british dentists

By the time I told this story in 2021, I’d lived in the southeast of England for six years without going to a dentist here. I knew. I knew I should have gone. I hadn’t known what to expect, and I’d been afraid the stereotypes about British dentists might be true. My first appointment turned out to be a very pleasant experience, although I’d spent plenty of time worrying before it.

The noise I tried to ignore

I’d had horrible, sharp, shooting pain in my jaw, around the bottom teeth near the back. At first, I tried to pretend it hadn’t happened. When the pain came back, I did much the same thing. It was like hearing a terrible noise from your car and deciding to turn up the radio. Eventually I woke up with jaw pain I couldn’t ignore anymore. I thought I might have a cavity and need a filling, but I didn’t know.

I called the dentists in my area and asked about an NHS appointment. I was told I couldn’t get one for about five months. In that situation, I couldn’t wait, so I asked for a private appointment. I called at about 9:30 in the morning and got an appointment for 9:20 the following morning. Within twenty-four hours was pretty incredible.

I paid £50 over the phone while booking. What worried me was not knowing what further treatment might cost. I explained the pain and asked roughly how much a filling would be if I needed one. All the receptionist could tell me was that it started at £100. Started was the important word. These were the prices I was told for that appointment; at that point, I felt I’d put it off too long and just needed to be seen.

The appointment itself

Almost immediately after the call, I got a text and an email confirming where and when to go. I loved that. They also sent a link to a new-patient questionnaire about my personal and medical history, which I could fill in before arriving. It took a couple of minutes. I liked being able to do it beforehand rather than sitting at the practice filling it out.

The practice I went to was beautiful: clean, huge and modern. I arrived a little early, as usual, checked in and sat in a comfortable waiting area. The dentist came out to get me right on time. She asked about the pain, and I said I thought it was one of the bottom teeth near the back, but couldn’t identify which one. She asked questions and checked my teeth, especially the painful area.

We went through the teeth to find the one that hurt and couldn’t find it. She took an X-ray while I was sitting there, and very quickly it was up on a screen. She showed me the teeth in question and told me they looked great. Then she asked whether I clenched my jaw. Sometimes. Had I ever had pain from doing that? Yes. I’d paid a professional to tell me to stop clenching my jaw.

I was annoyed with myself, but grateful it wasn’t the cavity I’d feared. I’d been particularly stressed lately and realised I’d been clenching more than I’d acknowledged. The dentist was incredibly friendly, professional and willing to answer all my questions. The appointment didn’t take long, but I never felt rushed or pushed out. Back at reception, there was nothing more to pay. My £50 had covered that appointment, examination and X-ray, and I was fine with that.

A comparison with my own dentist back home

One thing I particularly appreciated was the lack of pressure to buy extra things. My mum and I had both complained about our dentist back in Ontario trying to upsell us during basic check-ups or cleanings. Mentioning something once was one thing; continuing after we’d said no felt like pressure. I didn’t get that at all at this British appointment. That was a comparison with my own previous dentist, rather than everybody’s experience in either country.

The payment arrangements were unfamiliar too. My previous jobs in Ontario had usually provided some dental coverage, so treatment could be covered or partly covered through my employer. I’d also paid out of pocket for a cleaning in Canada after no longer living there. That was what I was used to. Being a private patient here, not knowing what it should cost or what the appointment would be like, had made me stressed beforehand.

Before leaving, I asked about a later NHS check-up, and we picked a date and time. I couldn’t judge everybody else’s stories about private or NHS care from one visit. What I could say was that my own first private appointment had been positive. I’d worried about what might happen, and instead had my questions answered, an explanation from the dentist and some peace of mind about my teeth.

Watch my first experience at a dentist in the UK.