Dentists N4

JaneDoe · February 2012

It seems he has been replaced by a Dr Kahn and all patients have been automatically switched over.<br>

Ali · February 2012

He would have sold his goodwill ie us

Siolae · February 2012

Am selfishly gutted! @Brodije have also heard good things about Smilecare...and also have brushed the enamel off my teeth apparently.

JaneDoe · February 2012

How can I avoid brushing the enamel off my teeth? I am not good with dentists.

Siolae · February 2012

@JaneDoe, Dr Shah told me to use a good electric rather than a manual toothbrush. You put in less effort!

JaneDoe · March 2012

<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Calibri">I'm pretty disappointed with Dr Kahn (Mr Shah's replacement). On my first visit she asked if I wanted an NHS scale and polish or a 'proper' scale and polish for £35. Mr Shah's scale and polish was always very thorough so I asked for the NHS version. She didn't look impressed and frankly did a really half-arsed job that took half the time Mr Shah used to take. She also refused to do the polish but as she said it wasn't included in the NHS price (I looked it up since and it is).</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Calibri">I had to go back earlier this week for a filling and had the first appointment of the day. I waited for 15 minutes and she still hadn't turned up or called and I got the impression this happened regularly, so I gave up. I feel sorry for the lovely dental assistant who has to make the apologies! I get the impression that Dr Kahn is more focused on profit than patients, or maybe we were just very lucky to have Mr Shah previously. I'm taking my toothache to Smilecare next week and hopefully they will be a bit more professional.</span></p>

Ali · March 2012

<P>You should get a NHS Personal Dental Pan form no FP17DC issue 07/03/06. It details the NHS treatment, the cost and a 1 year warranty to fix things that go wrong</P> <P> </P> <P>It is your rights so insist on getting one</P> <P>You don't get any warranty with Private ask for the Terms and Conditions I bet you won't get far</P>

sophie · March 2012

i must be in an odd manic spring friday mood but i just went to the dentist and felt compelled to big them up on here (again). http://www.kingsavenuedentalsurgery.co.uk/<br><br>no it's not N4 but it's easy to get to on the W7. all the staff are so sweet, i usually see dr lawlor who is very jolly and calming. i've never had an attempted up-sell and he is really thorough with the scale and polish, so much so that they said not to bother with the hygienist as he would do it himself. and he tells me my teeth are good. i'm a sucker for tooth compliments.<br>

NoOne · May 2012

I went for my check up a week or so ago & discovered that Dr Shah had retired. My appointment was 10.30am & there were people in the waiting room. I have never even been in the waiting room before as I was always whisked straight into the treatment room, in & out within 5 minutes. I was told they were running late & made small talk with a man who said the dentist had only turned up 20 minutes ago & he had been waiting a while. I waited approx 35 mins in total. The new lady was very nice & polite etc but I've never needed treatment on my teeth so all dentists seem the same to me! She did take longer than Dr Shah but didn't seem to check as much. The poor dental assistant/receptionist who I normally have a nice chat with, was rushed off her feet. I made a remark about it being "one of those days" to which she replied something along the lines of "it's like this every day. I really miss Dr Shah." I felt really sorry for her & she looked truly miserable. I do not expect to see her there when I go back in 12 months time. It appears the new lady turns up late frequently so I will remember to book my next appointment for late afternoon!

gardener-joe · May 2012

I am still waiting for my appointment notice from Dr Shah's replacement.

NoOne · May 2012

I did not receive my appointment but I knew it was overdue so rang and the lady made apologies. I had actually forgotten about that bit but maybe the new dentist just doesn't bother with timekeeping or communication. Such a shame.

