Getting a dentist … or not

[ImStayingInside]

I am pregnant and have spent the weekend in pain with my wisdom teeth, which have suddenly decided to grow in 🙄
I have contacted 15 dentists, some local, some not so local who are all only taking on private patients.
What is happening?!
Not only am I entitled to free dental treatment for the first time in my adult life, I definitely can’t afford private care.
Just a rant really, while I cry holding my sore jaw 😢

I think there is a number you can ring regarding NHS dentistry. Maybe ring 111 if you are in pain.

I tried before this bloody pandemic to get a dentist.
I cast my net in about a 30 mile radius (Norfolk, so not densely populated).
I did not find one.in the end, I had Togo privately. TBH, there is minimal difference in price between mine and DHs NHS woman.
I understand that this is not remotely helpful.
Is there a medical or dental school near you at all. As a child I remember going to the London hospital at Whitechapel for emergency treatment

I was at mine other day who do nhs and private and people were ringing and they were telling them the waiting list to become an NHS patient is 18 months - 2 years. Think they are just so backlogged from covid and they make more money from private...

You might already have tried this nhs dentists by postcode

I also remember that I had a number locally for dentists who are actively taking on new NHS patients, but a google search isn't bringing up anything.

I didn’t go to mine for two years because of covid. I didn’t realise they strike you off if you don’t go for two years. Now I’m stuck. I’ve been regularly with them all my life and I’m 54!

Unfortunately this is nothing new. I remember the same thing happening when we moved to this area. I was trying to register with a new dentist and couldn't find a single one that would take me as an NHS patient even though I was pregnant.

The daughter I was pregnant with will be 22 soon.

I've just moved and can't get an NHS dentist for us or our young children. We just have to suck it up and pay private.

I’ve complained to my mom and to health watch.

Nothing seems to change. Everything is open normally except dentists and doctors. Why the obsession with cleaning all surfaces with it is spread by aresols? It’s the constant cleaning that’s causing all the delays.

@Kiduknot

I didn’t go to mine for two years because of covid. I didn’t realise they strike you off if you don’t go for two years. Now I’m stuck. I’ve been regularly with them all my life and I’m 54!

Same thing just happened to me. I do have quite a few things I need looked at but I can't afford it at the moment so I suppose I'll just have to wait until I'm in agony and then they can be dealt with as emergencies.

Dental care in this country is appalling.

My mp not my mom!

I read somewhere that dentists don't make any money doing NHS work, so it's not worth it for them.

I rang an NHS dentist in July, got an appointment within a week (now completed course of treatment. My grown up son, daughter, son in law and my daughters friend all since signed up (I realise this is not the norm however)

Same. No NHS dentists in my or neighbouring county.

I reported it to healthwatch and they basically said “we know, call 111 if it’s an emergency and until then there’s nothing you can do.”

So you have to wait for it to become a totally avoidable emergency. It’s a joke.