Periodontal Work

[cheatgal]

Have been told by my dentist that I need 'deep clean' periodontal work as I have gum disease. Anyone had this and if so is it painful - my dentist says it will be done under local anaesthetic but am not looking forward to it nor to the hefty quotation for the work because even though I pay £30 per month to Denplan apparently this type of treatment is not covered!! Has anyone had this kind of treatment on the NHS.

[Bathsheba]

Is your dentist Private or NH cheatgal?

[cheatgal]

He is private - had to change to Denplan when the practice went private was the only way we could stay there. However our original dentist has now retired and my dentist has recommended his wife who is a periodontist (in the same practice) but who is not with Denplan!!! £700 is the quote so far but don't expect it to stop there

[Bathsheba]

pffffhhh!! My advice would be to dump the pair of them + find a National Health dentist asap......I don't think there's a crazy shortage of them these days, but I'm only speaking as a layman + NHS patient here, so maybe there are better qualified folk around who could advise you. Good luck x

[black_cat51]

I DON'T THINK THIS TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE ON THE nhs

[Bathsheba]

cheatgal.....are your gums red + inflamed? Have you got any problems with your teeth?
Black_cat....I'm not convinced this procedure may even be necessary!

[237SJ]

It might be worth getting a second opinion but there is some info here
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gum-disease/Pages/Treatment.aspx

[Peter Pedant]

if you dont have the treatment your teeth will fall out

You ahve a choice between no treatment under the NHS
and paying for treatment

The NHS dental service is just about dead. If you wanna think it is alive and cleaning- then go ahead, and good luck

[237SJ]

Peter - the NHS dental service is not dead. I have never been with anyone other than the NHS dental service and they have always been excellent and reasonably priced.

[douglas9401]

I read a leaflet for dental cover and it seemed to me that you'd soon pay the equivalent of the maximum payouts. It also seemed to be a one trip to the well kind of setup.
I wondered if it might be another example of insurance being a legalised con.

[margie04]

I had this treatment years ago, at the Dental Hospital in Edin. therefore free - have you one of those near you? It was very painful because I didn't have any anaesthetic, but it certainly worked, and I'm glad now I had it done, as some of my contemporaries are finding their teeth falling out regularly.

[Bathsheba]

I agree with you, 237SJ.....I also hope cheatgal comes back + tells us exactly what her symptoms are.

[jennyjoan]

It is very very painful but then again I find all dentists are barbarians. I do believe you are not a person to them - just a mouthful of teeth for them to tackle if you are out of it. I need so much work to my teeth but still can't face them. Good luck to you cheatgal and please let us know how you get on.

[jennyjoan]

I know of a few people who go abroad ie Turkey to get their teeth seen to. They say the Turkish people are just lovely to their patients.

[shaneystar2]

I had this done over twenty years ago .They cut your gums ,clean out the gunge and stitch them back up .It was done privately .Costo mucho at the time .The dentist seemed to discover this after I broke a crown which I had had since I was about eighteen and was done purely for cosmetic work at that time .
I had never had any trouble with my teeth prior to this and didn't even have any fillings and after all this palaver with the supposed gum disease he fitted a new crown .More money .It fitted really badly and loosened the two teeth either side of it . Out they had to come eventually and I had to have a bridge made,more money ....he then cleaned all my teeth .Top lot one week ,half the bottom lot the following week and the following week the other half all at great expense .In the end I told him shove his final bill .
Make very sure that you really need this treatment .I would get a second opinion .

[cheatgal]

Thanks to all who have replied. Bathsheba - I do have swollen gums and my teeth are not in great shape - due in part to Sjrogrens Syndrome (dry eyes, mouth etc). but I'm not in much pain and they settle down eventually. I can't understand why my dentist has not mentioned it before.
He also said that four teeth need extracting. I have always gone regular(why wouldn't I on Denplan) but the dentist I see now is Turkish/Greek and I find him hard to understand as his English isn't very clear. There is a NHS dentist in our town but there is a waiting list so I think I may go to get a second opinion from another practice before I bankrupt myself and still end up with the dreaded dentures!!!

[jennyjoan]

cheatgal it has been nearly 3 years since my last experience and whilst I still endure painful teeth loose teeth and bleeding gums I just clean them about 4-5 times a day ie the gums particularly to ease the pain. Give yourself a break - a good one- before you go on. Treat them yourself with good fluoride toothpaste and clean them gently every day. My problem many years ago I used to scrub them as if I were scrubbing the floor. Take your time big time!!!! before going back.

[jennyjoan]

shaney that was terrible for you - didn't I tell you they are bloody butchers.

A girl I go to in a shop got a back molar out some weeks ago and was complaining of the pain. The following week she told me she had to go to A&E and get it sorted out properly. She does believe the first dentist was drunk!!!!

[Peter Pedant]

clearly area specific ( death of the dental NHS )

[shaneystar2]

It took me a while to realise he was pulling a fast one .I think he was anyway .
Other people who went there weren't happy with him either and I heard some horror stories .When I challenged him on the bill for the hygiene work
we had a stand up row and I never did pay him !
The next dentist I went to was amazed at his shoddy work and eventually I had to have more teeth out :(

[jennyjoan]

O Shaney to see really see that if dentists had not have interfered - you would be sitting today with a lovely set of teeth (yours) of course. Many regrets on that.