sharybo · May 2012

Another big thumbs down for the new dentist. I've just been for my check up and scale and polish. After the check up (not very thorough at all), she gave me a mirror and explained that an NHS scale and polish wouldn't remove the discolouration from my teeth, whereas a private one at £35 would. I said that an NHS scale and polish was all I usually have, and that my teeth always look lovely afterwards. At that she snatched the mirror back and gave me the quickest and least thorough scale and polish ever. Whilst the receptionist was sorting out the bill, I had a look in my mirror (funnily she didn't offer to show me her work!). My teeth didn't look in the slightest better, and I can still feel the plaque around the bottom of each tooth. I asked if the rules had changed, since an NHS scale and polish has always been perfectly good enough in the past, or was it just because she was trying to get more money out of people for a private scale and polish. She was quite rude and said that nothing had changed, and that an NHS scale and polish only removes plaque, not staining as that is cosmetic, and that if previous dentists had chosen to do more that was at their discretion. I asked for a complaint form, and she said that I should write to them first, then the NHS. So, that's my next job this afternoon. After that, I shall obviously have to find a decent dentist.......

vetski · May 2012

@sharybo, I use Torrance Dental (NHS) on Seven Sisters Road - I see the lovely Prasadie (won't even attempt to spell her surname - Sri Lankan names are hard!). Total cr@p that NHS scale & polish doesn't remove staining on the grounds that it's cosmetic. Please complain vociferously! Presumably. complaints of unprofessional conduct can also be directed to the professional body, BDA (<a href="http://www.bda.org/">http://www.bda.org/</a>

...

sharybo · May 2012

Thanks @vetski, I think my brother uses Torrance dental, so I shall try them instead, I most certainly won't go near Miss Khan again! Thanks also for the link, I shall investigate and put in a complaint if I can. I've already made a formal complaint to Islington NHS Primary Care Trust, so we'll see what happens. Such a shame that the lovely Dr Shah has been replaced by someone so awful.

gardener-joe · May 2012

This is really bad new for SGr but nonetheless important news ... thanks for sharing it Sharybo ... [this really is the kind of thread that makes me feel optimistic about the spirit of folks round here]

harpistic · May 2012

@sharybo So sorry to hear about your crap experience! I use the Pickering Dental Surgery over in Islington - at the time, both it and Shah seemed to have equal amounts of praise, and I was disappointed by Shah when I went to see him. <br><br>I'm glad to see that you've already commented on the NHS site - there's so little feedback about dentists on there, and so it's all the more important that people post on there and look elsewhere. <br>

kreuzkav · May 2012

I went to this dentist two months ago after recommendations on here about Mr. Shah. I had the offer £35 for a deep clean. I hadn't been to the dentist for about 8 years and was relieved to find out that I needed no work but was offered this clean. I thought what the heck, even though I don't smoke my teeth are a bit yellow so a deep clean might be good. The clean wasn't good. I've had a NHS clean before and it was far better and more thorough. After seeing other comments on here I might complain about her. My view is don't go for the deep clean.

Brodiej · May 2012

It appears nobody takes any notice of my posts.....but Smilecare in Archway was Mr Shah's recommendation for his patients in the run up to his retirement. I think the guys name was Dr Karpeda?

kreuzkav · May 2012

@ brodiej. Not everyone reads everything on here. You seem like a decent bloke even though you eat at Seasons. Thanks for the heads up on Dr Karpeda. Hopefully this dentist isn't about to retire?

Colette · June 2012

Dr Kapandia (not 100% sure of spelling) is his name. He's good, and gave me an excellent scale and polish on the NHS. He was also very friendly to my 2 year old, who came with me, and gave her teeth a little check too. Based on only one visit, admittedly, I'd recommend him.

sharybo · June 2012

Just an update - after complaining to the PCT I got a phone call from Dr Khan - it seems that the lady I saw was another dentist, not Dr Khan herself (I think she said her name was Sayed). She was very apologetic and said that she wanted to ensure that all their clients were happy with the service, and asked if I would be prepared to go back and see her for a scale and polish (and if not they would refund me). I said I would, and have just been to see her. I spoke to the receptionist when I arrived, who told me that they had received a lot of complaints and that Dr Khan had telephoned everyone that had complained, and had spoken to Ms Sayed. She said that they were keen to keep up the same standard of service as Dr Shah.<div><br></div><div>Dr Khan was very nice, and has given my teeth a proper scale and polish. I'm happy to carry on going there now, as long as I can see her.</div><div><br></div><div>Might be worth calling and asking for another appointment with Dr Khan if you've been to see Ms Sayed and had a similar bad experience to me.</div>

firendlyguy · July 2012

<P>Why dont you try Woodberry Down Dental Practice on Seven Sisters Road.</P> <P><A href="http://www.nhs.uk/Services/dentists/PatientFeedback/DefaultView.aspx?id=22530">http://www.nhs.uk/Services/dentists/PatientFeedback/DefaultView.aspx?id=22530</A></P>;

