NHS Dentisty in a state of decay

The NHS postcode lottery metaphor often used by the press, is also relevant when trying to find an NHS dentist - as many people will now know to their cost in terms of their bank balance (debit) and mental health (debit). According to recent reports the new generation of dentists mostly want to go private and make a lorra money at our expense and damn the medical needs of the rest of us, unless you can afford the outrageous fees. It seems to me that they are out to imitate US dentists who make a fine living out of our decaying teeth and problem gums.

Our dental needs are health needs. Dentistry is health care and dentists are health workers. Our health needs is a right and must be “free”, paid for out of taxation, as it has been for 50 years; until recently when Thatcher and now the Labour Party decided to privatise it, on the American model. You wouldn't like the American model. It is very very bad for your health, unless you have lots of money.

In the bad old days, before the NHS, when you had to pay for doctors and dentists, many poor people or low paid people had all their teeth out “to save the bother”! I kid you not. It was a common occurence and part of working class life. Lovely! A new generation is heading back to the same sorry state of affairs.

This is a story of neglect, unprofessional conduct, general indifference and a second rate dental service - unless you pay lots and lots of money.

If you need a root canal filling in a hurry then choke on at least £500 up to about £700 and that is before you get the cap.

I can trace the cause back 2 years to the time I began to complain to my original, longtime dentist about “irritation” around a particular molar. He had been a good dentist but I noticed a change around the time when dentists were arguing about their contracts and many of them had already decided to go private. He kept fobbing me off, didn't xray it and then in the 6 month period before he had announced that the practice would go private, he said he would do something about it at my next appointment. Naturally, the real story began after the demand that I sign up for a new Dental Plan. Hang on! I was quite happy with the old dental plan! Effectively I was barred from getting treatment from my dentist because he was now “private” and I had to pay his new fees which I probably would have done if I could have afforded them at the time.

The painful story of my tooth began in the usual way with an attack of excruciating pain one day during breakfast. Perhaps I should have insisted on my previous dentist fixing the result of his neglect but I was desperate.

In a nutshell I have seen 4 dentists over a 1 year period and every one of them was quite keen not to bother with real dentistry, and to pull it out instead. That was the thrust of the argument. I could tell they were hoping I would say: Go on then.

Dentist 1: Jesmond

A bit of a grubby place compared with my previous long-term experience. Immediately talks about pulling it out.

Dentist 2: private: Gosforth

Found one who uses Ozone to kill bacteria. Can work. 40 minute job. £100. Apparently a bargain.

Dentist 3

Sucking of teeth - tooth out - first words.

So I rush back to Dentist 2 but NHS this time so fobbed off with the grubbier room and more talk about pulling teeth, a quick xray and told the other teeth were so bad they might have to come out unless, unless I go for an implant that might cost, oh, possibly more than you can afford. You're not kidding! Cost to NHS for about 10 minutes - £70

Dentist 4: Westmore

And at least a more intelligent consideration. And lo and behold, the teeth that Dentist 2 said were bad were not bad at all. He told me a pack of lies to scare me into getting more expensive treatment. She does the root canal, make an appointment for 1 month later. One month. You kidding? Nope. Survive for 2nd session. 1 month later, 3rd session needed because she missed a bit. Still got sensitivity somewhere but can't see it on the xray. Option: root canal specialist £700. Hang on a minute. I thought we had a dental hospital? Pushed for that. Had to push. Eventually sends of letter. 2 weeks later no reply. Phone hospital. Lost it. New letter. 3 weeks later a letter to say that an appointment would be made. Still waiting 2 months after last proper dental appointment. What a disgrace.

So, 6 months after killing off a tooth I'm still waiting to see someone competent enough to tell me exactly where the infection is and what can be done about it.

To be continued…..