Why no dentistry like Specsavers option?

[MegCleary]

DH was musing last night why there are no ‘dentistry chains’ like spec savers? Medical qualification needed. Free under 18, serious health benefits when correct and risks when not checked (sight loss verses dental pain and tooth loss)
what have we missed, why is it not a thing?

Brilliant idea! Get yourself on Dragon’s Den.

I have just read that back and, somehow, it sounds sarcastic and snippy, I mean it it all seriousness. I hate my dentist but no others are taking on patients. I love the idea of a chain.

Funnily enough, we were in Specsavers yesterday and I thought exactly the same thing!

Which dentists are unemployed right now waiting to be employed by a chain?

The optician model relies of sales of frames to subsidise the medical part of the practice. So people spend 100 on a frame that cost 20p to buy but it means that a medical appointment that should have cost 120 was much less.

On the surface it's a good idea, but I suspect some dentists will be along shortly to explain why it can't happen.

Maybe because dental care is a bit more complicated?

Ours is now part of a huge chain called my dentist. Seen them when I'm on holiday too so think they're relatively huge

I think some are? My old dentist became part of “mydentist.”

We have one like that near us, they are around but not as big as spec savers

That is an excellent point

That was for @AntlerRose about the sales aspect

There is. Its called MyDentist

There are!
portman/ rodericks /my dentist and plenty of others are a national ‘chain’ (or a corporate dentist )
plus a lot of dentists have two or even three practices owned by the same people
not nhs tho

My private dentist sees under-18s free. I assumed that was common.

All under 18s are treated free under NHS guidelines.We are part of "My Dentist".They are very good .NHS with options for private work as well

There is

Mydentist and Bupa dental.

They are still expensive

Ah none of that in Norfolk from what I can see and yes, my under 18’s are seen for free by dentist, but no dentist to see them.

@anotherpotoftea you pay privately and your children are seen for free by private dentist?

Yes same here.

They are only allowed on the books if the parent is on the books. But under 18 they are treated free.

My dentist became part of Bupa but we were assured they would keep NHS patients. After seeing a different dentist every time I went they now have no NHS dentist and say they are struggling to recruit one .I will have to pay private if I need treatment. It just seems like privatisation by the back door which I suspected would happen when BUPA took over . Their business is private healthcare. Sadly there are no other NHS dentists with space. The dentist said he was happy working for the NHS until the government changed how they got paid so maybe they have the solution in their hands .

My private dentist charges £8 a month for a 3 year old 😞

Yes this is how it works for me.

This is where I go too. I'm in the 'MyOptions' er option!! It's private but cheaper. They've always been very good to be honest

Me as well. Private dentists are happy to do the NHS paper pushing for children.

If that includes the dental hygienist, that’s a good price.

I have often wondered this. I also thought that cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics could cross subsidise routine care.