Thanks, I'll give Shah a whirl. And sorry for not checking other threads first!

After previously recommend them I having a few issues with Hornsey Dental Centre on Hanley Road. Got a crown done Feb 2009 , got loads of problems with infection 10 months ie Mid December Turns out to be a Root Canal issue so got that Treatment which cost £500 and included drilling through my 9 Month old crown which itself had cost £500. When I got told I needed a Root canal the Dentist said he would fix the Crown up so it would not be compromised. Got that done last night and they wanted £56 for the work even though I have spent £1000 their already. Three different Dentists involved and the one who did the crown left just after he told me it would get fixed.

The interesting stuff which has come out this so far is that Private Treatment costs 2.5 times than NHS and has less of a “Guarantee” (ie non) than NHS which is Year see

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/Chiefprofessionalofficers/Chiefdentalofficer/DH_4138821

Form FP17DC is the NHS Dental Plan form which gives you a one Year guarantee.

The lady of who is chasing me for the money is unable to tell me who is responsible ie who I have a contract with. I think they are implying it is each Dentist and they have no responsibility. All very shady.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

First step is to follow practice complaints procedure, they it is the Dental Complaints Service and then the BDA.

I really want to see who it is you contract with and what the Ts & Cs are.

Pity as I have found the Dentist okay there and I feel sorry for the one who is loosing out on this from last night.

The “shady” world of Private Dentistry is about to be pursued for answers.

The big one on Upper street next to Strada is really good. Ask for the Danish guy, he is so gentle and has small hands. I had some treatment a couple of years ago and thought it was going to hurt like hell but I hardly felt anything at all. And the place is really clean and professional. They do NHS as well.

@ Ali - I'm beginning to suspect they're ripping me off too. I won't go into detail, but in the last twelve months, I've had three fillings (one of which left me with really bad toothache, although they denied any responsibility), and they couldn't wait to book me in for another two at a cost of £93 each. I asked if I could go over to NHS and the receptionist got really stroppy, said I'd have to book in for another check up, even though I'd had one as a private patient at a cost of £25 two days earlier. I also think it's highly suspect how they a) take a £20 deposit for any work and b) really push their dental plan.

Oh - I did go into detail. Anyway, I've decide to find another.

A chunk of my tooth fell out over the weekend. Expect a dental review soon.

@ ActionVerb. I was given the same advice after having a wisdom tooth out about five years ago. Needless to say, I didn't go to the dentist for the next five years. Managed to pluck up the courage to go late last year as one of them was hurting quite a lot - Dr Shah said reassuringly everything was fine and seemed unperturbed by the fact that it hurts sometimes. Most reassuring.

@ Liz - thanks for the re-assurance. I have a strong suspicion that I've got a nice infection going on. I'm booked in to see Dr Shah tomorrow - hopefully just a dose of anti-biotics for me!

This is interesting. I've been with Hanley Dental Practice for the last couple of years, but am now looking to change. They seem to recommend unnecessary treatments constantly in an attempt to squeeze more money out of me. I do not feel that they have my best interests at heart. Also, the guy who saw me last there (Ali I think) seemed a little inexperienced.

I might give Shah a try.

I am facing a tooth removal, or root canal job, with Dr Shah. Most people speak highly of him, but I don't know about his surgical skills, nor about how much he hurts. I'm a bit scared and worried! Can anyone reassure me?

After the glowing reviews for Shah, I have changed to his surgery from the Hornsey Dental Centre. Last night I visited Hornsey for a check up and clean; my teeth were cleaned nicely, but they identified an area in a molar where they thought I may need a filling. I was fine with that but the dentist then went on to talk about the possibility of root canal work. I just felt like I wanted a second opinion on this as they have a history of recommending unwarranted treatment and the tooth in question is not causing me any pain at all.

The attitude of Dr Shah's surgery on the phone did seem pro-NHS and they were very nice and booked me an appointment straight away.

