Embarrassing dentist question - I've never been, need to go, no idea what I'm doing.

[Dentalthrow]

Hi,

Yeah.. So, as the subject says, I've never been as a child nor as an adult. I'm pretty sure I need a filling due to one tooth hurting when I eat anything sweet or particularly hot/cold, and really want/need treatment, plus the rest of my teeth looking over.

I have no idea what I'm doing. How do I register? I wouldn't qualify for free treatment but I'm also seeing NHS bands with pricing, which is confusing me. Can anyone get that pricing from an NHS dentist? I assume its a lot cheaper than private. Thank you anyone who can answer.

I'm too embarrassed to ask my DC's dentist these questions. I think they just assume I go elsewhere..

Please be gentle. I know it's gross, I'm trying to make a change.

You just need to make an appointment for a check up .

However finding an NHS dentist with space for new patients is nigh on impossible so be prepared to pay privately.

any local friends have good recommendations?

Is there a reason you can’t go to your child’s dentist? I wouldn’t be embarrassed at all. I hear it’s near impossible to find an NHS dentist for an adult though. In your situation I think you need to bite the bullet and just go to wherever you can get an appointment. Let the receptionist know you’ve never been to a dentist before and they will talk you through.

NHS dentists are becoming extinct. You'd be extremely lucky to register with one as an adult.

You call around dentists and ask if any are accepting NHS adult patients. In my area, it has taken 5.5years to find a dental practice accepting new NHS patients.

Unlike GPs there is no catchment area for dentists so you can ask any if they have space.

It's next to impossible to get a nhs dentist. You'd need to go private and book a check up and go from there.

Check if your DC dental surgery is taking on new NHS patients. All NHS dental patients pay the same NHS banding prices, basic treatment is charged at the cheapest rate. Treatment can be free if you claim certain benefits.

Good job on getting it sorted

Do you have any holidays booked?

Go abroad. It will be a fraction of the price.

If you are at home go to your local dentist and ask if you can register. In my experience, if you phone, you'll get an answering machine and they won't necessarily call you back.

I wouldn't recommend going abroad.

Thanks everyone. I rang my DC's dentist and I have my first appointment tomorrow 🤞

You've got two options

1. go private. This is straightforward you just ring up your local dentist and ask if you can be seen as a new patient privately. It might be worth chatting to some friends to get recommendations for dentists in your area

2. attempt to get NHS treatment . NHS treatment will be cheaper and is paid for with a banding structure, so your course of treatment will either be band 1, 2 or 3. But NHS treatment is very difficult to come by right now. You will need to contact lots of practices and see if any are taking on NHS patients.

Don't go abroad. That's stupid advise. You need regular check ups and you can't go on holiday every 6 months, and it will be good to build a relationship with one dentist if you do end up needing treatment.

When you go for your check up let the dentist know you've never been. It's very common and they will be able to help you and talk you through whats happening at each stage

Cross Post there OP, good luck with your appointment!

I wouldn't recommend this for someone who's never been to the dentist before. She's doing something new and unfamiliar as it is, no need to add being abroad to it.

Besides which, there's no obligation to get any treatment done straight away (and dentists almost always schedule a separate appointment for any treatment that needs doing), so even if it did turn out OP needed something expensive doing, she could just pay the checkup fee, decline treatment in the UK and go abroad for it. Not that I'd recommend that either, unless money is very tight, because something expensive is also something that's likely to need follow-up or which might have complications, which can be a nuisance if you've had the work done abroad.

OP: if you can find an NHS dentist, you register with them and pay according to the NHS fee list, unless you qualify for free treatment. If you can only get a private dentist, it's really simple and they want to make it easy for you so you can give them money — you call or email or use the webform or whatever, and ask for a new patient checkup. Depending where you are the cost might vary but it's in the region of £50–£100 where I am. They'll want to take x-rays to establish a baseline, which will probably be included in the higher cost of a new patient checkup, but they might need to take additional ones which could cost more.

Thank you! The dentist has a sign outside saying they were looking for new NHS patients, so it was worth a call to see if it was including adults. Thankfully it was! I didn't realise how rare they were.

I think I'd built it in my head into something so big and scary. Relieved it's done now, though.

Oh I took too long to type that Good luck OP — it'll be okay. Be prepared for it to feel a bit weird having to hold your mouth open for longer than you're used to…

If your dentist is anything like mine @Dentalthrow , she'll be lovely.
Ask questions if you don't understand, and if you are worried about cost, ask upfront. If they suggest a treatment, ask about any alternatives etc.

I've gone regularly to the dentist all my life and have rubbish teeth.

Let them know that you haven't been before. They aren't judgemental, most dentists see it as part of the job to help nervous patients.

Phone DC;s dentist and explain. Ask if they will see you. and make an appointment.

If they arent taking new NHS patients, ask them to recommend a local dentist with a good dental plan service.

Glad you got it sorted OP.. I think some areas have more availability than others (where I live is terrible for GP’s, but easy enough to find an NHS dentist).

You are seriously lucky to have found an nhs dentist and with such a quick appointment

You will be fine, they will check all of your teeth and take X-rays and if you need a filling they would normally do it at the next appointment.

You will be totally fine, it's nothing to worry about.

Well done getting it sorted.

They had a cancellation for tomorrow at 11. It means having to miss a few hrs of work, but the receptionist advised that otherwise it'd be mid-late Jan.

Thank you for the responses 😊

That's lucky, was obviously meant to be. I hope all goes well for you.

Make sure you tell them, @Dentalthrow . They need to know that you are less familiar with what to expect.

How did you get on at your appointment @Dentalthrow ? I hope all went well for you.