I'm a very lucky NHS patient (Dentists)

Member Name: charlie1979

Product:	Dentists
Date:	02/10/08 (415 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Much cheaper than private

Disadvantages: Huge needles!

I moved house from the Isle of Wight a few years ago and in doing so I lost my NHS dentist. I moved to Southampton and couldn't find an NHS dentist for love nor money and there was no way I could afford to go private! I didn't have any problems or concerns but was aware that I needed a professional to keep an eye on the bits I couldn't see! (my teeth that is!!)

Well, I moved back to the Island this year and hoped I could get back on their NHS list. I made the phonecall and got the dreaded reply "we are not taking on NHS patients and haven't done for years"! I explained that I used to be on the 'books' but she still said no!

My mum goes to the same dentist I used to be with and had a word with him on her last check up and he agreed to take me on! Up yours I thought to the snotty receptionist!

I phoned up to make an appointment and wasn't surprised that i would have to wait two months. I still had no problems so I was happy to wait and very releived to be one of the lucky few to be an NHS patient!

Today was judgement day! My appointment was at half past nine this morning, I turned up on time and was called in straight away. This was a relief as I was extremely nervous and runnning out of cracks on the walls and patterns in the carpet to focus my mind on to distract me from the sound of the dentists drill!

I confessed straight away that he was the last dentist I saw and prepared myself for a list of problems! A scale and polish and one filling was all that was required! Wahooo! I got off lightely!

First of all he put a cotton pad against my gum to numb it before the injection (I don't remember getting this in the past so I was pleased!). Then came the dreaded stainless steel needle, I nearly passed out! I must confess I closed my eyes whilst the injection was being administered but I hardly felt a thing! I remember years ago the injection being so painful it brought tears to my eyes! the numbing pad obveously worked!

Whilst he was waiting for the anaesthetic to work I got my scale and polish, lovely pearly whites now! Then came the dreaded drill! Again I didn't feel a thing whilst the filling was being done. The only bad part of the experience was me trying not to be too loud on my rinse and spit!!

So down to cost. I had budgeted £100 for the works but for a check up, scale and polish and a filling it cost me £46.50! This with a private dentist would have cost more than triple this amount!

I feel very priviliged to be one of the few to have an NHS dentist and advise anyone that is to keep up their regular checkups or you will be removed from the list and won't be able to get back on (unless you know an insider!!).

My overall experience was pretty good. I explained to my dentist that I was very nervous and he was great, really went out of his way to make me feel relaxed. What is it with dentists though when they start conversations with you when you have a mouthful of fingers and instruments with no way of replying?!!

My only complaint is that I managed to dribble my cup of tea all down my chin without realising when I got home as my whole mouth was numb! I took a few hours for the numbness to wear off and I am now back to normal with no pain from the filling whatsoever, happy days :-)

Summary: Not half as bad as I thought!