You can now only see dentist every 1-2 years

[ChinBristles]

Hello

I was lucky enough to be at my long-standing NHS dentist last week (I'm in Scotland). She tells me that just recently Nicola Sturgeon has changed it so that you only get a check-up once a year, not twice a year anymore.

I'm just reading online that in England they might be changing it to a free check up with the NHS just every 2 years.

Apparently the issue is money, of course:

1. it's not cost efficient to have frequent check-ups especially if you have healthy teeth, it's cheaper just to treat the issues as and when they arise (presumably more painful tho!)
2. dentists aren't been paid enough for NHS work so are moving abroad/doing private work.

Personally, i'd much rather pay more tax but know that I can have a dentist (and doctor!) when I need one and indeed have regular preventative check-ups. Why aren't we spending more tax money on having dentists? It's surely a sad indictment on a supposedly civilised country if we are walking around with black teeth and/or pulling our own teeth out with pliers?!

Would you pay more tax to fund dentists?

Most people I’m aware of have to pay for private dental treatment. There’s certainly no one in the area offering NHS treatment at all.

My private dentist, before covid, insisted on 6 monthly check ups with the threat of losing your "membership" and no other NHS dentists or other practices with spaces available.
Then in covid they stopped all appointments for a while and then when they reopened only for emergencies.
Two and a half years later we have still not had a check up, or been called for one, so I assume it was all money making bullshit.
My dentist is not short of a bob or two. He owns the practice and takes a cut of all the other dentists and hygienist takings. He rents out chairs effectively.
so, no, I would not pay tax for dentists. I don't know anyone who has a prized nhs dentist anyway.

Isn't basic dentistry basic healthcare? And a basic human right? I mean it can be some of the worst pain imaginable! Surely to goodness kids should all get free checkups and treatment?! I would have no issue whatsoever with paying more tax for this.

You don't go to your GP for a yearly "check up", you go when you have a medical issue. Why shouldn't the dentist be the same?

There really is a finite pot of money for the NHS and I think worse is to come.

I've only gone annually (to my NHS dentist) for years, although I always took the children 6 monthly.

If you have good healthy teeth then annually, with the provision for emergency treatment if needed, seems appropriate to me.

Last time I went for a check up I was told they only treat issues if there's repeated infections. So I haven't been back because it's a waste of money (we pay for nhs dentist appointments I think).

I have been told to rebook my kids in 6 months so it must vary ( nothing wrong with their teeth)

Children do still get free, regular dental appointments which include dietary advice & toothbrushing instruction, and fluoride varnish application, up to age 18.
The frequency of adult dental checks is based on need - if you don’t have lots of dental issues, you don’t need to be seen as often. If you have dental pain you can of course access a dentist.
And it’s not ‘Nicola Sturgeon’ who has suddenly decided this, there was an oral health action plan published by the Scottish Government, before the pandemic if I recall correctly, written by the Chief Dental Officer for Scotland, who is advised by a range of dental experts across Scotland, including dentists working in general dental practice.

I could live with that if it would mean I got an nhs dentist.been waiting about 5 years now.

There is a shortage of dentists in France too made worse by the fact that you can’t jump the queue by going private. Also many dentists are pretty basic here and I don’t think they have hygienists. And baguettes are notorious for chipping teeth.
Fortunately I have a good dentist here but he’s very busy and I had to have a temporary dressing for 2 months last year until he could fit me in for a filling, which turned into a root canal!
The up side is that my healthcare package means I get full reimbursement.

You don't go to your GP for a yearly "check up", you go when you have a medical issue. Why shouldn't the dentist be the same?

Because most of the time you can’t “feel” and cavity and if you leave a cavity too long without getting a filling then it grows to the point the tooth needs to be removed.

This happened to me. I put off going to the dentist for ages, had two cavities, one I could have a filling and the other the tooth had to be removed. I was very lucky it was a back tooth as if it had of been a middle one I’d have needed to pay for a replacement tooth which can cost over £2000 otherwise it would have looked awful.

It's a way of spreading the money they are prepared to spend on NHS Dentistry further. They commission services for 53% of the population and then say you are only eligible for one check up a year, hey presto in theory everyone gets a check up.
It won't work; lots of people have gum disease that needs monitoring and maintenance, children should really be seen regularly baby teeth decay quickly and we are monitoring developing bites. We already recall people at intervals approriate to their oral health but I'm not comfortable only seeing people every 2 years as we also carry out screening for cancer and other oral conditions. I often see basal cell carcinomas on people's scalps and ears that people are unaware of.
They are not putting any more money into NHS Dentistry just redistributing it.

I can't believe anyone is actually pretending this is being done for a genuine good reason! This cut to health provision is a step backwards.

You are very fortunate to have even one checkup a year with an NHS dentist. I've just moved to Cumbria and there is no adult NHS provision in the whole county. Tons of private dentists though, funny that.

In the USA they do an annual physical - bloods, blood pressure, etc.
Here, I suppose we do smears, mammograms, bowel cancer checks.

i was more concerned by reading that NHS fillings and crowns will be done by 'dental therapists' !
rather than fully qualified dental surgeons.
also to do x-rays, but that seems reasonable.

I appreciate you pay for healthcare in the USA but clearly there IS merit to generally screening rather than waiting for problems to crop up. In terms of minimising pain, even if not for saving money.

DD and I have a dentist at our practice who tells us to come back every 6 mths for a check up. DD is under 16 so don't know if this is why. It's an NHS dentist and I pay the small charge just for me each time. DH sees a different dentist at the same practice and he gets told to book his check ups every 12 mths??

I have a NHS dentist. Saw him two weeks ago and was asked to book my next appointment for 6 months. My children are allowed to wait a year between appointments, but they have perfect teeth. I had a notorious dentist who was well known for giving unnecessary fillings in the 1970s. Left my teeth buggered, but I don't get cavities, just problems with old fillings.

So some are still doing 6 monthly appointments.

You don't go to your GP for a yearly "check up", you go when you have a medical issue. Why shouldn't the dentist be the same?

And this is why the British have a reputation around the world for having awful teeth.

This attitude to teeth care is shocking.

Thank god for that I've never needed to go every 6 months but still have to. It's such a chore just to keep my nhs dentist to have to go so often.

Of course you get an annual medical check up. Are there many people who don't bother?

Leaving patients for 2 years is a bad idea. Oral cancer will be missed, as will early decay and any gum issues. I can understand 1 year for some patients, but 2 years is ridiculous.

Children do still get free, regular dental appointments which include dietary advice & toothbrushing instruction, and fluoride varnish application, up to age 18.
IF you can find an NHS dentist. My 11 month DD is just starting to teeth and then cannot find a dentist in my surrounding area who will even put her on the waiting list. I’ve not been able to find an NHS dentist in my area for 10 years. I just don’t go unless there is an emergency as I simply can’t afford it.

There's no free dental in England anyway unless you are on certain benefits/a child. I paid £20+ for a literally 5 mins check up, he had a wait room full and was seeing 8 people an hour