I have misshaped teeth and need to see a hygienist every 3 months so I don't have any tooth problems. It's getting harder to see a hygienist as they are always fully booked so I was wondering how many dentists will allow you to walk in off the street and get your teeth polished.

Specifically can I walk into Newcastle dental hospital and get a scale and polish and pay for it as the students are learning

 

I work once a fortnight at the Dental Hospital in Newcastle, and yes you can self refer but that's only for a course of treatment / cleaning. You can't just walk in and have them cleaned.

There is now something called "direct access" where you can book yourself an appointment with a hygienist who is in the scheme.....missing out the dentist entirely.

http://www.gdc-uk.org/Dentalprofessi...accessqas.aspx

Shaun

 

Teeth braces via a referral to a decent Orthodontist? They can made a stunning difference. Midlife?


David

 

Yep. Orthodontic treatment is often an option for irregular and crowded teeth. Not usually available on the NHS unless there are complicating factors.

Not cheap though and people can't always be bothered with the fact they have to wear braces and have multiple appointments unless they go for an unstable "quickie" solution.

Shaun

 

Cheers for that, I don't care about having them straightened just keeping on top of the cleaning with the dentist and as you say it's really hard getting appointments with the hygeinist as they are always fully booked.

 

My dentist refuses to offer me hygienist treatment on the NHS as he should do as my gums are in poor shape. Hygienist works out at around £90 per hour. Boring job but money for old rope. Annoys me. Trick is to brush the gums but not too hard and floss to keep the crap out. David

 

£90? Bloody hell. It's £50 round here.

You'll be lucky to get a filling on the NHS these days

 

Be fine now all the migrants gone home

 

Get real...the migrants ARE the dentists

 

It's £50 for about 20 minutes. No way I would sit in a hygienist chair for 1 hour non-stop


But what p1sses me off is that dentist is obliged to provide free NHS treatment as my gums are in poor shape. D

 

There's me thinking you were a glutton for punishment.

1hr of scraping....surely something only provided free of charge at Guantanamo Bay.

Know the feeling though...overcowding, can't get floss between my teeth so the cost of regular visits do rack up

 

My lad had teeth pointing in every direction but his múm was in the trade and when he was about 14 took him to an old Orthodontist pal. Braces etc but the difference after a few months was staggering. Now has super straight teeth which is great for him and he does a bit of stage stuff and a great smile. so good for work and the gals. Free for kids on the Nash. I urge any mums or dads with kids with weird teeth to consider this option. David

 

What you have to remember is your not going to be in there for an hour and it's cheaper than false teeth. Nothing is better than keeping your own teeth and if that means extra spend on a hygeinist who cares.

There is nothing worse than meeting someone and they have teeth missing as you seem to fixate on them. I think you can have a black eye but it isn't as visual when talking to someone as say two teeth missing?

 

I had my teeth straightened in my late forties, so its never too late. Best thing I ever did. I would have had them sorted out sooner, but wasn't really aware of what sort of treatment was available and I thought I was too old anyway.

 

Steve our local dentist when we book for our check up it includes a 20min slot with the hygeinist afterwards I know its private but through the dental plan it works out quite cheap.

 

How you keeping Shaun after my daughter when via your colleauge for her orthedontic treatment she has never looked back wasnt cheap but she has a perfect straight set of teeth in actual fact she is just across the road from your old place studying art atm.

 

If this was offered to me ten years ago or earlier as a child/teenager I'd have had it done. These days with my faded youth, fixing my overcrowded gob isn't going to make that much visual difference But certainly, in this day and age a child shouldn't need to suffer the social insecurities of having iffy teeth. I'm lucky in that they aren't that bad, they are just a pain too keep clean without overbrushing.