Re my root canal/crown replacement, a few posts back: Mr Shah was excellent. No pain, very thorough and, 4 months on, everything is hunkey dory. I'm too embarrassed to tell you how little I paid - suffice it to say that he is one of the few dentists I know to respect NHS patients, no matter how poor they are. I have recommended him for an award, locally.

I've just been to see Shah. A world of difference from Hornsey Dental Centre. I've not been treated yet, but found Shah to be upfront, articulate and helpful.

I was at H.D.C last week and they spotted tooth decay in one of my molars after I had a routine x-ray done. I was told that in order to repair this, the filling on the adjacent tooth would need to be removed first and that root canal was a strong possibility.

Mr Shah on the other hand had identified the same cavity without the need for x-ray (although he took one afterwards) and has advised that he will perform a filling WITHOUT infringing on the adjacent filling. Read into this what you will. I asked about the possibility of root canal and Mr Shah after close examination of the x-ray suggested that it was a possibility, but pointed out that since I am not showing any symptoms (tooth pain) it is likely that my nerve has not been compromised by the decay.

Mr Shah came across as being a very experienced dentist. I was left with no questions surrounding the diagnosis, treatment or cost.

Will let you know how treatment goes.

I went to Weston Park yesterday and have always found them reasonable. He was recommending a treatment of building up a chipped tooth, but after we discussed it briefly he simply filed one on the top row. It took only a few seconds and he didn't charge me for it.

Dr Songra if anyone's interested.

Went to get my filling today from Shah. Quick and painless. Good advice too. He knows what he is doing.

Eliz - I went there when I first moved to the area. I had the first appointment of the day (before work), I waited 40 minutes past the appointment time and when the dentist still hadn't arrived I gave up. Sounds like I had a lucky escape.

I went there too. I didn't notice the dirt particularly, but the record keeping was certainly rubbish. I went there to have my teeth whitened, in 2009. Seemed a good idea at the time. I paid around £500 I think. She lost the original moulds she took, and so had to take some more. When I went back she said the lab had lost the second lot of moulds, and she'd would have to take some more. This had all taken weeks. At this point I'd had enough, but she refused to give me my money back. I was going to take her to court but then the place closed.

Still makes me cross and my teeth are still yellow.

I've been using Weston Park Surgery for about 20 years, with varying results, depending on who you see.

I now always see Mr Songra - he does his best to keep price down, and has also filed teeth for me at no charge.

Teeth filing? Brilliant!

Goth dentist, oh that would be fun! No, sorry, just un-sharpening a slightly chipped tooth.

Been going to Pickering for years. They are really good. I always get the Danish(?) guy with the small hands and he is very reassuring and gentle. Last time I needed emergency treatment I was seen within the hour.

I used this thread last week when I was going mad with a wisdom tooth infection. It helped me discount every single dentist in N4 and go to Pickering on upper street, where a German dentist spoke to me with the utmost efficiency and matter of factness about my condition and was thoroughly professional in treating it. I am going back to have a scale and polish tomorrow and to ask for his hand in civil partnership.

Thought Dispatches on CH4 was interesting last night. Kind of reflected the discussions that have been going on here

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/episode-guide/series-91/episode-1

I had a filling fall out last week so thought I would give Pickard’s a try. Been advised I need a crown and there was no pushing to go private but after seeing last nights show and reading the blog on the link it is difficult to know whether to trust what I am being told

About 40 years ago my husband and I used a dentist in Stroud Green Road, but were not too pleased with him. Someone who had lived in SG for a long time warned us that he was known as "the butcher of Stroud Green"! She recommended Mr Elder in Crouch Hall Road. When he retired, his son took over, then he left and the practice has now gone mainly private, but I can visit Dr Rawlings, a kindly and efficient female NHS dentist who works there on Fridays only.

More love for Dr Shah. I went there this morning and found he and the nurse to be really lovely, politle and professional. I nearly fell on the floor when she told me the price for the full check up, 2 xrays and proper teeth clean they'd just administered - £17. I would highly recommend!

Yes, he's a stroud green road legend.