Dental treatment

[Sleepinstars]

I have a very painful tooth. I suspect I need an old filling replaced but I've heard under coved that dentists won't drill and that everything has to be done privately meaning you have to pay for all PPE and that a basic filling is costing £300. I know someone who was told this and paid £300 for a filling because they had tooth ache.

Is this still true?

Ideally I'd like a white filling as I've never had a mercury filling but I don't have much money.

I am pretty miserable at the moment and in a lot of pain, what happens if I just try to live with the pain?

I’ve had private dental treatment since lockdown, but you’re best phoning your dentist and asking. Don’t sit at home in pain.

@PurpleDaisies was it very expensive?

Yes, £500 but mine was a crown rather than a standard filling. They didn’t charge extra for PPE and they were fantastic in making everything work. The guidelines for dentists are tricky and mine were only doing one drill procedure every day.

Are you registered with a dentist now? You might be able to be referred through 111 since you’re in pain. I’ve heard NHS dentists are starting fillings again.

DS has been given a temporary filling (original one fell out in April) and quoted £95 to permanently replace with a white filling.

Our previous (also private) dentist would have been a lot more expensive, so I think you’ll need to ring round to see which practices will see you if you’re not already registered?

Emergency dentistry is free. Call your dentist and ask.

I feel your pain though, I have a torturous wisdom tooth right now and have to wait until Oct 2 to be seen

@CorianderLord

Emergency dentistry is free. Call your dentist and ask.

No, it isn’t. A small proportion of adults on certain state benefits are entitled to help with nhs dental charges, if they can find an nhs dentist prepared to treat them. Children can get free nhs dentistry, again if there is an nhs dentist who is prepared to treat them.

I called the dentist and they gave me an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. They asked if I was using painkillers for it which I am. Not sure if they are classing it as emergency treatment or not

Emergency dental work isn’t automatically free on the NHS. A filling in a dental practice is unlikely to be unless you’re on benefits or pregnant.

This explains who it is free for.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/dental-health/who-is-entitled-to-free-nhs-dental-treatment-in-england/

If it’s treatment on the NHS then fees will be capped.

That's strange, it says on my dentists site that emergency is free. Seems it's band 1 now and they haven't updated - so £23