Is it impossible to get a NHS dentist in 2021?

[onlychildhamster]

I have to go private to get my teeth sorted. No dentists in my area seem to be taking on NHS patients. So I got quoted £460 for a root canal and £140 for a filling and also £595 for a porcelain crown.

What happens to people who can't afford it. It's quite different from 2018 when I managed to get a NHS dentist to see me on the same day, wasn't even registered beforehand!

I called and called dentists. Eventually I found one half an hour away. Perseverance paid off

I think most countries pay in varying degrees for dental work.

We can’t have everything in life for free, it doesn’t work like that for lots of people.

Dentists train hard so if private work is what keeps their business afloat and allows them to pay their bills then that’s what they will do.

NHS Dentistry in the UK is non-existent at the moment (unless you're an existing NHS patient / not trying to get registered). Sad but true. Unfortunately if you are unable or unwilling to pay for private dentistry then you will not see a dentist. End of. Can't see this situation getting better for the next 2 or 3 years.
(111 are there for emergencies, but it is limited to emergency care, not designed to be a permanent solution)

A very sad state of affairs.

Basically you get what you pay for in life. Teeth are worth it

Agreed, but those who cannot pay are what? I've had to do overtime and scrape by just to pay my dentist because he wants to see me for 2 minutes twice a year and have several hygienist appointments throughout the year just to stay on his books. As no other dentist will see me (not even talking NHS now) then I'm stuck paying for something I dont particularly need and can barely afford. I feel those who just cannot afford it at all will suffer. And that's without a pandemic.

I can see the days of pulling your own teeth coming back. And that's not great either.

If you do manage to get nhs then its a bonus...many european countries have no free dentistry at all...maybe extraction....you pay or just do not go...as in spain !

@pcofmushu

NHS Dentistry in the UK is non-existent at the moment (unless you're an existing NHS patient / not trying to get registered). Sad but true. Unfortunately if you are unable or unwilling to pay for private dentistry then you will not see a dentist. End of. Can't see this situation getting better for the next 2 or 3 years. (111 are there for emergencies, but it is limited to emergency care, not designed to be a permanent solution)

A very sad state of affairs.

Why do you think it will change in two or three years? It will only get worse. We’re goi g back to the days when people had rotting teeth and awful dental problems because they couldn’t afford to go to the dentist. Soon the NHS generally will be finished and then people will die and get very sick for the same reason. Back to the Dark Ages.

my dentist because he wants to see me for 2 minutes twice a year and have several hygienist appointments throughout the year just to stay on his books

This is disgraceful, a couple of pp's have said this. I have never heard of it. My BUPA dentist sees me every two years, and I have never needed a hygienist. I think if you are paying, you should be able to do exactly what you want, that's the point of paying, choice. Change your private dentist, they are taking the piss.

The dentist should be advising you on an appropriate recall interval which could be 3-24 months, based on your risk factors for disease.
It isn’t entirely up to you or your dentist- discussion and patient centred teamwork!

Yes it’s outrageous. We keep hearing about hospitals but no one ever ever mentions dentist.

I’m not sure how we unlog the jam.

@TreaslakeandBack

The dentist should be advising you on an appropriate recall interval which could be 3-24 months, based on your risk factors for disease. It isn’t entirely up to you or your dentist- discussion and patient centred teamwork!

My dentist has flat out told me, I pay to see him and I pay hygienist, then I stay on his books. I dont pay or dont see him when I'm called and off the books I go. How that can be justified now after nearly two years of not seeing him because pandemic I do not know.

Still have to pay. How about those who cant pay? How about when I cant get overtime in to pay?
Out of curiosity are there dental charities?