Think Local, Or Global For Your Dentistry?

Should you choose your nearest dental practice or cast your net wider?

It is probably fair to say that the majority of our patients come from the Burton and surrounding areas. Some patients that have moved away still prefer to stay with us rather than get used to a new dentist, but also, increasingly, some younger people are prepared to travel halfway around the world for a specific treatment. This is usually, in theory anyway, to save some money.

The world is often said to be getting smaller, yet we also tend to like things that are familiar to us and these are mostly in the place where we live. Today then, we thought we would take a look at whether it is best to stick with your current, and usually local, dentist, or to look further afield to receive treatment.

What are you looking for?

This is an important question to ask yourself. If you are one of those fortunate people who has maintained healthy teeth and gums and rarely needs any treatment at all, it probably does make sense to stay where you are. Things are obviously going well for you and the dentist is probably convenient for where you live or work. You may even have a post appointment treat planned for your visit. For patients like this, there is probably little point in change.

If you have teeth that are more problematic though, it might be worth considering whether your current dentist can offer you the services that you need. This could apply if they restrict themselves to NHS treatments alone. Those that do that are unable to offer many of the beneficial cosmetic treatments that ‘going private’ can offer, and which can make a significant difference to your smile.

Finally, are you looking for more complex treatments like the placing of dental implants? Not all dentists offer this service and so you may need to travel anyway.

Your local practice (or perhaps a little further away?)

Apart from those that have moved away but still visit for their appointments, our patients are usually more or less local, but even in this area, there are a number of choices of dentists. We can’t do much about how convenient our practice is to you, but what we can do is to make sure that we offer you what you want.

This all starts with a friendly and comfortable environment. Most people are probably at least a little anxious about seeing the dentist so we always do what we can to make sure that the surrounding here at the SG Dental and Implant Centre are as relaxing as possible. We also ensure that patients are looked after and respected by both the dental team and support staff such as our receptionists. We believe that this is important and a basic requirement of a good dental clinic.

Our dentists will do all that they can to ensure maximum comfort but also that the patient understands their options. For example, where a tooth has to be extracted, our dentist will discuss the options of just leaving a gap or the replacement options of dentures, a bridge or dental implants. We believe that our patients should be in control of their oral health as far as possible.

We also ensure that our practice is hygienic and any cross infection risk is kept to a very minimum.

We also understand that many patients now look beyond standard treatments like fillings or traditional teeth braces and now offer a wide range of cosmetic procedures such as Invisalign straightening treatments so that you can have an attractive smile without the hassle of metal braces being fixed to your teeth. If you feel that your current dentist doesn’t offer you what you need, we are always happy for you to call us for more information and to meet our friendly team if you are considering registering elsewhere.

How far should you travel?

While we wouldn’t want to deter someone from coming to us from much further afield if they choose to do so, the fact is that most people are likely to be relatively local. This isn’t always the case though, and, especially with the rise of social media, younger people especially are more open to travelling abroad to receive treatment, and specifically cosmetic dentistry and dental implants. The question is, should they do this?

In most cases, people that do this either do so because it has been recommended by an algorithm, or occasionally one of their friends. The defining factor though is usually cost, sometimes helped by the idea of a bit of a holiday abroad to go with it too. If you are considering this, we recommend thinking twice before doing so.

Even a teeth whitening treatment, an entirely non-invasive one, can cause real damage to your teeth if done incorrectly. While there are certainly some very excellent dentists working abroad, can you really be sure that the one you have chosen falls into this category and not someone who is less qualified (by UK standards anyway) or experienced, or who perhaps cuts corners by using cheaper materials? In the case of dental implants, this could cause complete failure of the implant to fuse with the bone – and it could even fall out.

Language barriers can be an issue too. This is especially important as you will need to communicate with the dentist how white you want your teeth for example. You may have gone with the intention of a subtle improvement in the whiteness of your teeth and end up with dazzling white teeth that look very unnatural.

Finally, if there are any problems following your treatment, are you really going to go back to a dentist who made an error in the first place, and pay for additional flights as well?  You might save a few pounds from the treatment, but the costs, and potential damage, can really add up.

In summary then, while most people do use their local dentist, it may be worth looking a little further afield to a dentist like the SG Dental and Implant Centre if you are looking for a wider range of treatments, and, if you are considering going abroad for treatment, please do come to us first so that we can discuss this with you. We have a team of reliable and experienced dentists here, and if cost is an issue, we can discuss payment plans to help you spread the cost of your treatment.

For further information about our Burton based general and cosmetic dental practice, or to make an appointment with us, please call us on 01283 845345.