I know it's my own fault ... rant about cost of dentists.

Wow, poor you.

OK, I used to have the most amazing hygienist - does your dentist have one? They're usually cheaper, and I used to see her twice a year and the dentist once a year - saves on costs.

Her (brilliant but simple) advice was to use an electric toothbrush and to floss. I've followed her advice, and my teeth seem to still be in pretty good nick. We moved areas a few years ago, so I'm seeing a new dentist, and she says my teeth are good (hurrah!), so it seems to have paid off.

[scum alert] I only brush my teeth once a day usually as well.

I don't know if you smoke, but I know that when I stopped the health of my gums improved massively.

It does make me cross that people can't get seen by an NHS dentist - people shouldn't be having to shell out so much.

Don't move to America ? I've spent $4000 in 2 months, just waiting to see if the insurance is going to cover it all.

Listerine Teeth and Gum Defence. My dentist before-this-one recommended it, and it works a treat. Really improves the gum shrinkage I have after having the children, but you do need to keep using it.

If you lived anywhere near me I'd send you to my dentist quick smart. He's the best thing to happen to me since having my son. I've had bother with my teeth since a young age but have struggled to find the finance for regular visits and had pretty much given up on dentists until my friend sent me to him last week. He spent 15 minutes with me, took a digital xray and told me a tooth had to come out. I was not charged for any of this. He's not NHS and runs a small private practice in the West End of Glasgow (read that as money area). I've literally just got back from having the tooth pulled and a small filling put in - total cost £36! I've never been so happy to part with cash in my life.

I will now be seeing his hygienist on a regular basis to prevent ever having to see him again ?

Electric toothbrush, flossing - or if you don't like flssing, those little mini brush things to go between your teeth. I've not needed to see a hygienist in nearly 2 years because the last time I saw her she showed me how to brush and floss properly.

The dentist is amazed at how clean I'm keeping my teeth without seeing a hygienist.

Which reminds me, I'm due a check up.

Ouchy , mine £55 for a ten minute check up with the dentist and £100 for 45 mins with the hygenist every 3 month (although I'm pregnant so this is more than usual).

Our closest NHS dentist is 20 miles away and it's a bit scary to be honest.

I'm moving from my private dentist to another private dentist- my old one charged £50 for a check up and teh new £20 for a check up and clean. I didn't realise there was such a difference- i bet the second of on a par with NHS prices anyway.

Glad to hear I'm not the only ones with tales of dentistry woe!

Right. Have added floss and Listerine Gum Defence mouthwash to my shopping list for later this afternoon. Have decided to include a teeth clean after lunch (plus flossing) as well as my bedtime and morning routines. I'm currently using a Colgate battery-operated brush which I thought was better than an old-fashioned one - are they as good as electric ones? Or similar?

Gingey ... I'm actually going to be leaving Birmingham at the end of the year and have a horrible feeling my bills will be going up rather than down! ? That is, if I can find a dentist who'll take me on.

Oh and I've got two Curly Wurly's left in the fridge if anybody's interested? Last time I'll be eating those feckers .....

Ugh you have my sympathy. I got struck off my NHS dentist for missing two appointments (the first one was my own fault, but I clean forgot the second one, which was on the day of my MIL's mastectomy and my PhD viva!). I have since found the *only* NHS dentist in Sheffield... but all treatment is carried out by final-year dentist students. I'm sure they're competent, but I reckon treatment will be agonisingly slllloooowwwwwwwwww... And I will need treatment, as there's a small black hole on one of my molars ? Which is compounded by the fact that several teeth are having sympathy pains ?

Tip: Take the Curly Wurlies out of the fridge first to soften up, they eat easier that way?

I have bad gums and the hygienist I saw recommended these little brushes that go between your teeth called TePe brushes. They are much more effective than floss plus I always seem to cut off the circulation in my finger when I'm flossing [or is that just me?] They are quite pricey if you buy them in the chemist so I get them in bulk online. You're supposed to stick them between your teeth and then twirl around a bit, it's surprising how much cr*p they pick up - nice!

Flissy - have you tried either Occudental in Shalesmoor or the abbeydale road dentist? I think they both still take NHS. Or if you can hang about for a while you can see the students at the dental hospital. Once you've done the initial hanging about and they agree to take you on as a patient all treatment is then free and you get proper appointments. OK so it's still students but at least they are closely supervised and one of the top bods inspects all their work It has been a lifesaver for us as my H has shocking teeth

Bingy - it was Occudental who struck me off ? Abbeydale Road don't appear to be taking on either

I'm going to one in Broomhill that works with the Charles Clifford in terms of hosting the Uni's students. I may look into going direct to Charles Clifford, as it's only a 10 minute walk from where I live. Thanks for the tip!

