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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think children should get free dental treatment

64 replies

Angelfire84 · 22/08/2025 20:28

My dentist, like the majority in my area, has recently become private. My DD (13) needs braces and the orthodontist has said she needs to have 4 teeth removed first. I need to pay £420 for her teeth to be removed. AIBU to think children should still be entitled to free dental treatment even if the dentist has gone private. I have tried to get her into a NHS dentist but none of the NHS dentists in my area are taking on new NHS patients.

OP posts:
Moonnstars · 22/08/2025 20:49

Yes we have no NHS dentists where I live. It's a massive issue. I wouldn't mind so much paying private myself if I knew my children at least would get seen on the NHS. Sadly the shortage means no where is taking on NHS patients.

MigGril · 22/08/2025 20:47

LynetteScavo · 22/08/2025 20:45

Why doesn’t the orthodontist remove them? I assumed they would. Adult teeth remove al is about £75 on the NHS, so not exactly cheap.

I definitely think dentists shouldn’t be allowed to go private and leave people with no access to NHS care.

Because that is not part of the work that orthodontists do, it's a dentists job. So they would have no experience in removing teeth. 😕

LynetteScavo · 22/08/2025 20:45

Why doesn’t the orthodontist remove them? I assumed they would. Adult teeth remove al is about £75 on the NHS, so not exactly cheap.

I definitely think dentists shouldn’t be allowed to go private and leave people with no access to NHS care.

MigGril · 22/08/2025 20:45

stichguru · 22/08/2025 20:41

"AIBU to think children should still be entitled to free dental treatment even if the dentist has gone private."

I know what you mean, but I don't think it would work. In reality children are NEVER actually entitled to free dental treatment, in the same way as no one is entitled to free GP or hospital treatment actually. In reality what happens when you or your child access free NHS medical care is the dentist or other worker is being paid either totally or for that particular appointment by funding that has probably gone into the NHS via the government through money they have collected from us collectively in taxes. A private dentist has no link to the NHS or this money, so they couldn't receive this money for your child's care, which is why you have to pay.

All dentists are private, they have only ever carried out work for the NHS (a bit like GP'S) under licence. We have had 2 dentists that would do NHS work on the children as long as we where private. But even dentists have stopped doing that now here as well. They just don't get enough money back from the government for doing NHS care so as a business can't afford to do it anymore.

MigGril · 22/08/2025 20:42

dogcatkitten · 22/08/2025 20:38

I guess it's not essential treatment so not eligible for NHS, probably considered cosmetic, if it's to do with braces.

No as DD'S orthodontics where considered nessarcy under the NHS, but the teeth removal needed to carry out the work we had to pay for because that's the dentists area not the orthodontist. Crazy isn't it.

stichguru · 22/08/2025 20:41

"AIBU to think children should still be entitled to free dental treatment even if the dentist has gone private."

I know what you mean, but I don't think it would work. In reality children are NEVER actually entitled to free dental treatment, in the same way as no one is entitled to free GP or hospital treatment actually. In reality what happens when you or your child access free NHS medical care is the dentist or other worker is being paid either totally or for that particular appointment by funding that has probably gone into the NHS via the government through money they have collected from us collectively in taxes. A private dentist has no link to the NHS or this money, so they couldn't receive this money for your child's care, which is why you have to pay.

MigGril · 22/08/2025 20:39

Yes we've had this issue. Just had to pay for the teeth removal and swallow the cost. I felt lucky DD was still getting NHS orthodontics as that would have been eye watering.

We've changed dentist 3 times, there just are no NHS one's locally now taking on children.

dogcatkitten · 22/08/2025 20:38

I guess it's not essential treatment so not eligible for NHS, probably considered cosmetic, if it's to do with braces.

RentalWoesNotFun · 22/08/2025 20:36

Find another nhs dentist by hook or by crook. It’s so expensive otherwise.

Mrsttcno1 · 22/08/2025 20:35

The issue is that there just isn’t enough NHS dentists because there isn’t enough funding for it, so private dentists aren’t going to treat for free because they aren’t charities and there simply isn’t enough funding to expand NHS dentistry.

It’s a huge problem though I agree.

Devilsmommy · 22/08/2025 20:35

Could you get her into an NHS dentist that's further away? It's disgusting that children aren't entitled to free dental care no matter what.

Pinkballoon5 · 22/08/2025 20:34

Many more dentists take on children than adults. Keep looking. I know the system is shit and the way of finding out which practices are taking on new patients is equally shit

hangerup · 22/08/2025 20:33

Absolutely

Theimpossiblegirl · 22/08/2025 20:31

The whole dentistry issue is ridiculous. There is money that isn't being spent while dental health in children and adults is being ignored. Not everyone can afford private.