"Britains Worst Teeth" Topic

BBC America had a show called "Britain's Worst Teeth" or something like that. It was about 4 people from the UK and their bad teeth. The show raised some questions for me:

1) Is normal preventative dental care covered under insurance in England? As in the 6 month checkup, cavity fillings and root canals you'd get in the USA? I ask because these people hadn't been to the dentist in years

2) One of the people in the show needed general anesthetic; but, there was a two year waiting period on anesthesia for dental procedures. Is this kind of rationing typical?

3) Two people on the show were taking valium because the pain in the teeth were so bad. Who is precribing this? In the US if you went to a doctor asking for pain killers for your teeth, they'd send you to a dentist. The dentist would then fix the problem; not prescribe pain killers.

I haven't seen the show but: If their doctor is prescribing valium for pain, they really need to see someone else. Valium is not a pain medication.

Mark

Valium is a stress/anxiety medication. If they were really stressed out about their teeth perhaps…

Didn't see the broadcast (live in USA), but here's something along the same lines link
My non-scientific postulation is island nations like Japan & England may have bad (crooked) teeth due to lack of a larger gene pool, or something shallow like that. BTW, I needed braces when I was a kid, and my bottom teeth are still crooked!

We have a 2 tier system of dentistry here. In theory everyone can get their teeth seen to by a National Health dentist, but in practice finding a place at a dental surgery that takes NHS patients is sometimes difficult. Getting a place in a private practice is a lot easier, but you have to pay for all of that.

NHS dental treatment is free (for kids, students, pregnant women) or subsidised (i.e. you might pay £100.00 GBP for a crown that costs £200).

Two year waiting period… yes there are often huge waiting lists for NHS surgical treatment, though 2 years sounds like some hospital is about to get a slapping for letting the wait get too long.

Not everything considered to be "bad teeth" by the USA may be considered as such by the Brits, BTW.

Pain, cavities, absesses etc = Bad.

Teeth a bit crooked = who cares. Only shallow supermodel bimbos will angst about their teeth being perfectly straight.

It definitely gives Austin Powers character.

It is variable. We have suffered from the government trying to cut NHD dental costs by diverting people into the private system. This has left areas of the country without good cover for those unable to afford Private Dental work. Having said that I have never heard of ANYONE waiting two years from ANY kind of treatment. I'm not saying it doesn't happen but it is very much the exception rather than the rule.

As for this comment "My non-scientific postulation is island nations like Japan & England may have bad (crooked) teeth due to lack of a larger gene pool" words fail me.

Pass me ma banjo Ma, there's a gonna be a lynchin'!

Mutt: I was only kiddin' – but, I'm of Japanese descent & I have to say a lot of my "race" have really crooked teeth.

Yes cosmetic standards for teeth are different outside the US – though other places are catching up. I spent a bundle and wore braces for two years as an adult to straighten a smile that didn't worry anyone enough to have done when I was a kid.

Here in Singapore, a lot of my colleagues – obviously pretty well-off people btw – have what I regard as REALLY bad teeth but it doesn't seem to worry them.

Given another generation of prosperity and US TV shows and it might.

1) The other guys have explained this already

2) 2 years sounds a bit unbelievable. Anything over 6 months for any type of surgery means that the healthcare provider would be in big trouble with the local health authority/PCT.

3) I seriusly cannot imagine any doctor prescribing valium for pain relief. Its a benzodiazepine anxiolytic, and has no pain relief properties at all. It can be used in back pain etc as it works as a muscle relaxant, but for teeth, no way. Im really suspicious of this show based on this question.

As for cosmetics and british attiutde- everyone in my family had braces as kids, all provided for free (at point of delivery obviously) by the NHS, and so did most of my class mates when i was a kid.
Teeth whitening however is another story. Many of the teeth whitening kits and proceedures that the US uses are banned in the EU. They usually contain levels of hydrogen peroxide (or derivatives) that are considered unsafe for oral use, due to it being a nasty carcinogen. Also they whiten teeth by attacking the top layer of enamel. Repeated teeth whitening will cause a break down of enamel, starting with sesnitive teeth, to full on erosion of the teeth.

The natural colour of teeth isnt bright white after all.

Well I've got awful teeth – crooked and indeed with huge gaps as well. Doesn't bother me any – being obsessed with dentistry is very much an American thing. And I did have braces as a kid…

The important thing is that they're healthy – and they are.

As has been mentioned, service is variable. The historical reason is that dentists, like opticians, were left out of the NHS when it was started 60 years ago.

Hence all dentists are private, some of whom take on government work. Not enough do, and private dentistry can be expensive. Hence, if you're poor, you don't go to the dentist.

However, I've got medical insurance to cover me for time off work (being self-employed) and that covers major works and a small amount towards my six-monthly check-ups.

BTW – anyone who has severe problems can, I believe, simply go to the emrgency dentist at a hospital.