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Original poster

Dental work

37 replies

InterviewGhost · 22/04/2025 17:15

Scenario, posting for traffic and joint incredulity.

You have a dental issue, which urgently needs rectifying.

No dentists accepting NHS patients within a 40 mile radius.

Dentist will not accept a payment plan.

You don’t qualify for finance. You cannot get a CC or loan. Friends and family are unable to lend you the money.

The only way you could afford to pay for it would be to not pay your rent this (or next) month.

What do you do?

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Original poster
InterviewGhost · 23/04/2025 14:37

lifemakeover · 23/04/2025 14:36

Agghhh - sorry it didn't help. Surrey Heartlands ICB (Integrated Care Board) is responsible for commissioning dental services so it might be worth contacting their PALS service https://www.surreyheartlands.org/complaints-and-concerns, or Surrey Healthwatch https://www.healthwatchsurrey.co.uk/contact/. Healthwatch recommend this website for more information https://dentalchoices.org/.

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Thank you!

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lifemakeover · 23/04/2025 14:36

InterviewGhost · 23/04/2025 14:28

Thank you! This isn’t that far from me and I’ve actually contacted these surgeries and none of them are taking NHS patients on. It’s Surrey so what did I expect really?

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Agghhh - sorry it didn't help. Surrey Heartlands ICB (Integrated Care Board) is responsible for commissioning dental services so it might be worth contacting their PALS service https://www.surreyheartlands.org/complaints-and-concerns, or Surrey Healthwatch https://www.healthwatchsurrey.co.uk/contact/. Healthwatch recommend this website for more information https://dentalchoices.org/.

Contact us - Healthwatch Surrey

Our Helpdesk is here to provide information and signposting to local people about health and social care services. Our Helpdesk … Read more

https://www.healthwatchsurrey.co.uk/contact/

Original poster
InterviewGhost · 23/04/2025 14:28

lifemakeover · 23/04/2025 14:26

I'm sure you have already done this, but just in case, have you checked the NHS 'find a dentist' service? I put in Leatherhead as the location and there are a few that say they may be taking on NHS patients "when availability allows" (not sure what this means though - sounds very carefully worded).

www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist/results/Leatherhead?latitude=51.296161883887024&longitude=-0.3311191725067626

Good luck OP - dental problems are awful.

Thank you! This isn’t that far from me and I’ve actually contacted these surgeries and none of them are taking NHS patients on. It’s Surrey so what did I expect really?

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lifemakeover · 23/04/2025 14:26

I'm sure you have already done this, but just in case, have you checked the NHS 'find a dentist' service? I put in Leatherhead as the location and there are a few that say they may be taking on NHS patients "when availability allows" (not sure what this means though - sounds very carefully worded).

www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist/results/Leatherhead?latitude=51.296161883887024&longitude=-0.3311191725067626

Good luck OP - dental problems are awful.

BobbyBiscuits · 23/04/2025 14:25

InterviewGhost · 23/04/2025 14:08

No idea if that’s the case but the two I was referred to were BUPA and were strictly private (and not open when 111 told me they would be as an aside).

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Gawd that's useless. Ring 111 again and say it's an emergency and you're in agony. Tell them you only can have an NHS one.
The government need to incetivise dentists to do NHS work, not penalise them.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 23/04/2025 14:11

Best of luck. I hope you find an nhs dentist to help

Original poster
InterviewGhost · 23/04/2025 14:08

BobbyBiscuits · 23/04/2025 14:07

That's awful. I thought there had to be at least some NHS emergency ones in each area? Even if you have to travel an hour or more to get to them. People can die if their teeth are really rotten and infected without treatment.
Not often I hope but it's possible.
I hope you find one that can help you x

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No idea if that’s the case but the two I was referred to were BUPA and were strictly private (and not open when 111 told me they would be as an aside).

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BobbyBiscuits · 23/04/2025 14:07

InterviewGhost · 22/04/2025 19:40

The emergency dentists near me (by near I mean in neighbouring counties) aren’t NHS, sadly, as I found out at the weekend…

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That's awful. I thought there had to be at least some NHS emergency ones in each area? Even if you have to travel an hour or more to get to them. People can die if their teeth are really rotten and infected without treatment.
Not often I hope but it's possible.
I hope you find one that can help you x

CanelliniBeans · 22/04/2025 21:50

@InterviewGhostmine was broken and cost £240. You could ring round and get quotes. In my area a surgical extraction starts at £395, standard extraction starts at £85 and more complex including brown tooth starts from £150.

Original poster
InterviewGhost · 22/04/2025 19:41

amylou8 · 22/04/2025 19:27

I'm in the same boat, I have 2 retained roots, one is a wisdom tooth, that need extracting. It's going to cost me the best part of 2k. I've been managing with copious amounts of mouth wash and ordering amoxcillin online for 5 years now.
I think the solution might be a wizz air flight out to Turkey!

It’s maddening isn’t it? It feels very dystopian

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Original poster
InterviewGhost · 22/04/2025 19:40

BobbyBiscuits · 22/04/2025 19:30

If you tell 111 you're having severe pain etc they'll give you an emergency dentist details. They might be quite far away from your house still though. But you must say you're in pain else they won't class it as urgent.the emergency one will do extraction if necessary.

