So we literally cannot find an NHS dentist, anywhere

[nodentist]

What do we do? Nowhere taking on adults for NHS since we’ve moved. On the website tool it says a few are, but when you call them it transpires they are taking on… for the 5 year long waiting list. People on local Facebook groups are mentioning that some practices are refusing to take on children on the NHS unless their parents are paying privately!

Does anyone know how to get around it? I’ve not seen a dentist in four years since just before COVID, and I know I probably need a filling and who knows what else treatment. I feel embarrassed about my teeth even though they don’t look bad.

I don't think there is a bats chance in hell of any government funding dentistry to the point where it's accessible to all comers on the NHS. I would start looking at dental plans.

Try looking into trainee dentists.

They are 4th year dentistry students and it’s free.

It can take ages and you will need to see them multiple times, but IMO it’s worth it.

My issue is trying to get a dentist for my DC who hasn’t seen one in 5 years and desperately needs to.

No NHS dentists in my area of South East London either. It's not that much more expensive to get a checkup at a private dentist - like £15 more but not crazy amounts. The majority of people I know have been forced to use private dentists as NHS dentistry basically non existent.

Just register with a private and find out about the costs - you still would have to pay for work (several hundreds) even if it was an NHS dentist so it might not make that much difference.

OP, I am in the same boat, no NHS dentist around even for children.
We are not registered anywhere.
Luckily every year when I am in Poland I m going private there (still cheaper than in UK).

recently 2 of my work colleagues had dental issues.
1 spent 8hours in A&E and had prescribed antibiotics and 2nd one waited several days before 111 found emergency dentist.

I also heard that if you have dental emergency the best time to call 111 is over the weekend because they have to find you a NHS dentist, and if its on weekdays you need to find it yourself. but not sure if thats entirely correct.

I moved to a London Borough where there wasn't a single NHS dentist. In 1992.

OP can you go "back" to your old dentist? I've done that before although it was only an hour away so not too onerous.

I think it's one of those areas where you have to manage your expectations - if you accept that you will have to pay to be seen privately, you can start comparing costs, payment plans and looking at your budget to see how you can cover it. It shouldn't be this way but it is.

I’m on Denplan and because I have poor teeth, it’s actually been less expensive than being a NHS patient so far - I get two checkups and two hygienist appointments included each year plus 10% off crowns and white fillings (which I had to pay in full for on the NHS if I wanted white crowns / fillings on my back teeth) for £15 a month.

I worked in a dental practice 1990-1993. There was a distinct shift towards private dentistry I saw in that window.

Private is not as bad as you'd think. I'd go on the waiting lists but then just get a check up privately in the meantime. Hygienist has always been private (in my experience anyway) even if your dentist is NHS.

You literally have no choice than to go private now.

Check out local private dentists, avoid BUPA and the like. Most now do insurance backed monthly dental plans from as little as £15 a month for basic cover, more for extensive cover.

Agreed. I remember our NHS dentist going private 25 years ago. This is a loooooooooong time in the making.

I have a NHS dentist im very very lucky to have one.
It is in a different town but only 20 mins on the train.
I think they are still taking on new people.
My sister found a NHS dentist a few weeks ago that by luck was taking on new people as well.
What part of the country are you in?

I saw a dentist on tv a while ago. He'd gone to volunteer for two weeks in a refugee camp in Jorden, he came back to Cornwall and said that people had easier and better access to dental care in this refugee camp than they did in the UK and something had to be done. His solution was to remove all working age adults from his NHS list so he could open spaces up to children and the elderly.

My husband has been on the list 3 years. I've been there 38 years, my siblings, mum and kids go there too. DH has been military nearly 22 years and I'm really worried as he retires next year and he won't have a dentist.

Go private. It's affordable if you don't have Sky/netflix/audible/takeaways etc. Mine is £25 a month and they treat the kids for free included in that. I get two free checkups and two free hygienist visits a year included in that and then obviously i pay for any work i need doing.

However they kind of make you have all the work done in the beginning so that after that, it's just maintenance.

I had a Ukrainian mum and child living with me for a while. Honestly, I was truly ashamed of the state of the country. Ukrainians here go back to Ukraine for heath and dental care that they can't get in the UK.
The UK is a democracy, why do we allow the entire country, including our own dental and healthcare, to fall into such a state.

Haven't been able to get an NHS dentist for 25 years. I'm on Denplan. It does mean that even though my children are NHS, they get more bells and whistles because of my plan. But it does cost me £48 a month as I have high risk teeth/gums.

sorry to hear this OP. If you’re in England, do you have a relative you see a couple of times a year in a part of the country with NHS spaces? Not ideal I appreciate, but maybe a workaround?

I’m in a part of London where it’s not too hard to find an NHS dentist (I found one last summer for my family) and imagine anyone from England could register here as I don’t believe there are dental catchments. Not sure about Wales though - where I’m aware there’s an acute shortage.

I know it’s a ridiculous system when I’m recommending domestic dental tourism!

join all the local facebook groups and just keep skim reading other posts. I found a dentist for dh and dd this way
is in Kent if thats any use to you? inbox me if TN postcode any use

Mine would only register my kids (5 years old) if I paid to go private. It’s £60 per check up plus around £50 for an X-ray, luckily I’ve not needed any work done. I go once a year and my kids twice

Waiting list in Cornwall is over 10 years long. My dentist just decided he wasn't doing NHS anymore. At least DD still had NHS through DH, for now.

I'm always curious scour people not having a dentist. I assume you moved area or your current dentist closed?

If you only needs one filling, the price for private dentist is manageable: NHS ~£70 (amalgam) VS Private ~ £150 - £180 (white composite)