Ilovegreyhounds · August 2012

I am registered with Dr Shah but have really delayed my check up (and not helped by feedback since his retirement) so much so that I can now feel a filling is loose. I tried ringing today a couple of times during clinic hours but all I got was a message telling me the opening times and the number for the emergency dentist. Have any of you tried getting an appointment recently? How easy is it? Is it possible to get an urgent appt?<div><br></div><div>Have any of you tried the emergency dentist? It is just sensitive at the moment and I can hold on a day or two but I will need it seen to soon. I am a nervous person when it comes to dentists and all this uncertainty isn't helping

</div><div><br></div>

harpistic · August 2012

If you need to see someone pretty soon, do consider going to Pickering instead - I found them through here, and they've got a walk-in practice, so you don't need to make an appointment. Their website is: http://www.pickeringdentalsurgeries.com/<br><br>I found their facilities to be a lot better than Shah's (pre-retirement), although the location isn't as convenient - it's about a 10-min walk down Upper Street from Highbury & Islington tube station. You'll be in very very good hands with them. <br>

checkski · August 2012

<P>I visited Smilecare earlier this month, on the recommendation of above posters, but regret to report that I found Dr Kapadia and his assistant rough and rather painful. I only had a clean, and he seemed to be quite thorough, so perhaps I should stick with it, but I am a bit apprehensive. On second thoughts, I haven't had a clean for some time, so perhaps that's what it took to do the job properly. I'll keep you all posted.</P>

Roy · August 2012

@ilovegreyhounds: erm, didn't Mr Shah retire ages ago? (See the rest of the messages in this thread to that effect)<br><br>ETA: erm, sorry, re-read your post and I realise you know that<br><br>roy<br>

Roy · August 2012

Just to add, at Pickering not only do you not need to make an appointment, but you don't need to register. They operate a walk-in clinic for check-ups and emergencies - but if you need follow up treatment they will make an appointment for that. (They actually don't do appointments for check ups for some reason - you have to use the walk-in clinic.)<br><br>Be prepared for a wait when you use the walk-in clinic, and it's worth turning up as soon as you can in the morning or afternoon - turn up too late in the session and you may be faced with a long wait, or even get turned away if they're busy. (They're open Saturdays, too - though mornings only - and the advice about turning up early is especially important on Saturdays.)<br><br>They're mainly NHS I think, so standard NHS prices apply to most things, although I have a vague recollection that their hygenist is private, so a little more expensive than an NHS hygenist (but not hidiously expensive).<br><br>My experience with them has been slightly mixed, although I'm not sure what you can read into that given I probably wasn't a typical patient (and ended up realising that my best option was an expensive Harley St specialist who could offer me treatment that wasn't available on the NHS).<br><br>I'd be happy to go back to Pickering for routine dental treatment, though (and probably will if anything needs doing that is too hideously expensive to have done at my current private dentist).<br><br>roy<br>

Ilovegreyhounds · August 2012

Thank you @roy and @harpistic. I popped into Pickerings on my way back from work on Thursday and had a check up and chat with one of the dentists. Going back on Wed morning to sort out my filling. Clinic was really busy but I only had to wait about 10 mins to be seen. Up to now pretty good and reasonable price!

firendlyguy · September 2012

Woodberry Down Dental Practice is great. Just check the reviews on NHS choices.

slats · May 2013

Yep, this old chestnut again! I've been living out of London for the last year, moving back to SG this weekend.<br><br>Used to be with Mr Shah, what's the verdict on the people who have taken over? If not good, where else comes recommended these days? <br>

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