Any Dentists on the forum?...
After many phone-calls, this morning i was lucky enough to book an appointment for this afternoon with a NHS dentist...
The problem is a (non-painful but uncomfortable) abscess that lies under my big molar LL6.
This tooth received a lot of treatment from a previous dentist i used to see over a decade ago when i lived in the west country, (since moving away from there i haven't had a regular dentist). But around 14 years ago this tooth received a triple root canal filling and a large complex 3 surface amalgam restoration with pin retention.
It was a job done well and has lasted very well up until now! : (
The young NHS dentist i have just visited took an x-ray and confirmed the abscess, and explained to me that what had been done back then has now failed, and the next course of action is anti-biotics, and another appointment next week for a check over and almost certain extraction : (
I think he maybe right, my previous dentist was clever to rebuild this tooth, which is a very useful chewing type tooth, and gave it another 14 years, but now it's failing... doomed... bugger! : (
Anyway, private dentists in this neck of the woods are fully booked up, i can't find one for love nor money in time to give me a second opinion...
But would a Private Dentist give any other choices/options with the outcome?
Debs
Posted on: 13 March 2010 by Derek Wright
Re Bupa and Dentists - you can take out a DenPlan cover and then you get regular checks and all treatments included - however you have to pay to get your teeth in good order first before you will be taken on.
Posted on: 13 March 2010 by naim_nymph
The new NHS dental contract of 2006 would appear to be a follow on to the overwhelming evidence that after many NHS dentists claimed money for 'filling healthy teeth' under a loophole of practice conditions in the 1970's and 1980's, the generation of people who were abused by this method are now into middle-age with amalgam filled 'high maintenance' teeth. This oncoming situation has prompted the NHS to change their policy to the effect that any problem teeth should now be removed so the NHS may save money on any future maintenance. This may be a super saving for the NHS, but very insulting for British citizens who for decades have paid high taxes for a good NHS dental health service they have not received, and instead have been seriously abused by unscrupulous NHS dentists!
Story from BBC NEWS Sept 2007...
'Standards drop' in NHS dentistry
Reforms of NHS dentistry mean some patients are receiving substandard care, critics claim.
Dental Laboratories Association figures show a drop in the number of complex treatments, like dentures, carried out since the new contract began in April.
The DLA says financial rather than clinical concerns are driving decisions - to the detriment of patients.
But the government says the new contract was designed to cut unnecessary complex treatments.
'Dark Ages of dentistry'
The chief dental officer, Barry Cockcroft, said dentists will still act "ethically and clinically" in the best interests of the patient.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme he refuted suggestions by DLA chief executive Richard Daniels that the service was "going back to the Dark Ages of dentistry".
Mr Daniels argued that his association had comments from "some of the most vulnerable" patients who had required dentures and instead were given tooth extraction.
He blamed the new contract, which does not record the specific treatment carried out.
"For example, if you had a tooth missing under the old contract very regularly you would have received a single crown.
"Under the new contract you'll be finding you'll get a one tooth denture and the cost of those are significantly different yet the dentist's income will still be the same," he told the programme.
Mr Cockcroft said the DLA's evidence was "anecdotal" and said the government's pilot project found patients were pleased with the new system.
It found a drop in intervention, with no impact on patients, he said.
"The vast majority of dentists will actually still do what is completely right for their patients," he added.
He said the old contract was designed to deal with a completely different climate and that the oral health of the nation had "vastly improved".
Earlier he said the new contract was designed to give dentists more stability - and the same money for treating fewer patients.
It meant they did not have to rely on a "drill and fill" culture to maximise their income.
However, if dentists do not fulfil their work quota, their employer, the Primary Care Trust, can ask for some of their wages back.
“ There is no incentive to carry out complex work that might be best for the patient ”
Anthony Halperin, chairman of the Patients Association
The DLA, a professional body for dental laboratory owners, says this pressure may be affecting the treatments dentists are providing, with some doing fewer time-consuming, complex procedures.
It revealed exclusively to BBC Breakfast that it had seen a 57% reduction in complex "Band 3" dental treatments - such as crowns and dentures - on the NHS compared with the old dental contract.
Yet on Denplan, where dentists do not pay for laboratory work but patients do, the rate of Band 3 work has remained unchanged over the same 12-month period.
The figures show that the private market is not growing at the same rate at which the NHS is decreasing.
It could be that patients are missing out on treatments altogether.
The DLA believes 3%-5% of the dental work is being shipped abroad.
Compromised care
Richard Daniels, DLA chief executive, said: "The current contract is forcing dentists to make prescription decisions based on financial resources rather than clinical need.
"My concern is that, with such a dramatic reduction in complex treatments, some of the most vulnerable people in society are suffering.
DENTAL TREATMENT BANDINGS
•Band 1 - simple scaling, examination, repairs
•Band 2 - tooth extraction, root canal work
•Band 3 - veneers, dentures
"The Department of Health must act now to stop the decay of our dental service."
Peter Ward, chief executive of the British Dental Association, said it was too early to say if there had been a change in the amount of complex treatments being performed by NHS dentists.
But he said: "What we do know, is that the crude, target-driven contract introduced in April 2006 is creating problems for dentists and patients across England and Wales.
"Dentists are highly-trained healthcare professionals and should be treated as such, rather than being left chasing targets."
"Appropriate" trend
Anthony Halperin, chairman of the Patients Association and a private dentist, said: "I am convinced that this contract is not to patients' advantage.
"They are not being treated as efficiently as they were under the old system and they are paying more for it.
"Dentists are so driven by hitting targets that there is no incentive to carry out complex work that might be best for the patient."
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Posted on: 17 March 2010 by Stuart M
Well had my upper left wisdon tooth taken out yesterday it was causing me trouble as the lower wisdon teeth were removed over 30 years ago when I had a brace. The tooth had got to long and due to no lower tooth tended to pack the space with food residue.
Easilly removed and no pain and touch would seems to be healing well.
Next time a visit for a crown. From what I've seen the dentist appears to be good but the crown will be the real test of NHS work and if it's worth the tier 3 £198. I was given the choice of fill (again) or crown but got the impression was more for concern over any issue I had with cost, than them doing the work.
All recent previous work before was done a paitent of a friend by him at the teaching hospital he worked at (And free treatment - well the price of having students have a good look) I still have a crown by him of 15 years with no problems, sadly he's no longer with us.
The trouble is the old system had it's problems (I know I experienced them) the new one has a different set. It's like any blunt reward/target based system is that aiming for these then impacts unintended areas, so often by fixing what needed to be improved it's to the detrement of what was working well before.
I do not believe that everything can be reduced to process, metrics and governence as many conultants sell. They are important and can bring great improvements but they have thier own set of flaws that can be equally problematic if not used with common sense.
Stu,