For our U.S. readers our NHS does not include free dental but the charges(see below) are a lot less than the private sector. Jaq is amazed at the prices so I have put some prices below.
This is from the NHS website on charges.
Dental charges depend on the treatment you need to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy. You will only ever be asked to pay one charge for each complete course of treatment, even if you need to visit your dentist more than once to finish it. If you are referred to another dentist for another, separate course of treatment, you can expect a second charge. Some minor treatments are free.
NHS dental charges from 1 April 2012
Band 1 course of treatment – £17.50 ($27)This covers an examination, diagnosis (eg X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if needed, and application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant. If you require urgent care, even if your urgent treatment needs more than one appointment to complete, you will only need to pay one Band 1 charge.Band 2 course of treatment – £48.00 ($72)This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or if your dentist needs to take out one or more of your teeth.
Band 3 course of treatment – £209.00 ($313)This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures and bridges.
Anyway off away from Nantwich tomorrow to spend a few days somewhere rural and perhaps if the weather is kind to put some paint on the scrapes below the gunnel's.
Hmm your dentist sounds like he is still in the dark ages.Here a cotton tip is dipped in topical freezing solution, and then placed where the needle is to be inserted is given a small dab.
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind the upper teeth have individual roots, the lower has one root for two or more teeth.
My dentist uses a small electronic pump with a #22 needle.
The freezing solution goes in and the needle point senses when
enough freezing solution is in the root. The machine beeps rapidly and slows down when the
area is filled. Two or three quick inserts and that's it. The pump uses small vials, each vial could in fact freeze one's entire upper or lower jaw. Because of my size, my dentist finds it will take most of that 500 cc vial.
The we wait for maybe five minutes. I am quite frozen and he proceeds to do whatever is required. The freezing will leave
usually after two or three hours.
As to your extractions Les, it seems rather extreme to me to do so. Uppers do not have roots as large as the lowers although the lowers are easier to extract as the dentists is reaching down and in rather than up.
Keep the mouth closed on
some gauze rolls, change when soaked and don't drink or eat anything warm for some time, allow those holes in your head to clot and seal. You don't want a dry hole, which means perhaps more oral surgery.
Just rest, take some tablet painkillers (Tylenol 3's have codeine and will help somewhat.)
Let you wife baby you as your mouth will be quite sore for two or three days, Rinse the mouth regularly with salt and water to help healing and prevent infection
Stateside my dentist gave me Nitrous (gas) to calm and relax me, then some Novacaine gel was dabbed on my mouth and then the needles injected the pain killer. He is good and I never felt any pain. It is best to keep one's eyes closed though and not look at dental needles--they are HUGE! I told my dentist I thought the world should bag our current atmosphere and go to a Nitrous Oxide atmosphere--everyone would be happy and relaxed, there would be no wars, etc. He got quite a kick out that. While Dr. Torrey was working on my teeth his dental assistant came in to ask him something and he said, "Close the door--Jaqueline wants to switch to a Nitrous atmosphere!! :)
ReplyDeleteJaqXX
Hi Bryce
ReplyDeleteThe dentist did put some gel on the gums to numb them pre needle but the needle still goes in....
Shiver...can`t even think about it.
Hi Les ,
ReplyDeleteWe are in fact from Australia where dental treatment is almost impossible for many people due to the unbelievably high costs charged by dentists.
We fortunately have private health insurance but the re-imbursements are are so minimal that it is almost not worth the expense of taking out the cover but should anyone elect to enter the public health system (similar to your NHS) the waiting period can be anything up to two years or more.
The current Federal Government is aware of this debacle and is endeavouring to make alterations to speed things up but it is going to be a difficult task for them.
The costs you have quoted are a fraction of what we would pay when going private and in my case root canal and a crown on one tooth cost in the order of $4000 or if you like approx. GBP2500 !!!
All the best
Garry