How to find a top rated dentist uk

I am looking for a dentist – a specialist who can help save what remains of my teeth. And at once it becomes clear how empty is the Government's rhetoric about NHS choice. I have no idea how to set about the task.

Today's review of NHS dentistry does not cover this issue. But it should have done. There must be millions of people in my position – middle-aged patients, raised before the era of fluoride and artificial sweeteners, when dentists drilled and filled every blemish in the enamel in the belief that this was the way to save teeth. The dentists were incentivised by a piece-rate payment system, which encouraged intervention and discouraged conservation – leaving teeth riddled with fillings, crowns and root treatments. The result, in my own case, is a mouth full of enough amalgam to set off a bomb detector.

I looked at the website of the General Dental Council to see if it could help. The GDC holds the register of specialist dentists and, if you have a name, you can look them up. All it will tell you when you do so, however, is what qualifications the dentist holds and what specialties he or she offers – endodontics (root canal treatment) or prosthodontics (crowns, bridges and dentures), for example.

It does not rank them or provide a star rating like those helpful restaurant and cinema reviews. It does not allow them to tell you about their experience or what they have to offer. There are no helpful customer reviews, no equivalent of the hotel website Tripadvisor, where guests warn others about the cockroaches in the bathroom or the harridan behind the reception desk.

So what are my options? I could ask a friend, but what can a friend tell you? How vicious or gentle their dentist is, and what their chair-side manner is like. They cannot tell you how good they are at restoring teeth.

I have stuck with NHS dentists, on principle, with only occasional excursions into the private sector when I was desperate. Now, however, I have reached the point where I no longer believe the NHS offers a standard of care sufficient for my (extensive) needs.

I can't ask my charming NHS dentist for a referral because I am in effect saying I do not believe he's up to the job. It's not like a referral from a GP, where the roles of GP and hospital specialist are clearly distinct. When I ask my dentist for a referral I am taking the drill out of my mouth and the bread out of his.

What is the answer? Today's review of NHS dentistry by the Department of Health recommends a switch from "dental activity to oral health" with the restoration of a registration payment to incentivise long term care. For me, it has come too late. I need highly skilled "dental activity" now. I started with the website of the Eastman Dental Hospital, the UK's leading dental institution. I located its top academics and found some had private practices. I have consulted one and await his report. I hope I am doing the right thing – but one detail I already know: it is going to hit me hard in the pocket.

Is there a better way? There has to be. The GDC says it is looking at the problem. It had better not bury it.

Regularly attending a UK dentistry clinic and not eating too many sugary foods are two common ways you can look after your teeth. But how do you find the best dentist and get the best dental treatments in London?

Private or NHS?

The first thing to do when you are considering what kind of UK dental treatment and dentist you want is to ask yourself whether you want to go private or on the NHS.

Most dentists offer both services, so if you want to get your oral care on the NHS, then you can. Or if you want to go private, then you can also do that at your local dentistry.

There are advantages and disadvantages of both, so be sure to consider everything before you go ahead and decide which service is right for you.

Going private

Most people assume that going private is a lot more expensive than using the NHS; however, this isn’t always the case. Unless you are entitled to free NHS dental treatments, then you have to pay for your treatment on the NHS too.

Compare the prices of our private price list and our NHS price list to get a sense of how much money it costs for both services.

One clear advantage of going private is that you have more availability of when you can book an appointment. If you have a tight schedule or want an emergency appointment going private might be more beneficial for you.

Private dentists also offer a range of treatments which aren’t available on the NHS, for example, cosmetic treatments, such as teeth whitening.

Using the NHS

NHS treatments are designed to be more cost effective for the taxpayer, so treatments are generally cheaper. NHS dental treatments are split into three different bands.

Whilst these treatments might be cheaper; the NHS has less availability due to the number of patients they have to treat, so you might not be able to get an appointment with your dentist for a month or two.

Some NHS dental practices might be full and might not be able to take on new patients, so it might be a bit harder to find a new dentist on the NHS.

Find a Dentist Near You

According to an NHS Dental Statistics report, 22 million people saw a dentist in the UK during the 24 months to 30th June 2018. There are an estimated 66 million people in the UK, so that figure is only one-third of people who went to the dentist.

Regularly attending dental check-ups is an important way that you can look after your teeth and mouth. But finding a dentist near you isn’t always that easy. Once you have decided whether you want to go private or use the NHS, you then need to consider many other factors.

Research Dental Practices

You don’t need to register for an NHS dental practice, the same way you do a GP practice. All you have to do is find a local dentist in England and ring them up to see if you can get an appointment.

Look in directories, or search online or on the NHS for local dentists. They don’t have to be within a certain catchment area (like your GP does) so you can either choose one that is close to work or close to your home.

Some dental practices might not have any space for new patients or any available appointments. So when you search for a dental practice, make sure you have a few to try.

