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Original poster

What do you do if there are no NHS dentists?

69 replies

CakeCrumbs44 · 03/12/2022 22:41

Evening all
This may be a stupid question but none of the NHS dentists in my area are taking on new patients. What do I do? I need a dentist for myself and my two kids, just for regular check ups. If we go private, do I have to have some sort of dental insurance or do you just pay as you go?

OP posts:
AccioChocolate · 03/12/2022 22:43

Payment plan or pay as you go. First call around and check they won't take the children as NHS if you pay privately for parents. Some will even if not advertised.

CornishGem1975 · 03/12/2022 22:46

Pay as you go private. I've actually found just for regular check-ups etc private was no more expensive.

My private dentist used to cost me £50 every 6 months - that was a checkup, any x-rays, and a good scrape and polish - used to be in there a good 30 mins or more. Now NHS I have to pay to see the dentist for about 5 minutes, pay for any x-rays and if I want my teeth cleaned I then have to pay to see the hygienist at a separate appointment and it works out more. Have to say after switching to NHS I felt a bit conned!

Where it pays off is when you need loads of treatments, but private dentists have payment plans that you can use.

blackalert · 03/12/2022 22:46

Pay as you go. All surgeries round here have closed their NHS services (adults and kids). It costs nearly £300 for 2 adults / 2 children to go for check up alone. I don't know anyone who goes anymore as no one can afford it 🤷‍♀️

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Dental health
Original poster
CakeCrumbs44 · 03/12/2022 22:52

AccioChocolate · 03/12/2022 22:43

Payment plan or pay as you go. First call around and check they won't take the children as NHS if you pay privately for parents. Some will even if not advertised.

Thank you that's a good tip!

OP posts:
Original poster
CakeCrumbs44 · 03/12/2022 22:52

blackalert · 03/12/2022 22:46

Pay as you go. All surgeries round here have closed their NHS services (adults and kids). It costs nearly £300 for 2 adults / 2 children to go for check up alone. I don't know anyone who goes anymore as no one can afford it 🤷‍♀️

Yes I just looked at our nearest one and it's £70 for an adult check up

OP posts:
Original poster
CakeCrumbs44 · 03/12/2022 22:54

I have always felt the NHS one was a bit of a rip off at over £20 for barely 5 minutes of their time. But it's quite a big price hike to £70 for a checkup 😬

OP posts:
LidlCinnamonBun · 03/12/2022 22:54

There’s a 10 year wait for a NHS dentist so the only option is to pay privately sadly it’s too expensive for most people.

SheWoreYellow · 03/12/2022 22:55

LidlCinnamonBun · 03/12/2022 22:54

There’s a 10 year wait for a NHS dentist so the only option is to pay privately sadly it’s too expensive for most people.

Not everywhere.

MarmiteCoriander · 03/12/2022 22:56

Could you continue to go to your previous dentist? We are doing this! Ridiculous to drive ALL the miles we are doing- but its only every 6mths and worth it IMO.

Original poster
CakeCrumbs44 · 03/12/2022 23:00

MarmiteCoriander · 03/12/2022 22:56

Could you continue to go to your previous dentist? We are doing this! Ridiculous to drive ALL the miles we are doing- but its only every 6mths and worth it IMO.

No I was kicked off their list because I waited too long between appointments (apparently if you don't go for 12 months you lose your space)

OP posts:
Original poster
CakeCrumbs44 · 03/12/2022 23:01

LidlCinnamonBun · 03/12/2022 22:54

There’s a 10 year wait for a NHS dentist so the only option is to pay privately sadly it’s too expensive for most people.

10 years is mental. They might as well just do away with NHS dentists altogether!

OP posts:
LidlCinnamonBun · 03/12/2022 23:05

My friend who is a single mum with a disabled daughter pulled her own wobbly tooth out, got a raging temperature and headache etc and had to wait in A&E for 13 hours. By then her face and neck was swollen up so much.
So I guess we pretty much have done away with them in this area 😔

Ihatethenewlook · 03/12/2022 23:06

CakeCrumbs44 · 03/12/2022 23:00

No I was kicked off their list because I waited too long between appointments (apparently if you don't go for 12 months you lose your space)

Show quote history

Mine did this to me. They refused to give me an appointment during Covid and then kicked me off their books because I didn’t have an appointment for a year, because they wouldn’t bloody give me one 😡 I had to go for a blood test in hospital as I’m in so much pain I’m accidentally overdosing on painkillers

Silkierabbit · 03/12/2022 23:28

Had to go private during cancer treatment as needed one pre chemo. Do pay as you go. But the dentist was so kind and lovely and spent an hour with me for the £54 going through all the cancer things and did a check up and x-rays and gave me extra strong fluoride toothpaste prescription which helped my teeth. Then had 2 fillings which could get white so can't see and much better though those where £120 each, ouch. Just had a clean with them and they said teeth have survived chemo well much better than average and think that's thanks to private dentist tips. Clean was £60. NHS does not exist around here if you have fallen off list. Though mine said he would take my kids on NHS. Apparently mouth cancer rates are up a lot thanks to this amazing policy of making NHS dentists almost impossible to get.

CornishGem1975 · 03/12/2022 23:46

Not sure that's entirely true @LidlCinnamonBun I only moved to an NHS dentist in January 2021, during lockdown.

LidlCinnamonBun · 04/12/2022 07:46

Both me and her were told the same thing by dentists. That’s how she ended up in such a bad state, she couldn’t get an NHS one (tried ringing around all over to find one) and couldn’t afford private.
I have an NHS dentist but other than for check ups he’s so crap. I asked them if they had space for her and they said 10 years wait. I also asked my private dentist and she said it’s true. .
My private dentist said the only thing that they can do is to offer payment plans but obviously due to the cost of living crisis people can’t afford monthly payments either.
Its a mess!
Someone else I know didn’t change the address at their NHS dentist when they moved so they could keep him. They drive 4 hours there and 4 hours back each time rather then lose him.

Choppies · 04/12/2022 07:51

Please write to MPs about this situation - they’re the only ones who can change anything. But yes you’ll have to pay privately - the NHS only funds enough dentistry for 40% of the population so it’s impossible to square that circle and for everyone to be able to see an NHS dentist

Plmoknijbuhv · 04/12/2022 07:53

Would suggest ringing round your local private dentists and ask about costs as will vary. Our private dentist is £35 for checkup and children have free checkups if both parents registered. Only marginally more than nhs.

TomTraubertsBlues · 04/12/2022 07:53

I pay as I go. It's extortionate, but I need dental care.

LidlCinnamonBun · 04/12/2022 07:55

I thing people will die - from infections they can’t afford to treat or from mouth cancers. It’s SO scary.

AWaferThinMint · 04/12/2022 07:55

I have a payment plan with a private dentist.

Lovelydovey · 04/12/2022 07:55

Our private dentist does free children’s checkups with an adult paying checkup. So I pay £58 for me (including scale and polish for me) and the children to be checked over.

I have to pay additionally for any other treatment - but it’s not unreasonable. Scale and polish for children is £29 each, removal of baby teeth was £35 each.

We also have private dental insurance (through my employer).

LidlCinnamonBun · 04/12/2022 07:55

typo - I THINK

comfortablyfrumpy · 04/12/2022 08:02

Mine has stopped doing NHS so I am now having to pay £16 a month each on a plan to get 2 x check ups and 2 x hygienist apps a year.

I think I need a filling redoing but it is going to have to wait as I just can't afford it.

boboshmobo · 04/12/2022 08:13

Get a dental plan , you pay up front monthly like private medical insurance.

I do think it's shocking the division for dentists where sone get it and some don't !

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