To think that adults are supposed to go to the dentist too?

Most people do have yearly or fairly regular optician appointments, even with good eyesight?

Hygienist appointments are a need

Check-up are a way to fix problems quickly instead of waiting for them to be too bad to be fixed!

YANBU, but I’m really lucky to have an NHS dentist & healthy teeth that so far only need six-monthly hygienist visits & checkups, which I can afford.

I go regularly. I don't actually know anyone who doesn't though.

as others have said. When you think about it you wouldn't go to your GP every 6 months just for a check up, and surely most people without good eye sight don't go to an opticians regularly just to confirm they can still see either. Why are dentists the exception?

The only reason I go every year is so I don't get chucked off my NHS dentist list!

Im lucky to have found an NHS dentist im going affter xmas.
I dont like going but i have to.
My sister found an NHS dentist in november by chance, not easy to get one now but when you do you hang on to it.

I would be delighted and in ideal world, we SHOULD have GP appointments.

The number of people who suffer from treatable problems, or let them get so much worst because they don't (or can't..) see a GP.

Many private package do offer you a yearly check-up, for good reason (their interest, but yours too!)

Well, yes, in theory you should. have at the very least a yearly check-up and 2 hygienist appointments a year, if you want to keep it to a strict minimum

but some people can't afford it

and many people have other priorities unfortunately.

People can’t afford it and/or access care. Presumably you know that though.

Unfortunately there are not many NHS dentists that take on new patients.
But also the cost is expensive. DD went for an hygienist appointment last week and it cost
over £100. Check up was £70. She and her family are considering going private.
The difference in NHS and private dentist is not that much anymore.

I have a private dentist. This costs £24 per month. With that I get
2 check ups per year
2 hygiene appointments per year.
Upto 2 fillings per year with out an increase in cost.
I had no choice in going private as I was involved with cancer treatment and need a dentist.

I agree with that tbh, dh and the dc never need anything doing besides counting teeth checking gums but we don’t want to lose our NHS dentist so we will attend 6 monthly, cough up and consider ourselves lucky than be get seen.
Sil missed 2 appointments (called to cancel but was within the 24 hours) and has been struck off, this was 3 years ago and she’s not been able to find a close enough dentist to take her on.

My mum never took me as a kid so my teeth, although I brushed them well, have needed some work as an adult.
We all go as a family every 6 months, NHS dentist, have been going for the past 23 years and often need an inbetween trip for additional work doing. It mounts up even with NHS tiered pricing.
I can fully understand why people don’t go but yes I do think it’s important and therefore shit that people can’t afford basic dental checkups.

Well yeah I bet a lot of people regret not going and then being refused back onto the NHS as they went AWOL for six months plus. Back when the shortages weren't so dire.

I feel lucky two of my family have an NHS dentist. It kind of just about justified the fact I don't and have to go private.

They really need to incentivise dentists to do more NHS work. The current system they have to do a grand worth of work for £300. No wonder they don't want to do it.

I disagree, i think six monthly check ups were only ever designed to make money, not because they are a necessity.

If our GPs started calling us in for chargeable appointments every six months just to check that everything was normal, we’d think they’d gone crazy

I’ve never heard anyone say it’s not a thing for adults to go to the dentist. Just that they can’t, there is no nhs practice in my county taking on adult patients, there’s a private one, it’s is v v expensive

It’s bloody expensive, even with NHS prices!

Bob Mortimer has joined the thread...

Children and pregnant women are entitled to free dentistry but there are no NHS dentists where I live so they can't get it for free. I suspect that there are many children not attending regularly let alone the adults. It's simply too expensive for many people.

I've never, ever heard anyone say "dentistry doesn't matter in adulthood".

Of course it should be, but every time I go to the hygienist (£120 last time) I think it must just be out of the question for many many people.

Adults shouldn't be this dense either but here we are.

We can’t get an NHS dentist what do you suggest we do?

Yes but you need to complain to the government about the underfunding of NHS dentistry. Many people can't get registered at one, and can't afford private. I'm very lucky with mine, she is passionate about the NHS and provides excellent care from a very small, not glam surgery over a burger shop!I don't know how she does it on the pittance they are paid. She does the full range of treatment too, including crowns and bridges, which a lot of NHS dentists won't do as the pay is so pitiful. I now travel 30 miles each way to stay registered with her.

I go for a check up every six months but am lucky that there are plenty of NHS dentists where I live.

Maybe just going when needed is fine.
I have wondered if eye tests and dental checkups are really required so frequently. It seems the only regular health checks we should be having just happen to be the ones that we have to pay for.
I do go for eye tests and dental check ups. Apparently I've needed a new optical prescription every time I've been tested but my eyes still haven't reached a level where I need to legally wear them to drive. I'm also still using the prescription from 2 tests ago with no problems.