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Original poster

Half my tooth just fell out… now what?

28 replies

MooPointCowsOpinion · 17/05/2022 16:32

No NHS dentist will see me and I doubt I can afford a private dentist. I’ve booked in with a private dentist for an assessment, £70 gone already before having any treatment at all…!!

if I can’t afford to have the required work done, what do I do next? “Cast Away” it myself or something?

OP posts:
Madmog · 17/05/2022 16:47

This happened to me during lockdown August 2020., half a tooth and slightly below gum line. I was told I couldn't be seen by the dentist, to buy a temporary filling pack from Boots and they'd put me on the list to be seen as and when. I tried temporary filling pack twice and it came out within 24 hours despite eating soft food. I didn't hear back from the dentist, so phoned in May 2021 and they eventually filled tooth in with filling material August 2021.

I'm posting as I don't know if you're in pain, but my pain did wear off. If you have any pain, hopefully it'll resolve itself like mine and in the meantime you could find another NHS dentist and get on their waiting list.

Original poster
MooPointCowsOpinion · 17/05/2022 16:48

Oh my gosh you had to wait a whole year?!

This is so insane.

OP posts:
EcafTnuc · 17/05/2022 16:49

Could you afford a payment plan? I knocked a front tooth out / split in half and needed work doing but couldn't afford it all in one go. I was able to do a payment plan split over 6 months or so. It was really expensive but I can't find an NHS dentist near me for love nor money (and haven't for years)

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Original poster
MooPointCowsOpinion · 17/05/2022 16:49

I feel lucky I don’t have any pain. It’s just sharp, and it’s a big hole so I don’t know if it could get infected, seems likely!

OP posts:
Original poster
MooPointCowsOpinion · 17/05/2022 16:49

@EcafTnuc how much was it in total if you don’t mind me asking?

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 17/05/2022 16:55

Why won't an NHS dentist see you, do you have one usually?

5000kilometers · 17/05/2022 16:56

I had similar and ended up ringing 111 (is it that one?) where they can allocate an emergency dental appt wherever they can. You have to pay a bit but you can be seen assuming the tooth is causing pain. Id look it up on the NHS website and double check.

PBJTime · 17/05/2022 16:56

It took me 11 months to have my teeth removed on the nhs that's with constant pain and infections. It's a bloody joke.

AngelinaFangelina · 17/05/2022 17:01

I was going to suggest a payment plan, most private dentists offer them. Mine does 0% finance; I haven't used it so not sure of the finer details but it was in the paperwork with my bill. Is that something you could afford? I do feel for you, I've just had a £659 bill and luckily I had some savings! Not really what I envisaged using the money for 🙄

Original poster
MooPointCowsOpinion · 17/05/2022 17:19

A payment plan might work, I hope it’s an option, or I do have a credit card with nothing spent on it that I could use if that’s not an option!

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor Here’s one news article about the nhs dental crisis www.independent.co.uk/news/health/dentist-nhs-shortage-england-b2074446.html?amp

OP posts:
CloudPop · 17/05/2022 17:23

In the world's 6th largest economy. It's an absolute scandal.

Knifer · 17/05/2022 17:27

It's shockingly bad at the moment. I have a private dentist and a front veneer was cracked from the bottom to the top during lockdown and they still won't see me to correct it because it's cosmetic and "the safety of the staff is paramount"

It's horrible to need treatment and not be able to get it, either through funding or lack of willing dentist. I feel for you.

ssd · 17/05/2022 17:28

Ive had this happen twice since covid started. My mouth is all holes. Ive never had problems before.

user1471504747 · 17/05/2022 17:29

i chipped one of my teeth next to my front teeth, pretty big chip and the tooth was really damaged anyway prior.

£50 for intial appointment, £500 for a filling/veneer/composite bond type thing to cover and fix it

Private dentist I had never seen before in the south east

Silverswirl · 17/05/2022 17:31

Why the actual hell is dent rusty so shockingly bad in the UK. I mean it’s been crap for years but this is just another level.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 17/05/2022 17:33

MooPointCowsOpinion · 17/05/2022 17:19

A payment plan might work, I hope it’s an option, or I do have a credit card with nothing spent on it that I could use if that’s not an option!

