As a dentist myself I think you touched on some really good points in this post. The media keep saying that there is a shortage of NHS dentists- which isn't actually true. The real issue lies with the funding available to dental practices that have NHS contracts.
I won't bore you with all the ins and outs but without the funding the practices cannot provide the services necessary - which ultimately means that our hands as dentists are tied. Near enough every dentists wants to provide the best care and treatment to their patients but if the system that is in place doesn't allow for that going what can you do? Either don't provide it at all or offer it privately.
If I had my way I'd love to ensure that every patient can get the treatment they need at the best price but what the media and the general public forget is that every dental practice is a business and for a business to survive it needs to make money.
I'm hopeful that things will get better but real change is needed the question is when?
P.S: you are more than welcome to come and sit in my dental chair should your canine decide to give up the ghost!
Thank you Ruth, for a really useful response from someone who knows what they are talking about. It is clear that reform is needed. We have had the drip, drip effect of funding removal or funding stagnation linked to cost of living crisis. This has resulted in less affordable access to dentists resulting in poorer dental health. Which leads to a greater need in more expensive dental interventions, that many can not afford hence pulling out thier own teeth out and so it goes on. I for one value my dentist, but have had to go privately. I can afford it, but I know I don't go as often as I should. I am about to go into full rant mode so will leave it there.
Thank you Ruth for sticking with your profession in strange and difficult times. We NEED you xxxxxx
I loved the dentist so much I applied to work at the front desk :) It's been terrible learning about US insurance in the process, but I absolutely love connecting people with what they need in the chair and (hopefully) making the financial and other burdens a little lighter. I do get quite woozy when their hacking away back there and I need to bring Doc back some info though :0
I am glad to say that I have a terrific dentist who is absolutely lovely, and I've been very fortunate with my oral health. When we were very small, our parents promised us £25 (a HUGE sum forty years ago!) if we made it to the age of 25 with no fillings. Well, I made it to 23, and my brother to 24. No cash bung, then, but gosh, we sure looked after our teeth!
There is so much which affects the teeth - and it's not always things we have control over. My au-pair kids in Germany each had many, many fillings in their baby teeth (they were 7 and 9), and I gather their mother had been very seriously ill in both of her pregnancies 'at the time when the babies' teeth would have been developing', she told me. Awful for all of them.
While I think that saying I love the dentist is a bit extreme, I do love the new technology my dentists are now using, especially the tech that permits them to replace a crown while you wait. I am at the point where most of the crowns that were put in decades ago need to be replaced, or teeth that I had fillings in are now ready for a crown, and the ability to get crowns done from first to last in about 90 minutes is extraordinary. I've also had my first tooth implant (so no dentures) and that went smoothly. Thank heavens for the dental insurance my husband's employer (even now in retirement) offers!
Thank you as ever Louisa. The last crown, my first, I had was a bit of nightmare it fell out after 12 months. But my dental practice were great and gave me a brand-new much better one free of charge. I couldn't fault the practice xx
I remember my first dentist (a grim man) and first fillings, I swear the old drill felt like someone was taking a jack hammer to my mouth! We have been going to the same dental practice for over 30 years, (most of the time one single dentist, whose wife became the narrator for my audiobooks!) but then about 5 years ago, he sold his practice (working part time in the transition) to a young female dentist, who now has her husband and a sister working with her, and they are very up-to-date with all the newest technology. Just as happy with the service, and even happier with the upgrades to the tech. But of course we are very fortunate to have insurance, but we have spent a good deal of money on our daughter and grandson's teeth, since they don't have access to dental insurance.
As a dentist myself I think you touched on some really good points in this post. The media keep saying that there is a shortage of NHS dentists- which isn't actually true. The real issue lies with the funding available to dental practices that have NHS contracts.
I won't bore you with all the ins and outs but without the funding the practices cannot provide the services necessary - which ultimately means that our hands as dentists are tied. Near enough every dentists wants to provide the best care and treatment to their patients but if the system that is in place doesn't allow for that going what can you do? Either don't provide it at all or offer it privately.
If I had my way I'd love to ensure that every patient can get the treatment they need at the best price but what the media and the general public forget is that every dental practice is a business and for a business to survive it needs to make money.
I'm hopeful that things will get better but real change is needed the question is when?
P.S: you are more than welcome to come and sit in my dental chair should your canine decide to give up the ghost!
Thank you Ruth, for a really useful response from someone who knows what they are talking about. It is clear that reform is needed. We have had the drip, drip effect of funding removal or funding stagnation linked to cost of living crisis. This has resulted in less affordable access to dentists resulting in poorer dental health. Which leads to a greater need in more expensive dental interventions, that many can not afford hence pulling out thier own teeth out and so it goes on. I for one value my dentist, but have had to go privately. I can afford it, but I know I don't go as often as I should. I am about to go into full rant mode so will leave it there.
Thank you Ruth for sticking with your profession in strange and difficult times. We NEED you xxxxxx
Apparently, flossing is the Elixir of Life.....
I do floss... Most of the time 😄
I loved the dentist so much I applied to work at the front desk :) It's been terrible learning about US insurance in the process, but I absolutely love connecting people with what they need in the chair and (hopefully) making the financial and other burdens a little lighter. I do get quite woozy when their hacking away back there and I need to bring Doc back some info though :0
That’s dedication to the dentist 😁. I am sure you are great at reassuring and helping people. Just what the dentist ordered xxx
I am glad to say that I have a terrific dentist who is absolutely lovely, and I've been very fortunate with my oral health. When we were very small, our parents promised us £25 (a HUGE sum forty years ago!) if we made it to the age of 25 with no fillings. Well, I made it to 23, and my brother to 24. No cash bung, then, but gosh, we sure looked after our teeth!
There is so much which affects the teeth - and it's not always things we have control over. My au-pair kids in Germany each had many, many fillings in their baby teeth (they were 7 and 9), and I gather their mother had been very seriously ill in both of her pregnancies 'at the time when the babies' teeth would have been developing', she told me. Awful for all of them.
Did you negotiate inflationary increases.
The impact of mother’s health during pregnancy is often overlooked. That’s not to attach blame on anyone at all xx
No, we didn't - that's a good point! Not that it mattered in the end, of course, because neither of us could claim the money. 🤣
While I think that saying I love the dentist is a bit extreme, I do love the new technology my dentists are now using, especially the tech that permits them to replace a crown while you wait. I am at the point where most of the crowns that were put in decades ago need to be replaced, or teeth that I had fillings in are now ready for a crown, and the ability to get crowns done from first to last in about 90 minutes is extraordinary. I've also had my first tooth implant (so no dentures) and that went smoothly. Thank heavens for the dental insurance my husband's employer (even now in retirement) offers!
Thank you as ever Louisa. The last crown, my first, I had was a bit of nightmare it fell out after 12 months. But my dental practice were great and gave me a brand-new much better one free of charge. I couldn't fault the practice xx
I remember my first dentist (a grim man) and first fillings, I swear the old drill felt like someone was taking a jack hammer to my mouth! We have been going to the same dental practice for over 30 years, (most of the time one single dentist, whose wife became the narrator for my audiobooks!) but then about 5 years ago, he sold his practice (working part time in the transition) to a young female dentist, who now has her husband and a sister working with her, and they are very up-to-date with all the newest technology. Just as happy with the service, and even happier with the upgrades to the tech. But of course we are very fortunate to have insurance, but we have spent a good deal of money on our daughter and grandson's teeth, since they don't have access to dental insurance.
My first dentist was a family friend. I remember they used to come to my parents parties and for dinner. He was a lovely man 😘😘