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

It’s impossible finding an NHS dentist in some areas. It’s frustrating as my dental treatment should be free (pregnant) and DS is only two, but we both have to pay as private patients.

Give it a few more years and this will be the way of all healthcare.

I've always paid for a private dentist. I want to look after my teeth, as they're mine, why should anyway else pay for my dental care?

So you never use the NHS for anything, then? Do you figure that, if you had a heart attack, it would be up to you to pay for your related healthcare, as it's your heart? Why are teeth different? We're not just talking about people who want gleaming white gnashers for Instagram; it's also people in agony with serious medical conditions that will cost them thousands to have dealt with, if and when they can ever afford it.

I’ve actually have an audiology appointment via a go referral because a cold/flu/covid has made me deaf suddenly in one ear. 3 week turn around.

Bur I agree my hears and eyes haven’t been tested since I was primary age. I actually remember going to the dentist with the school as a class thing twice a year.

Why should anyone pay for you to have a baby? Or treat your cancer? Or x Ray your broken limb? What a ridiculous state,ent unless you apply it to everything about your health.

Well lucky you!

Some counties (like mine) don't have a single NHS space and the waiting list is years long and are closed to new people. Then most NHS dentists are shutting all their services round here one by one and going fully private.

Almost everyone I know (adults and children) don't go anymore. They will only go if there's a problem I guess and only then if think they can afford it (unlike for some of the communities round here)

DS2s Denplan alone is £28 a month!! they bumped up the cost after he couldnt get 2 fillings done because they were closed during lockdown! ..
Youre on a very good deal warmmfeet!

I've always paid for a private dentist. I want to look after my teeth, as they're mine, why should anyway else pay for my dental care?

I never understand why, when we have an NHS, teeth and eyes are just arbitrarily excluded. Yes, I know that some people qualify for a free eye test, but you're then on your own if you need glasses. What is the justification for excluding these two essential things - especially when the NHS does cover certain things that, it could be argued, are significantly less important/urgent than teeth and eyes?

Didn't it used to be a commonly-done thing, decades ago, that, on reaching young adulthood, people would have all of their healthy teeth removed and replaced with dentures - on the grounds that they would then have no further dental bills to worry about for the rest of their lives? I gather that some parents would even pay for this as a coming-of-age present for their children, to 'set them up' dentally for life. Whoever would have thought that, in 2023, in one of the world's richest countries, it would look like we were headed the same way again?

Does that cover ALL your dental treatment? (If so, that's not bad for 4 people) or does it just cover check ups and 10% off your treatment bill or something which is all I ever seem to find offered.

Erm, but they need an NHS dentist first!!!

No NHS dentists around here in Wales, i've paid privately on Denplan for my DCs for well over 20 years, however my teeth were in such a poor state i couldnt afford to get them sorted to the point of being accepted on Denplan..
6 years ago used to travel on a 2 hour round trip to see an NHS dentist, but then they closed, so that was that.
I'm in serious dental trouble but what can i do? Even if i could afford it my local dentist isnt even accepting new private patients!

This is EXACTLY how I feel. I’ve lost respect for the UK population as a whole. I don’t belong. Our values are too different.

And yet many of you would still vote for Brexit 2 or the Tories again if given half the chance. Zero time for people who complain after getting what they voted for.

Got a letter this morning saying my dentist was going private and when their junior dentist had time to see NHS patients we’d be seen. Would have to pay £18 a month to see her twice and a hygienist twice a year.

I feel lucky for the free hearing aids I get here .

I've been trying to sign up to an NHS dentist for years. There are no spaces near me. I can't afford private prices!

OH has an NHS dentist but was referred to a private clinic for some treatment- something the NHS don't do- so he had to put in on a credit card, almost 1k!

Not true. If you are on UC and earn above a certain amount it isn't free.

There are many areas in England (not sure about rest of the U.K.) with absolutely no NHS dentists, stories online of people travelling a hundred miles for a dental appointment. The government seem to be doing absolutely nothing about it, profits over people yet again

In surprised about waiting lists to get on an NHS dentist books. When I was ringing round I was told it's just a case of ringing at the right time and first come first served. So If you happen to ring on the right random Thursday that their books are open they'll accept you. I didn't realise this wasn't the case UK wide

YANBU. Horrific. Worrying for the future of the country

Bloody hell! I have an NHS dentist but paid private prices to get a white filling and it cost me £120. I’m very lucky that I’m in Glasgow and there are still plenty of NHS dentist here. Plus, both my kids have left school but are still covered until they’re 26. Although, I’ve have just coughed up thousands for a brace for one of them. Orthodontists are ridiculously expensive and are impossibly unaffordable for many.

YANBU. I'm not well off. Thankfully I have strong teeth, but it still costs me £300 a year in check ups and hygienist appointments.

Then there's the cost of opticians and glasses.

And GPs in my area won't refer to audiology until you've paid a small fortune for private microsuctioning now.

Good dental, audiology and optical care makes a huge difference to health and well-being and this is being denied to so many people.

Not even my 16 year old at college gets free dental care. Our dentist went private and I can't find another even accepting children.