h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Or something. Do you people not flouridate the water here? I took a good long look inside my mouth today, and discovered in the last year *something* has taken a huge toll on the health of my gums. I admit most likely it's stress, being on the pill, not taking care of myself, but jeez. *sigh* Two of my back teeth and gums look not-so-great. I'm curious why it's so localized though.. Hopefully, it's not progressed so much that a good scaling and course of antibiotics won't get things turned around. I hope. I do so hate going to the dentists. The American obsession with seeing those people is vastly overstated in my case. So now, if you would be so kind as to help me figure this out:

1. I understand that the NHS doesn't pay for adult dental care, right? Or is it that it's in the NHS system, but you pay fees.

2. If it's an NHS thing, what are the fees like? Is there a chance in hell of finding a dentist who is taking new clients?

3. So say private is the way to go. What are the fees like? Is there a chance in hell of finding a dentist who is taking new clients? *s morbidly*

Any advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated..I hate my funk-nasty mouth

1) we do put fluoride in the water here, (pity)
2) we're supposed to get dental treatment on the NHS but we don't cos the greedy so and so's have gone private.
3) there's plenty of greedy so and so's taking on new (private) patients.
4) £40 for first visit check up, £30 for a filling,: my last bill was £700 for root canal work and a cap.
5) there are private dental plans available where you pay a fixed amount each month
6) in an emergency, go to Dundee Dental Hospital for treatment, no appointment needed.
7) for the best water you've ever tasted, go to Scotlandwell and drink from the well there.

re: 4) See, I'm scared of going in and having a nominal bill explode out of control into a huge one. £30 isn't much for a filling..do they not give you pain killer and gas or something?

5) I saw one website talking about a payment plan, but it said it depended on 'status'. Does that mean my credit? I have no credit because I'm a damned yankee.

7) When I was a kid and lived on a ranch, we had well water. I don't wanna know how many of our mystery illnesses could be attributed to the stuff living in there, but I've never had nicer tasting water. Except perhaps for the Idaho mountain spring water I guzzled before hearing about 'beaver fever.'

i think I had beaver fever. then I settled down & got married

...

I thought of another smiley we need--the smiley.

Dentists scare the living shite out of me, due to a botched tooth removal in my childhood which resulted in my dentist injecting the local anaesthetic into the abscess rather than my bloodstream. Therefore I am going to take my own chances with Colgate.

B

i got dry sockets when i had my wisdom teeth pulled/cut out. that was none too pleasant. i do, however, need to do something if at this age i'm having these problems. i'd like molars when i'm 40

I have to say Nyssa, that you can't just rely on the water to look after your teeth, no matter how many chemicals are put in there.

As for NHS dentists, there are some about, although for people like me who never *need* the dentist you tend to get kicked off their books if you don't go often enough.

Mine still sees J, but have said I need to write in to beg to get taken back on as an NHS patient.

I know, I was being cheeky.

I was wondering about that..I wish NHS doctors would do that. There is a surgery not a block from where we live, but apparently it's the popular one, and thus full.

My father's an NHS dentist, and has been for nearly 30 years. He's overbooked and has been for ages, and won't accept new patients unless they're an emergency.

Also, regarding general oral and dental health, one's mouth can just deteriorate - all manner of possible reasons for that, even up to brushing too much or too hard! Get your mouth checked out, but be aware that teeth can look pretty nasty without actually being rotten - yellowing gnashers are natural, as is growing 'long in the tooth'.

I have to agree that yellow is normal for teeth. White is abnormal!