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Spare a thought for the poor dentist

March 26, 2007 by Ian Kerr

Now I know I will never convince anyone that modern dentistry is cheap but in terms of value for money I think we occasionally do have a drum to bang. So please let me bang mine just a little!

I recently completed a fibre reinforced direct white filling for a patient that restored the tooth at less than half the price of crown. The total fee for the work was £235 and the patient very reasonably asked how long they could expect it to last. I explained that it is very difficult to give accurate figures but a reasonable guess would be 8 to 10 years with normal use and good daily maintenance. The patient seemed a little disappointed at this and wondered why it wouldn’t last for life. This is not an uncommon question and one I do find a little surprising. I have tried to think of any other goods or commodities that we buy for under £250 and then use all day every day for 10 years and expect it to last with out fail for this time or longer.  My guess is that anything that does this is the exception and certainly not the norm.

When the author John Mortimer was asked in interview what, if anything, had improved over the last 50 years; he paused for a while and answered “dentistry”. I think he was right! We have come an incredibly long way over this time and have made huge improvements in both prevention and cure. I know that the price of the work can seem daunting on occasions but for long term value for money we are quite often in a class of out own.

PS This article was written just after receiving a legal bill for the costs of setting up the new partnership and may have been prompted by the jaw droppingly large some of money that this represented.

Filed Under: Blog

About Ian Kerr

Dr Ian Kerr BDS qualified in 1989 from Newcastle University Dental School and has worked ever since in both private practice and hospital settings. Following a short stint in a busy general practice in the North East Dr Kerr went to live and work in Trinidad, where he learnt a wide range of surgical skills and developed an interest in the treatment of tempero-mandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). On returning to the UK in 1994 Dr Kerr worked in a prestigious private practice in Bromley in Kent. During his time there he completed extensive post graduate training in advanced restorative techniques and further advanced his interest in TMD.

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About StoneRock Dental Care

StoneRock Dental Care is a stunning dental practice in Hawkhurst, Nr Cranbrook on the Kent and East Sussex border. We provide every level of care, from routine family dental visits to complete cosmetic dental makeovers, including dental implants, teeth whitening, veneers, bridges and other cosmetic dental and facial aesthetic techniques.

We know how hard it can be to choose a dentist and we know how tough it can be to decide what treatment is right for you, therefore we put your comfort and your well being at the heart of every treatment that we provide.

You can contact us on 01580 752202 or info@stonerock.co.uk

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StoneRock Dental Care is a trading name of SR Moors Limited · Registered Office: Stonerock House, High Street, Hawkhurst, Kent TN18 4AG · Registered in England and Wales, Number: 6896953