Get sent down to get your teeth fixed?

You can get an emergency appointment generally by ringing 111 if you are in pain. They will see you, but it will cost you £26 and be quite basic. I’ve had to do this twice now to patch up a cavity while I wait for a root canal. I had an appointment within three hours of calling, then they saw me again to do a better temporary fix. I suppose like prison dentists they want you to be able to eat and be pain free but won’t do much else.

Thankfully I did manage an to get on an NHS list but the root canal needs to be an endontist job so there’s a very long wait :(

I used to work in prison healthcare. Yes they do have a dentist that comes in to the prison BUT they come in a couple of time per week for half a day so it’s generally emergencies with a couple of routine appointments squeezed in. The waiting lists are massive so a lot of prisoners are released before they even get seen for a check up.

Be careful, Hannibal Lecter thought that, but it didn't turn out quite how he expected.

Just go private, it's not expensive. Last time I went to an NHS dentist they charged me almost as much as private and I had to have 2 appointments and wait instead of just going in the next day and getting everything done at once.

What a fantastic plan - absolutely no flaws whatsoever.
There is literally nothing that could possibly go wrong here

*heist

@1apenny2apenny then you'll be pleased to know that people claiming asylum or in prison DO have to wait just as long, often much longer - due to being on waiting lists but then being moved to different accommodation (over which they have no choice) in another region, taking them to the bottom of the local waiting list.

I see your thinking.

No way you're getting crowns in prison though, you'll probably just be in agony for ages before they pull them for you.

You also need to consider your reputation inside and out. Do you really want to go to prison for council tax evasion? You'll likely be targeted as a weakling.

Maybe something a with a bit more grit, like a failed diamond hesit?

I get it OP, your post is obvs tongue in cheek however we do seem to be in a situation where those who have worked hard all their lives, or served their country, done the right thing etc are now just left. If you're in prison or an asylum seeker you get housed, presumably heating in full, meals provided and pays for plus medical care. IMO they should have to wait as long as the general public have to.

I work in prison dentistry. The waiting lists are long but once you're seen, we do try and complete all treatment. Don't expect crowns and bridges though, it will be routine treatment only to treat and stabilise disease.

This reminds me of a episode of ren and stimpy, they committed crimes to go to prison, so they wouldn't have to pay rent and get free meals!

You could save the money from not paying your council tax to get it done privately, in case the judge is feeling lenient.

Crowns? An NHS dentist will probably just pull the stumps and give you falsies. No frills.

You'll probably find its emergency stuff only and the cheapest option. Eg removing a tooth rather than fixing it.

Dental and medical care in the prison and detention estates is dire. I have personal experience as someone who does voluntary work within the system. The residents at the facility I visit are lucky to get anything other than a paracetamol and there was a recent death where a resident's symptoms were brushed aside.

So yes, I think your plan is a poor one, unless you enjoy having no control and no agency over your health and welfare.

I think we're going to see people doing this to get 3 square meals a day and live somewhere heated

Which is not a surprise given the cost of living

A bit of a bonus you would get free food and accommodation too. Probably not to your liking but you know…..

I temped in a prison about 20 years ago. One of the inmates had done exactly this, not for dental but mental healthcare. Just caused small public annoyances until he got sent down.

They might give you new crowns but they would almost certainly be metal ones, not tooth coloured.

If you end up in prison with the current state of our prison estate, your bad teeth will be the very least of your worries

Dentistry in prison is provided in the same way that dentistry outside of prison is provided - you are entitled to free dental treatment. Actually getting that treatment is another matter, and no it won't include crown replacement!

You’d have to go down for a serious stretch. A relative got two years and after 6 months requested a visit.He was still waiting for first appointment on release. And was warned it was very basic, filling or extraction.

Had this same conversation a few months back with someone who worked in a prison. He said the dental care is pretty basic and inmates have to go on a list as appointments are limited. I think as a pp said it would be limited to being pain free and able to eat. Medical care always seemed to be very prompt though, no waiting for appointments.

Inability to pay is not a reason to refer to a dental hospital. The referral would be rejected.