I certainly dont want to fuel any argument or disagreement but generally, NHS dentists and orthodontists have their time limited and we must remember that. Hubby and I and all 3 children (now adults) have private dentistry because in my own experience, they have more time to explore alternatives re treatment and seem to have a more 'preventative' philosophy. I would be interested to know if the more recent NHS dentists contracts have changed things for NHS dentists - I hope so, they used to be paid just to fill or extract teeth whatever their individual feelings about it. None of my children (18, 20 & 22) have any fillings - and my kids ate the same rubbish and drank too much soda like their friends with fillings, so that worries me. After my brace was fitted in January I had a trauma to a tooth (which I moaned about on here lol). It was painful for weeks and horribly wobbly but my dentist saw me each week and I had his mobile phone number which I was to call day or night at the slightest hint of a change in the pain as high risk of infection. He said he thought it could be a root fracture (usually fatal) but that these are commonly misdiagnosed so if I was prepared to bear with it, we'd make sure before doing anything - even drilling into the tooth to explore (which was intact and no prev filling). Well, 2 months later, it is fine but still being monitored. He openly admitted that an NHS dentist would have probably just recommended extraction after a second look at 2 weeks as the pain was still there then and it was still wobbling everywhere (not now
).
My youngest son did have NHS orthodontics and the result was fantastic but he had to wait 2 yrs to get treated and fortunately we sought opinion very early, when he was about 12. He was treated appropriately by a specialist but his team of 4 orthos were all in the same room and chairs lined up, a bit like a factory and as one left the next in line sat in the chair. Private patients were seen by the specialist only and in another suite. I guess they have to do the 'economies of scale' to make the finances of NHS contracts work. I have a different ortho because its more convenient to have one near the office as I commute 40 miles. I get a cup of tea, squashy sofas and music in the waiting room more time for him to explain things and chit chat but I doubt whether the treatment is any better and the treatment is all I want. My eldest son has just been to see him (he refused to have braces as a teen) and starts his treatment plan soon. He asked if he could not have extractions and the ortho said that it will be more difficult, take much more time but as long as my son was committed he'd try his best. I remember asking about avoiding extractions with my younger son's ortho and he said that extractions were unavoidable. Their cases might be different of course (but both complex Class II malloclusions), but I cant help thinking my older son will have no extractions because he's paying £4k whereas the NHS ortho had to work within his budget limit which was probably less. My ortho does do some NHS work but only complex children cases and he sees no-one, not even privately unless referred to him by dentists he works with who have already assessed the patient's motivation and level of commitment to orthodontics.
Blimey, I have gone on! Sorry
I forgot - Re the earthquake - I woke up with the bed shaking
I convinced myself I must have been dreaming. Hubby was away on business, so its too funny that the earth moved for me whilst he wasnt there
