Can't find a NHS dentist

[laughoutquiet]

I missed my last appointment at my nhs dentist and then covid hit. Since it's been two years, they've taken me off their register.

I've been phoning around but can't find another nhs dentist.

Does any one have experience or advice about using something like Den-plan or similar? I feel a bit clueless!

Thank you.

Posting for traffic as general health is a little quiet

My dentist does two den plans
I have the one at £22.85 per month which includes two check ups and two full hygienist appointments a year and also gave me 20% off my treatment of which I needed a lot (so it worked out cheaper in the long run) due to not going to nhs dentist for ten years for the same reason as you I.e I got deregistered but to be honest I had not received good treatment anyway and I have never had a professional hygienist appointment til now. The difference in treatment and care is remarkable and they use much better materials so if you can afford it I’d say go private, I wish I had years ago and I really regret not doing so. Health or wealth as they say and you can’t replace teeth easily once they’re gone sadly.
They also do a den plan at £12 a month which gets you one of each check up and hygienist a year.
It’s worth ringing the dentists in your area to ask what they can offer.
Good luck

Thank you @KarlMaldensNose, that's really informative.

@laughoutquiet

Thank you *@KarlMaldensNose*, that's really informative.

You are welcome, I just don’t want anyone to make the same mistake that I did and neglected my teeth 🥲 I think if you go on the Denplan website you can search for dentists who do the plan in your area Something to bear in mind my dentist charges £80 for a check up and the hygienist about £60 for half an hour so the denplan doesnt seem that expensive really.

I've been on the waiting list for my county since I moved back here, so 4 years now, 5 since last seeing a dentist and my teeth are just falling to bits now, constant pain. When people talk about private dentists, is that was den plan means? Private means pay monthly forever?

No not forever….you can see the private dentist and just pay and that’s that you don’t have to join the denplan it’s not obligatory but it does have its benefits, the treatments i needed were expensive (two restorations and a subsequent recent root canal treatment) and I saved a lot with the 20% discount on those treatments.
You can stop the denplan whenever you want but I am very happy to get them checked regularly and get them cleaned etc.
The initial consultation included a mouth cancer screening and x rays and the dentist gave a full explanation of everything that was going on in my mouth as the X-rays appear after ten minutes .
I’m very happy with the treatments and the peace of mind

I pay just under £15 per month on Denplan. This gives me two checkups and two hygienist appointments every year. I do pay for any other treatment but fortunately haven't had very much. It's the best dentist I've ever had!

The difference between private and NHS is amazing. It's definitely worth making private dental care a priority.

I work in dentistry and check up wise there really is no difference in what we do in NHS to private. Just more time in private.

The fact COVID hit I would email the Practice Manager and ask to be put back on.

@CupOfTPlease they wouldn't. I did ask.

So am I right in thinking that different dentists will do different schemes? There's not a "den plan standard"?

To find the closest NHS dentist taking on new patients try this link:

www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist

Sorry the link shows nhs dentists but you have to go into each one I think to see if they are accepting new NHS patients.

Same here everywhere I've tried up to an hours drive away says there's at least an 18 month waiting list

www.denplan.co.uk/

I think that Nuffield have a dental plan too but the above link is denplan

I assume there are a few plans run by different companies which is why you probably should enquire at the dentists practices in your area

And agree with all PP that private has no comparison with NHS having experienced both now (too late sadly)

Each practice sets it's own Denplan fees. Denplan is just a money collecting agency.

@Thecatisboss

Sorry the link shows nhs dentists but you have to go into each one I think to see if they are accepting new NHS patients.

Thanks I've been doing this but the list badly needs updating! Most don't now.

Write to your MP. NHS dentistry is only funded to cover about 50% of the population which is why there are so few NHS dentists. The government need to fund more practices to provide the treatment

@LazyDragonTooth

I've been on the waiting list for my county since I moved back here, so 4 years now, 5 since last seeing a dentist and my teeth are just falling to bits now, constant pain. When people talk about private dentists, is that was den plan means? Private means pay monthly forever?

Not in Cornwall are you by any chance? We are on the NHS waiting list and only ever get contacted to find out if we want them to take us off the waiting list 😱😱

I have PM'd you

I guess this is why Brits are known for their bad teeth

Unless you need lots of work doing on your teeth I really don’t see much cost difference between NHS and Private.
I used to be NHS - it was about £16 for a checkup and £60 hygienist
When I moved house I could only find a private dentist. It’s now £45 checkup (which includes cleaning) and £50 hygienist.

Most important thing is to find a dentist who is highly recommended, whether that be NHS or Private.

@LazyDragonTooth you definitely don’t need to pay into a monthly plan with a private dentist. I never have. I would lose money if I did. I assume it’s only worth doing a dental plan if you have bad teeth and need more treatment than standard checkups.

Rememberallball - yes indeed Cornwall! I enquired at every dentist in town and an area up to about 20 miles around for any spaces. I'm disabled and rely on lifts and taxis so I'm limited. I was advised to go on the county waiting list, 4 years on I'm apparently 2/3rds of the way through according to the phone line.

I've asked at a couple of local dentists about non-NHS appointments but they seem a little cagey. Probably because I ask about accessibility and when they realise I'm on disability assume I can't pay, who knows. It put me off pursuing, I should do that now I'm double vaccined.

When I was pregnant and needed an NHS dentist I rang 111.

They knew the names of the local dentists that were accepting NHS patients.

Currently on a dentist plan but not sure of the name of the plan- it isnt called denplan

But it's about £14.00 a month.

I see the dentist twice a year. They do a scale and polish at the same time- so thats twice a year and you get a discount t of about 15% on any extra treatments that are needed. Any emergency appointments that are needed are free, but any treatments cost money and u would get 15% off.

But hopefully if I keep going regularly I wont need many treatments.

@LazyDragonTooth

Rememberallball - yes indeed Cornwall! I enquired at every dentist in town and an area up to about 20 miles around for any spaces. I'm disabled and rely on lifts and taxis so I'm limited. I was advised to go on the county waiting list, 4 years on I'm apparently 2/3rds of the way through according to the phone line.

I've asked at a couple of local dentists about non-NHS appointments but they seem a little cagey. Probably because I ask about accessibility and when they realise I'm on disability assume I can't pay, who knows. It put me off pursuing, I should do that now I'm double vaccined.

H - I knew it would be!! There are so many good things about living in Cornwall but dental care isn’t one of them (nor is affordable housing for locals and non seasonable jobs but they’re different matters!!). I can’t get over the fact our only contact from the waiting list people is asking if we want to come off it!! They won’t even add our toddler twins, born after we went on the list, with us so they’re further down it!

We enquired with 3 different private/NHS practices as we heard they were opening their NHS lists - one had done but filled the available spaces immediately; one wasn’t doing so but had opened the waiting list for private patients only (and wanted potential patients to set up a Denplan type membership with them to secure their place on the waiting list with an average of 24 months to get to the top of the list 🤷🏼‍♀️) The 3rd one, which our health visitor recommended, I’ve not heard back from despite contacting them when our twins were 10 weeks old - and they’ll be 2 in a few weeks time!!! I was unable to get seen at all during my pregnancy or since so he no benefit from the ‘free’ NHS maternity entitlement. We’ve even enquired ‘over the border’ in Devon and there just isn’t anything. I’m almost tempted to call up my old practice nearly 200 miles away and see if they can see me for a check up after 3+ years despite all the palaver that would entail!!