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Original poster

So we literally cannot find an NHS dentist, anywhere

237 replies

nodentist · 14/10/2023 12:14

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.

OP posts:
kitsuneghost · 14/10/2023 13:40

You could try further afield but it is unlikely. Think you will need to go private.
My dentist is miles away cause when I moved house I knew I wouldn't get another NHS.

kitsuneghost · 14/10/2023 13:43

looking4pup · 14/10/2023 13:40

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

Yes, people move a lot more for work nowadays
Less and less people are born, brought up and stay in the same town all their lives.

Pleasedontdoit2023 · 14/10/2023 13:47

I was saying only yesterday that this younger generate going’s to have similar teeth to now the very aging population who didn’t get NHS care as a child!!Bloody shocking. I am paying to take my three year old granddaughter to my dentist because there aren’t any other options.
How are less wealthy people going to pay for healthy dental health?
Obviously diet and teeth cleaning helps but many people are genetically more inclined to have dental problems! ie my husband and daughter,2 sons have always had great dental health despite identical diet and hygiene.

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Dental health General health
cocksstrideintheevening · 14/10/2023 13:48

I haven't been able to get an nhs dentist since I was 18. In 1997.

greengreengrass25 · 14/10/2023 13:48

VeridicalVagabond · 14/10/2023 12:27

Get on as many waiting lists as you can and hope for the best. Go private if you can afford to, lots offer plans that aren't too pricey.

I will cling on to my NHS dentist till he retires, I've literally chosen not to move to another part of the country because I don't want to lose him. My husband has joked that if it came down to it he thinks I'd choose the dentist over him.

I'm thinking the same

We have a good NHS dentist

GCAcademic · 14/10/2023 13:50

looking4pup · 14/10/2023 13:40

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

I was registered with a practice which decided to stop doing NHS work. There was no other practice accepting NHS patients in the city I lived in at that time, and I was a student so couldn’t afford to pay for private dental care. This was circa 2003, so under a Labour government (for those saying it will be better under Labour).

Snugglemonkey · 14/10/2023 13:54

SlipSlidinAway · 14/10/2023 12:27

Only way to get round it is make sure Labour wins the next General Election. In the short term you'll probably need to pay for private dental care I'm afraid.

That just is not true sadly. Labour could be in power the next 20 years and they will not fix nhs dentistry. They have no solid plan to do so. Nhs dentistry has been in trouble for many years, with neither party prioritising it.

Lancrelady80 · 14/10/2023 13:57

starfall1 · 14/10/2023 13:40

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

That's more than double the cost, though!

So many threads and worries about the cost of living and people having £20 to last the month out, yet here we are having to say more than double NHS is affordable. £70 on the NHS is really hard for a lot of people.

I actually think dentists have got themselves into a good position. Not only are they getting the money from private patients, but everyone is so terrified of not having any dentist at all that we're hanging on to them and going for unnecessary appointments we pay for just so we don't get booted off their books! (Annual check ups down to 6 monthly despite no problems etc as mentioned by pp.)

MumblesParty · 14/10/2023 13:58

SlipSlidinAway · 14/10/2023 12:27

Only way to get round it is make sure Labour wins the next General Election. In the short term you'll probably need to pay for private dental care I'm afraid.

How will labour fix this?

Readinstead · 14/10/2023 13:58

I have been with the same nhs dental practice since mid 1990's (moved when previous dentist went private and I didn't like his replacement). My dgs were signed up to the practice at their dm's first check up following their birth but dgd has been on their waiting list since shortly after her birth 2 years ago. She has recently her first check up but with a new dentist to the practice - not the one who sees the rest if us.
The practice has several surgeries and when I checked the website a couple of weeks ago most of them were accepting new nhs patients (West Midlands area) but when son-in-law needed urgent dental work earlier this year none of the practices would even add him to their waiting lists and he had to go 111 then dental hospital route. He has since managed to find an nhs dentist, who only opens 1 day per week - so it is a long wait for an appointment!

greengreengrass25 · 14/10/2023 14:00

The NHS check ups are £25 and now the dentist doesn't necessarily clean your teeth which used to happen before lockdown

Shadowboy · 14/10/2023 14:04

I haven’t seen a dentist since 2012. Kids were on a plan but the dentist no longer accepts it so…..
no NHS dentist wishing 40miles

muddyford · 14/10/2023 14:10

I am planning a 300 mile house move, but intend to keep my dentist. I'll use a bed and breakfast.