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor Here’s one news article about the nhs dental crisis www.independent.co.uk/news/health/dentist-nhs-shortage-england-b2074446.html?amp

I know but did they just say that couldn't see you? Is it your usual dentist or a new one. I know most aren't taking on new patients at the moment.

GetOffTheTableMabel · 17/05/2022 17:36

Knifer · 17/05/2022 17:27

It's shockingly bad at the moment. I have a private dentist and a front veneer was cracked from the bottom to the top during lockdown and they still won't see me to correct it because it's cosmetic and "the safety of the staff is paramount"

It's horrible to need treatment and not be able to get it, either through funding or lack of willing dentist. I feel for you.

Your dentist is being pretty over-zealous there. I had 4 veneers replaced last year. Like you, one of mine was cracked but I rang various practices because we had relocated before lockdown and I found plenty that were happy to undertake this work almost 12 months ago!

DinkyDaisy · 17/05/2022 17:42

I cracked off half a tooth exposing amalgam filling recently. No pain. I was very lucky and my dentist fitted me in same day. Built area up with white stuff ( composite?). Cost 60 pounds and very quick job. I am so grateful. He is back to 6 monthly appointments as well. I think he us unusual talking to friends...

Original poster
MooPointCowsOpinion · 17/05/2022 18:00

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor my NHS dentist struck me off for not visiting for 3 years, 2 of those years being covid…. Will not listen to reason!

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DogInATent · 17/05/2022 18:05

NHS emergency dentist?
I had to use ours when I cracked a tooth.

Bickles · 17/05/2022 18:21

Dentistry in this country is not shockingly bad!

There is some excellent dentistry performed. Some of this is performed under the NHS but it is hard to do beautiful quality work under time pressure and with low budget materials and labs.

There is an access crisis because the NHS is only funded for max 50% of the population and there’s a backlog due to Covid. Covid rules were imposed on the profession, they did not set them.

NHS fees are artificially low and it sets an expectation among patients that it should be cheap. Good private Dentistry will not be cheap. It will cost per hour, at least as much as a good solicitor and paralegal working together. (Think a 5 year degree professional dentists and a 2 year training course dental nurse professional working together).

Anyway- guesstimate for you of private fees:
£70 for being seen as a non registered emergency - will usually include x ray
Temporary filling £50-100
Extraction £90-150
Crown £500-700
Root canal £400-800
This is based on my experience as a private dentist in the North of England.

DinkyDaisy · 17/05/2022 18:59

It may not be dentists' fault that access to NHS dentistry is patchy but the reality for many is that they have no meaningful dentist service. If the NHS is bust with dentists maybe we need to go down a different route. Australia have medicare. I don't know much about it but think it is something all people pay into unless they can't.
I do think it is wrong that NHS dentists are so hard to come by in the same way that I think it is wrong people have to
Pay for eye tests etc.
I am sure others might disagree with me...

Delinathe · 17/05/2022 19:09

*Dentistry in this country is not shockingly bad!

There is some excellent dentistry performed. Some of this is performed under the NHS but it is hard to do beautiful quality work under time pressure and with low budget materials and labs.*

People are obviously not saying the actual dentistry is bad. Read the thread for context. They are saying that the system is in a terrible state and that people can't get seen, and that is true. Haven't seen anyone blaming dentists, either, we know it's the government. However it's pretty crappy to insist there's no problem when people are left in pain and uncertainty for extended periods of time.

Bickles · 17/05/2022 19:16

There’s definitely an access problem. However I know so many dentists giving up their contracts to go private realistically it isn’t going away. It would take a new better contract and loads more funding but both Labour and Conservative governments want Dentistry out of the NHS. They just want it to be the fault of the dentists!

Original poster
MooPointCowsOpinion · 17/05/2022 20:48

@Bickles you said temporary filling but not permanent filling? If I have a temporary one won’t I just have the same problem when the filling falls out? I’m wondering if she will just fill the sharp bit off and leave it, it’s not hurting me it’s just annoying!

Can’t believe I might have to opt for it being taken out instead of saved, because that’s all I can afford.

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