Dentist going Private

[dottiedodah]

Ok so lifelong fear of the Dentist .At a really good NHS one ATM.My chap has written to say hes going private.Can see others there that are NHS ,but not good avaliability .Can go with a plan which I can afford .However not really sure what to do.I imagine the cost of any treatment will be expensive outside regular check ups . YABU pay up and keep him YANBU stay with the practice and stay NHS.

Yanbu. I hate it when dentists do this. Fair enough when they move away and set up a new practice or move to a private practice, but one in our practice did this when the one of the dentists was on maternity leave and they were struggling to recruit nhs dentists.
I’ve stayed nhs although have been referred to private for specialist work. Practice has since taken on another nhs dentist and she’s lovely.

SpringSparrow I know! I really like this guy.However I have had a few since there and to be fair all good.Had bad experience as a child and feel nervous .What also worries me if I dont get such quick help if transfer to another ,(Although no issues in the past!)

It is worth checking what the plan covers? I have Denplan which covers me for all checkups, fillings root canals etc. The only thing I pay for is lab work, e.g. crowns. Everthing else is covered even the hour appointments for fit crowns.

It also covers emergency care when travelling.

Thanks I will have a look .Really annoying as comfortable there and as I say worried about future access.Oh to have a free NHS properly funded!

We've been through exactly this. DH reports the new young chap we transferred to within the same practice to remain NHS was excellent. It might be OK! I'd give it a go at least, you can always swap back and go private if you don't like them.

Rayna37 Thank you .As I say I have had a few since there .But I was worried about the Access to the NHS dentists now. So as you say a new Dentist could hopefully be as good (as in the past) but will I get help as quickly?(Or maybe just to alarm me ,I dont know)

I'd go with private but others may feel differently. If limited availability means I cannot get an appointment when I really need it, I'd rather pay for the security of knowing I will be seen and treated. Especially if you already know this dentist and he is good.

Do you require a lot of treatment normally? It’s impossible to find nhs dentist where I live, so I had no choice. I go for check up twice a year, so it doesn’t really cost me much, around 60-70 quid. I worked for nhs dentist and waiting time was awful. 2-3 months for filling.

xogossipgirlxo Yes ,you see if its say a couple of times a year, (and he has sent me a plan with 2 check ups and hygeinist appts for about £15.00 pm) .However a while back I opted for sedation, and this was £60.00 including check up /filling etc .Private about £800.00! so I am worried about whether I could still have this if I needed to .(Nervous patient)I may have to call and check i think

The other thing that was really sneaky when our dentist practice was struggling to recruit nhs dentists and the one remaining dentist decided to go private and wrote to all his patients offering a private service. It said in small print that if you went private you wouldn’t be able to register as a national health patient in the future! So maybe check that you wouldn’t be throwing away your entitlement to nhs treatment if you keep with your old dentist.

SpringSparrow Yes thank you ,Youre right .I think I may call them and find out more .A couple more left a while back ,and I was sent a note to confirm I had a new dentist to see.I guess this one is staying .I was just worried about wait times .Wonder if hes trying to scare me!