeing a fraction of patients. So they get passed onto their patients.
They have to change ppe with each patient, which is very expensive. Sterilise everything after each patient etc.. Putting themselves at risk doing such close high risk work.
How are job applications and interviews progressing
Dentists just like all businesses are in the business to make money and if they see a chance to make money in order to compensate for their losses as a result of Lock Down they will
I shall never set foot there again but I will follow the advice of Trollious and wait until my own Dentist opens up
Me personally, I would try and book appointment with the hygienist, he/she can do a deep clean, It may take at least 2 to 3 appointments. I know I was there last year.
Hello Roukaya. Sadly we all struggle with looking after our teeth Thats why we go to the dentist for check ups The flossing with that fine cotton is the thing i can't get the hang of. So i do my best with a toothbrush I do wonder if you are better having them out and having false teeth
My health is ok at present Thanks I have 3 Ailments The major concern is lung disease Which was diagnosed last year June As a Severe obstruction Straight away But i am on no inhalers or medication And can walk around town etc. So just got to carry on and hope it continues Ref my teeth i had a check up cancelled due to Lockdown And the appointment before that. He would not do any scale and polishing Which is the thing i hate. Because i had recently been fitted with a pacemaker and was on blood thinners due to a clot But have been told about gum disease before Take care Brian
Don't beat yourself up over your teeth Roukaya,we can't change the past.Lots of great advice on here -I find corsidal mouthwash good but does tend to stain teeth.I have soggy gums due to years of inhalers oral steroids etc.
If you do use inhalers also remember to rinse your mouth out after using them.
Do hope the tips from all the others help and that you get sorted.
Well done for realising your problem needs addressing and taking action.
Dear Roukaya, Sorry you have problems and that you are feeling it is your fault for neglecting your teeth. It doesn't always work like that. My poor husband has constant tooth issues and he is much more careful than I am, and I just seem to get away with it.
However, we bought a water pic to clean our teeth as getting to dentists at the moment is problematic, there are a lot on Amazon and we bought a relatively inexpensive one - paid 30€.
My husband, in particular, is delighted with it, really cleans where other things can't, especially round his bridge. He wishes we had bought one years ago.
And I do agree with the others that salt water to gargle and rinse is better than all the expensive mouth washes.
I used to work for a dental ins company processing dental claims.
Please do not use hard toothbrushes nor press hard while brushing with a soft toothbrush.
Brush in a circular pattern with a good sensitive &/or plaque reducing toothpaste. Here in the US we can buy Sensodyne toothpaste. Great products. Also floss regularly. The water flossing works well too.
Use a plaque reducing mouthwash. Just don't take a sip & swoosh it around & spit. Leave it in your mouth swishing it around for several minutes. Then spit it out.
Always carry those little plastic flossers with you. That way if food gets stuck, you can remove it easily. Leaving it there is very bad.
Brush your teeth a minimum of 2 to 3 times a day.
If you can't brush your teeth after each meal you can just put some room temperature water in your mouth & swoosh it around really hard. You'll be surprised how many food particles that will come out.
The salt idea is good too. You can use all of these ideas at different times of the day.
If you need the deep cleaning, it could be known as a full mouth debridement.
If your teeth are super bad, you may need "root scaling & planing". That is done in quadrants.
They usually will do the UR & LR quads one day & then the UL & LL quads another day.
You may need to spend a bit of money to save your teeth. But it sure beats losing them & maybe having to get dentures.
I gargle with a concoction I make up of water, Peroxide, sea salt, and baking soda I keep in an opaque glass bottle. Peroxide will lose it's strength if exposed to any light. I add 2 drops of Tea tree oil into my mouth, and swish it around in my mouth for about 15 minutes. I do this 3 times a week. I have my own dental tools to remove any plaque that can build up in a couple of areas where I have some crowded teeth. When I go to the dentist sometimes 5-20 years have passed. I do have to have a fake enamel applied to my teeth, because I brushed my teeth too hard with baking soda, while using a hard bristled toothbrush for so many years in the past. I had unknowingly removed the natural enamel from my teeth.. Otherwise the group of dentist I go to always wonder why my teeth are so healthy.
Are you aware that the quality of dental care in the UK varies greatly ?
Once I had a problem, the first dentist told me it was "impossible" to fix (she was so bad that caused me to bleed) and expected me to pay in full, for nothing. She even had the cheek to tell me she was telling me the truth as a "friend" and that I should pay. I didn't go there to make friends with her.
I told her no and went to see the second dentist, he fixed the problem in 15 minutes! However, a problem came up, he wanted more money.
I went to the third dentist. She was wonderful. She fixed it in 5 minutes and no problem since!
I later found out the first dentist had her unknown qualification abroad by checking her credentials at the GDC (General Dental Council).
So, seek a second or even third opinion, if you feel something is wrong.
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Today's walk/jog to the dentist - first set of photos
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A Very Pleasant hour, or so, In the Garden.
Very depressed and Covid-19 spreading in my area near Seattle.