To think that dental care is now only for the wealthy in the UK

Haven't had NHS dental care for a long time, as we've had to relocate for DH's job often. I have a mouth full of crowns and have fallen victim to cowboy dentists doing poor, unnecessary work. I'm paying for my youngest atm too and she is entitled to free care.

We have Simply Health insurance, which is a help, but we still pay on top of this.

Next week my DH' s cousin's husband is giving a presentation to some MPs on why NHS dentists are essential to the nation's health.

Both of my grandfathers had all their teeth removed for their 21st birthday gift. It cost a lot of money to have done, but yes, it was normal. I've seen photos of them when they were young and they had very nice teeth, but there was no NHS then and dentistry was very expensive and painful and keeping your own teeth could cause a lifetime of problems.

I pay £15 per month but that’s just for 2 checkups per year. I don’t go to them because every single time I do, my dentist ‘finds’ at least 2 cavities that ‘need’ filling and I end up shelling out hundreds more. I have to say I’m afraid I don’t trust him, I think he’s lining his pocket carrying out unnecessary work. I’m only going back if I’m in pain.
Mum thinks I’m stupid and dental care should be preventative, but I was paying £200+ per visit, it wasn’t sustainable.

I'll pay the £19 a month if my NHS dentist does the same. The worst pain I've ever felt has been dental, and I would go into thousands of pounds worth of debt to avoid that pain again.

Having said that, this is totally fucking wrong if it is true.

Can't even visit a GP for free as most of them have stopped bulk billing (where they just charge Medicare and you pay no extra) and now a visit costs me $70+.

Oops, posted too soon. Health insurance only covers a proportion of medical costs and some things have a lifetime cap.

If I didn't have health insurance, I am almost over the income threshold to have to pay an additional levy of 1% if my income.

My glasses from specsavers cost me $80 after I get my health insurance rebate. Only 1 rebate per year so if I damage them I have to pay full price. Etc, etc.

Well I can't say it's much better in Australia, except that I'm earning more here than I could in the UK.

Extras health insurance (covers everything except hospital stays) cost $2,000 a year for me and my 2 DSs. Braces for both of them cost me $15,000, I get back $4,500 in total so as a single parent I have to pay the $10,500 gap. Fortunately the orthodontist spreads it out over 3 years. Dental checks up are covered by my health insurance as are a lot of other things, including ambulance trips which are not covered under Medicare)

Where? What area of the UK are you in where this is still the case? I've moved around the UK a lot over the past 15 years, and I don't know of anywhere that has this provision.

There's 2 denplan ones, care and essentials

Link
https://www.denplan.co.uk/patient-plans

I have care which covers pretty much everything except lab fees

Only if you can find a dentist who will take NHS patients. I was with a dentist who accepted me as an NHS patient and was with them for nearly ten years. I tried to make a check-up appointment and they let me know that I'd have to wait until April because they'd used their full quota of NHS patients until the next tax year - no, I don't understand it either, but obviously, it's a thing. That was three years ago. I got back in touch with them every couple of months to be told "maybe in a couple of months" until I gave up because it was clear I had fallen through the cracks and I was never going to get another appointment. I've just moved so have been looking for a new dentist where I am now. Most are not taking NHS patients. Those who do take NHS patients have their full quota and aren't taking on any more patients.

As a poor person, I have been without a dentist for three years and can't see that changing anytime soon. I'm not alone. There are people poorer than me and people better off than me in similar situations. It's a disgrace. Everyone should be able to see an NHS dentist and the fact that so few of us can seems to be ignored by the media. Dentistry is the first part of the NHS that is heading toward complete privatisation.

Considering the huge amount that the treatment of cancers costs the NHS - not to mention disability benefits and reduced income tax-take that may follow as a direct result, you'd think the government would actually be keen to promote free methods to encourage prevention and early detection - as is frequently the case with dentists as gatekeepers sounding the alarm on a whole raft of serious conditions at a very early stage.

If we agree with the concept of free provision of smear tests, mammograms, prostate checks, asthma and diabetes checkups etc. as a way of forestalling serious problems or catching them very early, why would a sensible joined-up system not automatically do the same with teeth? Even if that system were only bothered about the bottom line and not interested in people's well-being, comfort, longevity and freedom from pain.

its so simple isn’t it? We just need to train more dentists, doctors, nurses etc and pay them a fair wage.

fucking tories… and actually fuck Labour too.

They covered your root canal for £19 a month? May I ask what plan you have? I do have an NHS dentist but he's retiring, and I'm moving so have to sort it anyway. Thanks.

I agree it's appalling, this is England now.

What can I do

Google direct access hygienists in your area and book in. They'll offer an initial consultation with a clean, then arrange a treatment plan with anaesthesia for root surface debridement. They may ask you to visit a private dentist for an x-ray before treatment (£20 ish)

And how do you even access them?
I have periodontal issues... got put on my notes and nothing else was done.. I can't access a dentist or hygienist... I guess the gum disease will just have to seep into my blood supply, and untimely cause me a ton of issues. What can I do?

And how is someone on UC meant to afford that

I didn't say they were, it's shit.

I also said that direct access hygienists can treat periodontal disease for hundreds, rather than thousands (charged by periodontists), and someone on UC may not be able to afford that either, but other people might.

YANBU i saw a dentist for the first time last week in about 8 years. We moved area and couldn’t get one. I am 100% grateful that I managed to get one, and that I’ve seen them now, but they just checked the teeth. I need four fillings and I’ve got to wait now for a second appointment. At least a months wait. I did tell them when I was registering that I likely needed four fillings. I’ve had two children in that time and I couldn’t access a dentist at all! One of my cavities is driving me nuts!

But I am grateful. Very grateful because there is only one dentist in my town that’s accepting new NHS patients. Never managed to get there quick enough when others had vacancies before. I couldn’t afford to have four fillings done privately. No chance.

And how is someone on UC meant to afford that?

Dental charges were introduced by the Labour Party in 1951 !!!!.

Private, direct access hygienists, as I said.

What hygienist? No NHS dentist, so no hygienist.

Not helpful when you potentially have an oral cancer and no one to look at it

The hygienist refers the patient to the hospital, in that situation

Not helpful when you potentially have an oral cancer and no one to look at it.

Many areas without NHS openings run a waiting list. It can take several years but get on it.

Direct access hygienists, whilst cleaning your teeth for £50 on average, are able to screen for and treat most periodontal disease at hundreds rather than thousands.They also screen for oral cancer and can usually advise if someone needs referral for fillings or antibiotics.

Teaching hospitals may offer free dental treatment to certain categories of patients.

Emergency dental work is free provision, but it has to be pretty bad.