Validus · 14/10/2023 14:12

SlipSlidinAway · 14/10/2023 12:27

Only way to get round it is make sure Labour wins the next General Election. In the short term you'll probably need to pay for private dental care I'm afraid.

The NHS dearth of dentists has been going on a lot longer than 13 years. It was becoming a problem in the Labour government. So I doubt voting Labour will help With this one - the only solution they had was to get teachers to teach toothbrush if on top of everything else…

ichundich · 14/10/2023 14:12

This is why so many people in Britain have awful teeth. If you can afford it, go private. I used NHS dentists during pregnancy and maternity and tbh the care was substandard / second-class compared with my lovely Spire dentist.

Vinrouge4 · 14/10/2023 14:15

Fifthtimelucky · 14/10/2023 12:44

I agree. There are no NHS dentists anywhere near me and haven't been for years.

I was pregnant when we moved here, so entitled to free dental treatment. However, I wasn't able to find anywhere that would accept me as an NHS patient. That was in 1999!

Under Tony Blair then. Not just the Tories then.

Caterina99 · 14/10/2023 14:15

Literally no nhs dentists in our area taking new patients. In fact one just closed down its nhs side, so there’s now 1000 nhs patients scrabbling for a new dentist in our town, which in reality is either not having one or going private.

We are fortunate we can afford to go private. Even that took a while to find. I’ve lived in this area for 2 years and got a phonecall the other week from a dentist saying I’d reaching the top of the (private) queue. That’s only the second practice to phone me, and I registered with them all (about 5 locally) when we moved. Thankfully the one we are with took on a new dentist and opened up their list so we got in about 18m ago.

Vinrouge4 · 14/10/2023 14:18

OP, do sign up with as many as you can. I did this and was really surprised to get a call within a few weeks. The practice said they had been given extra funding to take on more NHS patients so you never know.

shoeawsome · 14/10/2023 14:19

I do Denplan & have done for about 20 years. I struggled to find an NHS dentist but have had so many problems with my teeth.

It's quite good, I've had treatment when away from home, it even covers you abroad.

I understand it's hard to find the money, when everything is so expensive but honestly it's so important to look after your teeth.

Original poster
nodentist · 14/10/2023 14:32

Thank you, I’ll sign up to more. We’re in Yorkshire but thank you for all the suggestions.

OP posts:
RaininSummer · 14/10/2023 14:33

Been waiting at least 6 years for an NHS dentist. Not going to happen for most of us

SlipSlidinAway · 14/10/2023 14:38

@MumblesParty - here you go:

labour.org.uk/updates/stories/just-announced-back-labours-plan-to-rescue-nhs-dentistry/

Of course it won't be easy.

Silverdogblue · 14/10/2023 14:38

Handsnotwands · 14/10/2023 12:48

I do have an NHS dentist. I know I’m v lucky. But I do have to go every 6 months to stay on the list. It’s around £20 a checkup. For me 6 monthly checkups are unnecessary. Once a year would be ample. So if you can get a private one like the poster up thread who pays £48 and go once a year it’s not much difference (unless you need treatment I guess)

it bugs me though. My dentist could see twice as many people if they didn’t insist on 6 monthly checkups

They would lose money if they took on new patients, the only thing that will be balancing their books is having an existing list of low need patients. This is the contract imposed by the labour government which we told them again and again, wouldn’t work. Amazingly, it hasn’t worked.

AdoraBell · 14/10/2023 14:39

Same here, Somerset. Luckily I registered with a dentist, myself and DDs. DH decided to register with a different one, 5 minutes closer to home. They closed and now he can’t find a dentist.

Cas112 · 14/10/2023 14:41

You can't really do much but go private

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