It has been 10 months since I traveled to the British Dental Place. Back then, I lived in Romania for a while, but 6 months ago, I moved back home to the UK.
In October 2016, at the BBDP, I had caps placed on two upper left back teeth. That has been a total success. Before the caps were fitted, I had to floss after every meal, carrying picks with me, everywhere I went. Now, I floss occasionally! The other thing I do now is rinse with water, after every drink or meal. It's really simple but so effective. Since my first visit to the BBDP, I find that plaque does not build up. No need for toothpaste (though that was not part of the advice, just my choice), just a good brush. I wish I had received that advice 50 years ago!
So my return to see the dentist at the BBDP, was with absolute confidence!
This visit was to have a 20-year-old bridge, top center teeth, replaced. My bridge is what everyone sees! I had got used to a bridge with big gap (food trap) between teeth and gums. The old bridge was strong, as it was acrylic on a metal core, but it was not the same colour as my other teeth and was not quite straight. British dentistry on a Denplan budget.
Cosmin applied a topical anesthetic before the needle went in, painlessly. When the old bridge came out, there was decay on the small pegs. Cosmin drilled away the decay. While doing this I was looking through a microscope like a device way above the work site. This means he can remove, with great precision, only decayed tooth and not remove any precious good tooth, that is essential if I am to avoid implants. Twenty years ago, a series of American and British dentists combined to drill away too much tooth.
A mould is taken, this is transposed to the computer, where Cosmin uses editing software to design a new bridge with a perfect level teeth. A small block of porcelain is fitted into the milling machine, the new design is sent to the milling machine, and 40 mins later, my new bridge is cut. The new bridge receives some rendering to ensure the texture appears the same as the surrounding teeth before it goes to any oven like a machine that changes the color of the porcelain, so it is a perfect match for my teeth either side. The whole process takes about 90 minutes. During this time, a temporary bridge is fitted and I have lunch.
Next, the new bridge is fitted with the pegs and then work starts on my bite.
So many times, a dentist has had me lie back while I bite on the blue touch paper. Cosmin had me sit up and bite, so the blue paper leaves marks that actually indicate how to get a really good bite. When that is good, Cosmin is still not satisfied. He has me out of the chair and standing to check for the final perfect bite.
I am full of anaesthetic but the fit does feel good and I leave just 2 1/2 hours after arriving, with a completely new bridge, and a final fit; not the usual two visit treatment, while a bridge is made at the lab.
I am writing this review 3 weeks later. My gums have got used to teeth touching them, but most of all, I have got used to a new bite. Previously, when I bit down on food, my teeth slid to the side, not a lot, but enough. Over time, this slowly eroded the peaks of my teeth. Now, my bite is perfectly straight. The best thing about this is I chew food properly, rather than swallowing too soon. That means less flatulence! Last but not least, cosmetically, my teeth look perfect; still getting used to the new me, when brushing my teeth in front of a mirror.
I can honestly say, without any doubt, that a visit to the BBDP means you get a dentist with a primary interest in patient care. It's clear that Cosmin has a pride in his work and real satisfaction from a job well done. For him, the outcome has to be the best it can be.
I know that Romania has lower costs for premises (and the BBDP has really good premises) and there is a benefit from lower costs of supporting human resources, but consumables cost the same, and considering the investment in technical kit at the BBDP, I do conclude that at a price of £xxx, money is clearly not the main motivation behind the BBDP. Top quality patient care is what drives this practice.
Would I go back? Everytime!
Would I recommend to someone else? Obviously, Every time!
My only wish? My dentist in the UK had not had been very cool about me going to the BBDP.
What do I want? My UK dentist to work with the BBDP. He was impressed with the caps (crowns) and I can't wait for him to see my new bridge!
What next? I still get regular checkups from my UK dentist. If a filling needs replacing, maybe I let him do it on Denplan, but for anything else, I will go back to Bucharest.
My only regret? I did not go to the BBDP sooner and I did not persist with my teeth the way they were. A state that was OK for my British dentist.
Long term future? My British dentist accepts that the BBDP is a huge benefit for me and all his patients, and that, should I need major work again, he says, "Richard, time for another trip to the BBDP", instead of telling me, "things are OK for now".
I wonder if he will do that for his other patients? It's a win/win. He keeps his patients, does fillings etc, and they get top quality dental care, for all major work, at a very affordable price, from the BBDP.
The money? Total cost with flights and 4-star hotel £1120. No brainer!