Remember to find a dental practice that is right for you, so ask yourself:

• What are the office hours? And do they suit your schedule?
• Will it be easier to have a dentist near your home or your work?
• Is the dentistry professional and trusted? Does it have relevant qualifications?
• How much are treatments at the practice? Does this align with your budget?
• What is the dentist’s policy on missed appointments? (Some are quite strict on this.)
• Does the dental practice have emergency care and out-of-hours appointments available?

Once you find a dental practice, you will have to fill in a registration form during your first visit. This is so that the practice can add you to their patient database.

Emergency Care

If you think that you need an emergency appointment, then you should contact your dentist. They sometimes have emergency dental appointment slots available and can provide you with the necessary care.

Alternatively, you can call NHS 111, who will be able to help you in finding an urgent dental service.

The emergency dentist will only be able to provide you with treatment for the problem at hand and might advise you to go to your regular dentist for further treatments.

Individuals who are unable to get an emergency appointment should not contact their GP. And you should only visit A&E under serious circumstances, such as severe pain, heavy bleeding, and/or injuries of the face, mouth, or teeth.

Tips on How to Find a UK Dentistry

Some people don’t like going to the dentist; however, it is essential that you do. And you are more likely to go if your mind is at ease about the dental practice and their treatments.

Follow these tips on how to ensure you find the best dentist in London:

1. Learn About the Dentist and Their Training

Review the dentists and their information on the dental practices’ website. The website should have details about the practice, the dentists who work there and what their qualifications are and what training they have obtained.

If you can’t find any information on the website, then try ringing up the practice and asking for some more information about the dentists and the dental practice.

2. Does Your Dentist Have Notable Recognition from Professional Bodies?

Next, you can check whether the dentist has any recognition from a professional body, such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) or the British Dental Association.

These professional bodies ensure that dental practices provide every patient with safe and fair treatments. They are also a sign of trustworthiness because the professional bodies are vouching for the businesses.

If you can’t find any logos for these professional bodies, you can check the CQC website, to see what the results were for the last inspection of the dentist clinic.

3. Check the Cost of Treatment

Dental treatment costs can vary, depending on what treatment you require and whether you go private or use the NHS. However, most dental practices provide details of how much their treatments cost.

Make sure you check out the cost of treatments and find a dental practice that suits your budget. This will put your mind at ease, especially if you need to have dental treatment and are afraid about how expensive it might be.

4. What Do Other People Say?

You should also look at what other people are saying about the dental practice. Look at other patients testimonials and reviews, to see what they say about the dentists and the practice.

There are several ways you can find out what other people are saying, for example, you can look online, on their website, on Google reviews, or see if they have any reviews on their social media accounts.

5. Excellent Customer Service

Focus on reviews and testimonials that talk about the positive or negative customer service that the patients received.

If you are anxious about going to the dentist, then you want to be sure that you find a dentist who will put your worries at ease and who is empathetic towards you and your experience.

6. What Services Do They Offer?

Finally, another way to ensure you find the right dentist for you is by looking at the services that they offer.

If you want a basic dentistry for regular check-ups, then you might not need to worry about an extensive services list. However, if you require special dental care services or want cosmetic services, then you will need to make sure your dental practice can offer this to you.

Dental Treatments in London

Remember to do your research on the different dental practices in your area and find one that is right for your needs and treatment requirements.

If you are looking for high-quality dental treatments in London, then we have just what you need. We offer an array of services, from emergency dentist treatments to cosmetic dentistry, both on the NHS and privately.

Here at Green Lane Dental Centre, we are accepting new patients in the Penge, London area. Sign up to our practice and book your dentist’s appointment now.

How do I find the best dentist UK?

If you're new in a town, or just haven't had your teeth looked at for a while, you'll realise that the best way to find a good dentist is to ask a friend, however, if they can't recommend one, then the next best solution is to visit us here at DentistFinder.net.

What is the best way of finding a good dentist in my area?

Here are some great places to start looking for a dentist:.

The ADA's Find-A-Dentist tool. ... .

Your local dental society. ... .

A trusted friend or relative. ... .

If you don't have benefits or have trouble affording dental services, your local health department or nearby dental schools can help you find care..

How do you know if a dentist is good?

Your dentist should always be professional, approachable and sympathetic. Moreover, you should feel comfortable asking questions about all aspects of your care and treatment. It's important the clinicians take time to explain, and patients feel unhurried. If you are a nervous patient, then let the staff know that.

Where do celebrities get their teeth done UK?

Since establishing Wimpole Street Dental, now known as Dr Richard Clinics London, Dr. Richard Marques has developed a loyal list of clients including many celebrities. People like Rita Ora, Katie Piper and Love Island's Olivia Buckland call on Dr. Richard Marques' expertise to create their winning smiles.