The emergency dentists near me (by near I mean in neighbouring counties) aren’t NHS, sadly, as I found out at the weekend…

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BobbyBiscuits · 22/04/2025 19:30

If you tell 111 you're having severe pain etc they'll give you an emergency dentist details. They might be quite far away from your house still though. But you must say you're in pain else they won't class it as urgent.the emergency one will do extraction if necessary.

amylou8 · 22/04/2025 19:27

I'm in the same boat, I have 2 retained roots, one is a wisdom tooth, that need extracting. It's going to cost me the best part of 2k. I've been managing with copious amounts of mouth wash and ordering amoxcillin online for 5 years now.
I think the solution might be a wizz air flight out to Turkey!

Original poster
InterviewGhost · 22/04/2025 19:10

FightingFish · 22/04/2025 18:55

Is it possible to be referred to a NHS hospital to have the extraction? A couple of years ago I had a broken tooth that the dentist could not remove, I was referred to the hospital and it was extracted for free.

She previously referred me but the hospital said they didn’t consider it complex and refused the referral. She did also say there were financial issues (my end) at play. This has been going on for almost four years.

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FightingFish · 22/04/2025 18:55

Is it possible to be referred to a NHS hospital to have the extraction? A couple of years ago I had a broken tooth that the dentist could not remove, I was referred to the hospital and it was extracted for free.

Original poster
InterviewGhost · 22/04/2025 18:47

CanelliniBeans · 22/04/2025 18:38

@InterviewGhostmy extraction cost £240 so not cheap but cheaper than root canal. Apparently it’s more expensive for a broken tooth than a whole one

I wonder if mine would be considered broken. It’s got a full temp filling on it. Complex extraction is close to £800 which I also definitely cannot afford 🙃🙃🙃🙃

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Original poster
InterviewGhost · 22/04/2025 18:46

Allseeingallknowing · 22/04/2025 18:41

The trouble is the tooth will usually be extracted rather than be given root canal trea which would save it- no one wants to lose a tooth!

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I do, I can’t afford to keep it.

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Allseeingallknowing · 22/04/2025 18:41

bestcatlife · 22/04/2025 17:18

Call 111 and see if you can get emergency treatment that way (on the NHS)

The trouble is the tooth will usually be extracted rather than be given root canal trea which would save it- no one wants to lose a tooth!

CanelliniBeans · 22/04/2025 18:38

@InterviewGhostmy extraction cost £240 so not cheap but cheaper than root canal. Apparently it’s more expensive for a broken tooth than a whole one

Original poster
InterviewGhost · 22/04/2025 18:31

saltinesandcoffeecups · 22/04/2025 18:23

Gotcha… that’s a different story.

I’m assuming the not paying rent this month or next would be for the root canal and not the extraction. In that case I’d book the extraction with your current dentist and pay rent. That’s great they see the RC as a better option but they need to do the work you’re willing to pay for. You can offer they do the RC pro bono if they feel that strongly about it 😁

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i am opting for extraction for various reasons but this is one of them. It’s mortifying having to explain my finances to my dentist, who blinks at me and says “put it on a credit card”. OH OKAY HUN. I can’t!

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saltinesandcoffeecups · 22/04/2025 18:23

InterviewGhost · 22/04/2025 18:17

It’s got a temporary filling on and is constantly getting infected so I really need it sorted. It’s rare a month goes by without me needing at least one course of amoxicillin because of this.

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Gotcha… that’s a different story.

I’m assuming the not paying rent this month or next would be for the root canal and not the extraction. In that case I’d book the extraction with your current dentist and pay rent. That’s great they see the RC as a better option but they need to do the work you’re willing to pay for. You can offer they do the RC pro bono if they feel that strongly about it 😁

Timeforchangeornot · 22/04/2025 18:19

Yup, it's rubbish. I've just been faced with a £2600 bill and have had to chuck it on a credit card. Thankfully 0% but not ideal!

Original poster
InterviewGhost · 22/04/2025 18:19

CanelliniBeans · 22/04/2025 18:16

I’ve lived with a broken tooth for about 12 years then I got an abscess and had it removed because the pain was unbearable. But for 12 years it was painless and I didn’t do anything about it. If you’re not in pain then could you save up each month (I know that doesn’t feel right that you have to).
I wouldn’t default on rent

I think this is what I’ll have to do but I’ve got a temporary filling on it and it constantly gets infected so I really need it sorted.

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Original poster
InterviewGhost · 22/04/2025 18:18

Fabulousagain · 22/04/2025 18:17

I am lucky that i do have an NHS dentist having a tooth removed next week ouch.
I have no advice really op you could ring 111.
May i ask what part of the county you live in as i think my dentist is still taking new nhs patients on.

East Surrey. 111 referred me to an emergency dentist who only performed private procedures. Which I had and which cost me hundreds, and maxed out my emergency CC.

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Original poster
InterviewGhost · 22/04/2025 18:17

saltinesandcoffeecups · 22/04/2025 18:10

Saving the tooth is always the best option orally if that makes sense. But yeah find another dentist that will do what you want.

Though if it doesn’t hurt can you live with it for a while to save?

Edited

It’s got a temporary filling on and is constantly getting infected so I really need it sorted. It’s rare a month goes by without me needing at least one course of amoxicillin because of this.

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