I think curly wurlys need to come with a dental health warning as I lost part of a tooth eating one! I'm very wary about eating them again.

Bingy - what site do you buy your interdental brushes from?

x

I have no advice but I know exactly what you mean about prioritising the dentist, the time before last I hadn't been for 18 months, again I hadn't realised it had been that long and in the end only went as I kept getting a pain relating to my fixed retainer. It's awful but I don't think twice about paying out stupid amounts of money on my hair but when it comes to paying the dentist I really, really resent it! I haven't got any fillings etc. but he is concerned about gum disease as it seems to run in my family so I'm trying to go 6 months, although I think I need to try your dentist - the last time I went all I had was an x-ray of my wisom teeth and a quick clean and left £126 poorer ?

I think every 3 months seems a little extreme though - I would be tempted to try another dentist.

I have an NHS dentist and it still cost me £750 for root canal and a crown. Its such a lot of money, its no wonder people don't go for ages. Plus who likes paying people lots of money to hurt them! (well, some people obviously but that's a different subject ?)

I have an NHS dentist and it still cost me £750 for root canal and a crown. Its such a lot of money, its no wonder people don't go for ages. Plus who likes paying people lots of money to hurt them! (well, some people obviously but that's a different subject ?)

I've moved the Curly Wurlys from "my" shelf on the fridge to my H's - he can risk his teeth, I'm never going near them again! ?

I gave up smoking 18 month ago so I thought that might have helped. But found some floss in the bathroom and nicked H's Listerine mouthwash and had a good old session and they did feel a lot cleaner when I was finished. H also has some of those little brushes which he doesn't seem to be using so I'll try them too and see how I get on. A question - can you use them multiple times or are they designed to be used once and then thrown away?

I know it's ridiculous - I spend a small fortune on personal training, think nothing of £100 to get my hair done but when it comes to the dentist, I just can't believe the cost! I think, to be honest, it's because I don't enjoy going and it hurts. I mean, you'd think that of the personal training too but I enjoy that! ?

Broadfield are still taking NHS patients onto their lists, they're in one of the industrial units at the other end of the complex to the gym

I'll look into that - thank you so much for the tip!!!

It was this one: http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/ I just did a bit of hunting and they were cheapest at the time, I order 20 packets at a time.

My OH's crown fell out last week, he's been to have a temporary filling put in and is going back on Friday to have his old crown re-fitted. I'd hate to think how much it's going to cost.

I haven't been to a dentist for over 9 years, but it's more to do with fear than money.

Crypto, you definately weren't treated on the nhs if you paid that for a root canal and a crown. there is a maximum amount payable on nhs treatment, google it for england but in scotland its £380 so in england, it shouldnt be too different.

That maximum payment would be for someone having shed loads of treatment and not just a crown and root filling. our private practice in an expensive city centre location, charges £350 for a root filling in a molar tooth and crowns are from £350 - £600 depending on what material the patient chooses to have it made from.

Then you weren't treated on the NHS. Root canal on the NHS cost me £80. I was offered NHS treatment at £80 or private at £350. Sounds like your dentist, like mine, does both and treated you as a private patient.

I work for Colgate and have done some basic training with our in-house dentist who specialises in gum problems so not a professional but do have some useful knowledge.

Your battery toothbrush will be good but you should still change the head every 3 months as a worn brush is not as effective particularly cleaning in between teeth and along the gumline. Most important is the paste you use. Colgate Total is the only toothpaste to give you 12 hour anti bacterial protection, is a licenced product (like a medicine) and clinically tested worldwide - all for £1.99! Most mouthwashes are similar but Listerine Tooth & Gum and Total Care have added benefits (not Colgate so don't know as much about them). Your dentist may recommend a more medicated mouthwash like Colgate Fluorigard shorter term.

The best dental routine is to clean your teeth straight after you get up and just before you go to sleep, don't rinse with too much water and floss after, then after lunch use mouthwash. It takes 20 minutes for the mouth saliva to return to neutral after eating, otherwise you'll brush away some of the tooth enamel.

HTH.

I would say that if you are looking into electric brushes, look toward a sonicare or an oral B electric brush.

Its more cost effective to have a rechargeable electric brush and if you compare the oscillation of the bristles, electric ones can't be beaten.

I would disagree about the toothpaste being more important than the brush but would agree that colgate total is a good paste. I personally use whatever toothpaste comes to hand or whichever is a freebie from our reps. I've never found much difference in them except for the taste.

Mouthwashes arent really needed if you are brushing and flossing correctly (or any other intradental cleaning) they are more recommended if you need extra fluoride or have a short term gum problem. The medicated ones for gum problems shouldnt be used forever and should be used as an aide to clearing the gum problem.

It might be expensive now but think about how you'll feel once the work is done and with the right brushing technique etc, you will be years before needing any other treatment.