On the 23rd of last month, my wife was unfortunate to suffer a large abscess in her mouth owing to a broken tooth, for which she was in great pain.

We therefore contacted the dentist she is with, and they very kindly gave her an appointment for the 24th.

So off we went to attend this appointment. Upon getting there, my wife was called in for her examination and was in the surgery for about five to 10 minutes.

She came out again saying that the dentist thinks it was an abscess and could not pull the tooth out as they didn’t have anybody there qualified for two weeks to do it.

So we said we won’t be here in two weeks. (Ahhh, um, hello—dentist equals teeth, gums, etc., or so I thought!)

They recommended another dentist that could do the job, so we telephoned the recommended dentist for an urgent appointment and were told that it would be £75 for the examination.

Thinking that this was for the whole thing—extraction included—and as my wife was in so much pain, we accepted the appointment and duly set off to keep it.

When we got there, she was shown into the surgery and, after again five to 10 minutes, she came out again saying that yes, it was a bad abscess and to pull the tooth out would cost (and I hope you're sat down if you’re reading this letter) £275!

I really thought the pain she was in was affecting her judgement, but no, she had all her faculties.

He did give her a prescription for antibiotics for the abscess, to which I replied, “I’ll get the pliers out from the shed, and I will only charge her a tenner!”

I will state the surgery was a large one, and there were a few dentists on hand and receptionists. I suppose they had overheads, etc., but come on—£275 for one tooth? Bah, humbug!

Oh, and then we had to pay £10 for the prescription to be put up, so my wife is still in pain and still has a broken tooth, and I am £85 out of pocket.

Not that I mind that, just as long as my wife doesn’t suffer for too long with the pain she’s in. And nobody can tell me there are poor dentists about again. Baaa humbug!

Name and address supplied