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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Advice please! DH needs his wisdom tooth out - can't afford our dentists price :(

137 replies

Laiste · 01/07/2025 09:13

Hes been in pain with it before twice. A year ago he signed up with a private dentist and they made him have x rays,and 2 hygiene appts and charged £300 and never got as far as taking the bloody tooth out! Just ran out of money to spend on it and it had calmed down so he left it.

Now it's flaring up again and he just wants it out. His dentist want to charge £300+ to take it out!

Ringing round but no one seems to be taking on nhs patients at all. Yesterday he tried 111 ( google's advice) and they said they'd refer him to Bupa for emergency treatment but this morn Bupa have said starting price would be £80 for antibiotics and extraction not on nhs. 🧐So confused ...

Any advice? Thanks in advance .

OP posts:
IwasDueANameChange · 01/07/2025 09:48

Dentistry is a joke now. The people i know with the best teeth are people who never go to the dentist! They are all just trying to sell you stuff you don't need - the hygienist, an xray etc.

Try a dental college for students.

Coffeeishot · 01/07/2025 09:48

And my Dds boyfriend went to GP who referral A&E with an infection nhs dental place treated him .

Original poster
Laiste · 01/07/2025 09:48

I will get him to call 111 when he's home later - i agree.

OP posts:
Wolfpinkola · 01/07/2025 09:48

I think, just get it done and stick it on the credit card. It’s too important. You can’t be in that sort of pain for longer than a few days ❤️

Original poster
Laiste · 01/07/2025 09:47

DinoLil · 01/07/2025 09:44

Yikes!
My dog had two teeth out under GA in January. £303.
Maybe we all need to go to the vets?!

God dont ! I had a thread last week about the vets trying to charge us ££££& for 'tests' on our elderly cat rather than just give her a few anti biotics for her UTI like a couple of years ago.

I had to get really angry on the phone.

I got the ABs and she's a lot better by the way. If anyone was reading that one 🤪

OP posts:
PeloMom · 01/07/2025 09:47

Laiste · 01/07/2025 09:30

I will look to see if there's a dental school near us.

Please don’t do this. My mother went to dental schools and completely ruined her teeth. In the end she had to spend $$$$ to fix all the damage they had done.

Wayetblue · 01/07/2025 09:47

Laiste · 01/07/2025 09:44

About 10 years ago our GP prescribed ABs for tooth pain for me. I'm terrified of the dentist and went to see GP and was honest about fear and he said so am i and prescribed me the ABs!

I guess times have changed 😞

I also think try. Just because the policy at one GP's is not to prescribe, doesn't mean it never happens or that they're all the same.

myheadsjustmush · 01/07/2025 09:46

My DH paid £80 for an emergency appointment a few weeks ago at an NHS dentist. This covered an examination and antibiotics for a raging infection.

He paid this money because our own dentist were unable to help (no dentists available), and the pain was absolutely unbearable.

I hope your DH gets sorted soon - toothache really is dreadful. ☹

Coffeeishot · 01/07/2025 09:46

BusMumsHoliday · 01/07/2025 09:29

My private dentist referred me into the NHS dental hospital for a wisdom tooth extraction. Did you ask if they could do this?

My sister had this, her wisdom tooth removed at the hospital I think her dentist didn't do the sedation or something.
I think he should ask about dental hospital referral he is allowed to say he can't afford their prices and they can refer him on.

boysmuminherts · 01/07/2025 09:46

My DH had an emergency NHS extraction a few years ago for £37. That wasn't a wisdom tooth though. He went to a dentist near where he works in London.

beforetherain20 · 01/07/2025 09:46

What area are you? Someone might have an idea

Wayetblue · 01/07/2025 09:45

I think call 111 "together" when he's home. People will say he's an adult and should manage this himself, but supporting each other's strengths and weaknesses is what marriage is for.

Initially find out how he can get the antibiotics, as it sounds like nothing else can happened until the infection is cleared. They how he can get the tooth removed at a sensible cost.

If all else fails, go to A&E. It's not right but "they" (the system) get what they deserve if they can't provide a better solution.

Original poster
Laiste · 01/07/2025 09:44

About 10 years ago our GP prescribed ABs for tooth pain for me. I'm terrified of the dentist and went to see GP and was honest about fear and he said so am i and prescribed me the ABs!

I guess times have changed 😞

OP posts:
DinoLil · 01/07/2025 09:44

Yikes!
My dog had two teeth out under GA in January. £303.
Maybe we all need to go to the vets?!

Original poster
Laiste · 01/07/2025 09:41

Eldest DD works at a GP surgery she said that GPs won't prescribe for anything dental any more.

I had the same idea re: GP for ABs

OP posts:
Original poster
Laiste · 01/07/2025 09:40

Yes we're not after it being free. An nhs consultation fee is apx £27.

Our dentist charges £90 just to go in and breathe the air around the reception desk 😳

OP posts:
Wayetblue · 01/07/2025 09:39

I paid nearly £200 recently for a check up and hygienist and have often wondered how on earth less fortunate people can do it.

I'm being naive, but if he needs antibiotics for an infection, isn't that something his GP/111 should organise on prescription?. That would at least be a start and help with he pain. It's terrible advice and shouldn't be necessary, but I can see why people in pain end up at A&E...

Even on the NHS a tooth extraction is going to cost money though 😪

Gymmum82 · 01/07/2025 09:37

£300 for an extraction sounds like a bargain to me. You know even NHS dental treatment isn’t free. Band 3 is £320

whoopeedoop · 01/07/2025 09:34

If he’s in serious pain and can’t afford treatment would his parents help?

Original poster
Laiste · 01/07/2025 09:34

Half the problem is it's not me doing the ringing. He's not good on the phone and is trying to do it while being in the middle of a building site

OP posts:
Original poster
Laiste · 01/07/2025 09:33

He rang 111 yesterday and they gave him a number to ring this morn for nhs one off (Bupa) but then when he rang they said 88 for ABs and then rest of treatment would not be nhs ???

OP posts:
Original poster
Laiste · 01/07/2025 09:31

i'll check for a dental hospital near us

OP posts:
slapmyarseandcallmemary · 01/07/2025 09:31

Do you not have an out of hours dentist you could access via 111? Or a dental college nearby?

Original poster
Laiste · 01/07/2025 09:31

I'm not sure if he asked his private dentist if they could refer to an nhs hospital ... i'll message him and ask.

OP posts:
Original poster
Laiste · 01/07/2025 09:30

I will look to see if there's a dental school near us.

OP posts:
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