What do you do if you can't afford private dentist care?

[Avelandra]

Just that really. I recently broke a tooth. It's not causing me any pain, but I need to get it sorted sooner rather than later so it doesn't get any worse. I also have a couple of other bits that need doing, like getting a bridge that I never got round to having a few years ago. My old practice has closed down so I am unable to go there.

I have contacted 18 local dentists, all of which have said they aren't taking on NHS patients but I am welcome to join them privately. If I go for private, I imagine it's going to cost me over £1k in total which I just can't afford. I tried the Dental Access line but wasn't eligible for help from them as I didn't fit the criteria

Under the NHS you’ll still pay close to £300 for a bridge.

@Soontobe60 I am aware of that, but under that band all other work would be covered and could be done in one appointment.

Are you local to a dental hospital?
I can't afford treatment at the moment and our hospital wait list is suspended for covid but eventually it will restart.
Dunno if it could be an option.

There's a huge variation in private dental fees. Some don't cost that much more than NHS.
Ask how much the initial exam and radiographs on visit 1 will cost and gauge which will be the most affordable from there. Some of them have prices on their practice websites.

Have you tried a dental hospital?

Ours lets you pay NHS rates for emergency care because it's done by those learning to be dentists...obviously supervised but it's the students doing the work.

Otherwise I don't know, I'd have to suffer because NHS prices are a stretch - private prices are impossible.

@l2b2 I cannot afford private costs.

@TheQueef @RunHobbitRun unfortunately our local dental hospital is only taking on severe emergencies and under 16's

Not ideal, but a lot of people I know that couldn’t afford it went abroad for dental work and felt they had saved money even with flights and accommodation.
Lots of private dentists also have payment plans available which might be an option

Our dentist offers interest free payments if that would work?

Have you checked if you have a local MyDentist near you? They're private but charge less than a normal private practice.

I would go in to a private dentist to at least establish exactly what you need done and how much it will cost. From there, you can make a plan. Lots of dentists have payment plans, they may not advertise them but speak to them and they might have options for you.

@Avelandra sorry about that. Thought it was worth a mention, sadly you may need to wait until it is urgent before you can get help. I'd be in the same boat if I lost my NHS dentist. My practice is down to only one dentist with an NHS list so I'm very wary of this.

I'm still amazed though at how many on here don't understand "can't afford it" then trot out payment plans and trips abroad for dental treatment as alternatives!

Hope you don't end up in too much pain.

Have you tried 111? They can often find an NHS dentist to take you if you say you are in pain.

Sometimes the costs are very similar, although differently structured. At my private dentist it is £10 cheaper to see the hygienist than it is at my NHS dentist (although admittedly both are private treatments).

Advising me to go private really isn't helpful and isn't what I asked for. For my cheapest local private place, the amount I would have to pay is £1050 for what I know I need done, and that's without stuff they will find that I can't see. There is no way I can afford that, and a payment plan isn't affordable for me either. I would just about be able to afford the NHS cost.

You are buggered. It's ridiculous and unfair.
Wait and pray it doesn't get any worse

Honestly, it’s something you should budget for. Many dentists have dental plans where you pay a set amount each month and that covers the check ups, x rays and cleanings. Then there is usually a % discount off dental work like fillings, extractions, crowns, etc. In addition, they usually have plans for this additional work where you can pay it off interest free. You’d have to be on very low income, low enough for free care under NHS to not be able to “afford” it. I was a student in my twenties earning only £350/mo, paying £135 in rent, £55 in bus fares, £50 in bills, and £50 in food and I still managed to save up the money to have my wisdom teeth extracted.

Most people just don’t think about setting aside a £35-50 a month for dental savings.

All you can do is go on a waiting list for an NHS dentist and be prepared to travel if a slot becomes available.

emergency nhs treatment will be an extraction, which is what they offered me for an infected root canal.

The system is a joke, my DD is 21 and i ve never been able to get her an nhs dentist, despite it being her right to free treatment as a child.

Like social care, dentistry is for the wealthy, AE admissions for dental work has increased massively over the last few years.

@PlanDeRaccordement you have absolutely no idea about my financial situation, but thanks for judging me anyway, that's really helpful

@SpiderinaWingMirror

You are buggered. It's ridiculous and unfair. Wait and pray it doesn't get any worse

This.

It is dreadful, you would think that healthy teeth would be be something we all have access to like healthcare but it seems that healthy teeth are only for the rich☹️

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut I don't know if the dentist will know that I've lied about being in pain? It's just the surface currently, so no exposed root or anything and isn't causing pain yet

@PlanDeRaccordement Err NHS dental treatment is a right in law, there is zero requirement to have to go private, all that is required is a contribution.

The fact is the govn't doesn't fund dental care properly, so dentists can earn more privately.

I really don't know why people who can afford private treatment show such little concern for those that cannot.

If you've tried the NHS website and called all your local dentists you need to call NHS England customer centre 0300 311 2233. The NHS England commissions dental service in the UK and they are required to meet the needs of the population

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist/

@PlanDeRaccordement how tone deaf do you need to be?

So in this magical world of yours where do you propose the money comes from in a person's budget who has no spare money? Food, utilities, council tax?

Your sneery posts are not remotely helpful.