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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:
Cathpot · 15/10/2023 14:04

We are in the southwest and our dental practice lost all its dentist at the start of covid. They may or may not have one starting this November, they will only be seeing the worst of the backlog cases and they are unlikely to still be NHS.

I’ve been in to see the hygienist who still works there and the poor receptionist spends her whole day answering the phone and handing out emergency numbers to try if people sound bad enough. A colleague at work was told to file a broken tooth down herself in a statement that would be amusingly medieval if it wasn’t so worrying.

The kids and myself have gone from check ups every 6 months to not seeing anyone for years. My youngest needed braces so we went to a private clinic for that and somehow the orthodontist managed to refer DD to the local NHS hospital for the 2 teeth she had to get removed. One was a disintegrating retained baby tooth so maybe that was a factor in getting seen?I have no idea how the system works or is supposed to work.

For myself and my eldest I’m paying for an annual hygienist visit just so someone has looked at our teeth.

Katrinawaves · 15/10/2023 14:05

43ontherocksporfavor · 15/10/2023 13:47

Why does anyone need two hygenist visits a year?

I have 3 - paid privately. I have a small mouth and my teeth are close together which makes it hard to floss properly. I would have qualified for orthodontic treatment as a child but my parents didn’t prioritise dental check ups for me so that was never picked up and as an adult to correct some of the structural problems would require major surgery so I make do with as good dental hygiene as I can manage and regular hygienist appointments. I’ve only got 2 fillings and never had any other problems so it’s clearly working.

My kids who have the same genetic jaw issue have all had orthodontic treatment in their early teens to force their jaw into the correct position and braces to widen their bite and create space between their teeth.

MrsWombat · 15/10/2023 14:43

I'm guessing travelling back to your original NHS dentist isn't worth it?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Dental health General health
Noodge · 15/10/2023 14:52

@Janey331 I'm surprised at the prices people are saying on this thread too, regarding private density. A root canal, temp filling and eventual crown has just cost me nearly £2,000. Not sure what it'd cost on the NHS.

StormzyintheSW · 15/10/2023 14:56

I remember this in the 90s.

Do you have any affordable dentists? Our private dentist is just a fraction higher than NHS.

SlipSlidinAway · 15/10/2023 15:00

StormzyintheSW · 15/10/2023 14:56

I remember this in the 90s.

Do you have any affordable dentists? Our private dentist is just a fraction higher than NHS.

Was it really as bad in the 90s as it is now? I moved around quite a bit in the 90s and never had any difficulty registering as an NHS patient with a local dentist.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 15/10/2023 15:13

The NHS dentist we registered with 20 years ago went private (virtually forced to sign to Denplan on the spot - there was a woman who worked for Denplan sitting in a backroom with all the paperwork and pen ready to give you to sign) but the care was still second class really so I switched to a "proper" private practice which was fancier (air con in the waiting room etc) and the care is much better. It is more expensive though than the ex-NHS private one.

But you know what, even my "posh" private practice are getting full now.

I don't know what people are supposed to do. I'm now starting to see evidence of some colleagues and friends on low incomes basically with big gaps in their mouths where they've lost teeth. I assume they haven't been able to afford a dentist and the teeth has had to be removed.

NHS orthontistry also shocking now. I have an almost 20 year old away at university. He was put on the NHS orthodontics list YEARS ago, finally saw someone in 2019. He needs specialist treatment at the dental hospital and it's honestly been so slow, COVID did not help. He is STILL wearing a brace and now the orthodontist that was treating him as finished all his training and moved on and they haven't assigned him a replacement yet. His last appointment was 7 week ago and there's no sign of another one being made for him. We have to drive down to Cambridge from Liverpool and back in a day when he DOES have an appointment during university term time. But it's something we're prepared to do just so that he can complete his treatment. But it's taking years. His younger brother (also at the dental hospital) was first seen after him and is in retainers now.

Mumski45 · 15/10/2023 15:20

DontBeAPrickDarren · 15/10/2023 09:16

Dentistry is now under the control of local ICBs rather than NHS England - have you complained to the ICB locally about the lack of access OP?

I don't think local ICB's have the ability to change the dentist contracts which is what is causing the problem and making most dentist go private. Funding allocated for dentistry is being under used as no one will take on the work.

BastetsWhiskers · 15/10/2023 15:43

NHS treatment for teeth is being phased out.

I'm lucky enough to have a year's free treatment with a dental hospital (so if you have one near you, do it) but after that, not sure what to do. It used to be a standard growing up so does feel like a weird change.

mumda · 15/10/2023 15:47

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.

What are their plans for resolving the major crisis in dentistry?

Jurassicpark1234 · 15/10/2023 15:49

Not sure where you live but my local dentist in London takes NHS patients - where are you based?

Runnerduck34 · 15/10/2023 15:53

My mum is registered at my nhs dentist, 50 miles away from her home. She goes when she visits me.
Can you travel? its only once or twice a year- not ideal I know.
Other than that go on as many nhs dentist waiting lists as you can and if you can afford it go private in meantime.
It is very sad nhs denitstry is so hard to get.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 15/10/2023 15:59

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

Theres the issue, I'm private with Denplan which isn't too bad, but needed a filling which cost £150. Its a good incentive to look after my teeth I guess.

Silverdogblue · 15/10/2023 17:14

Mumski45 · 15/10/2023 15:20

I don't think local ICB's have the ability to change the dentist contracts which is what is causing the problem and making most dentist go private. Funding allocated for dentistry is being under used as no one will take on the work.

Show quote history

They can change funding allocations which could
lead to more contracts/higher contract value but they can’t change the ludicrous nature of UDAs and clawback.

MidnightMeltdown · 15/10/2023 17:25

43ontherocksporfavor · 15/10/2023 12:43

Private is not realistic for most people. £25 pm for something that costs £25 per annum is a massive outlay for families. £50pm for the adults!

Private isn't realistic for some people. I wouldn't say 'most'.

Most people spend £25 pm on things like tv/streaming/sky etc. Most people go on holidays every year, buy takeaways, alcohol, spend on going out etc.

It's not the case that they can't afford it, it's about priorities. Yes there are some people who can't afford anything except rent and compulsory bills, but I wouldn't say that this applies to most people.

SlipSlidinAway · 15/10/2023 18:13

@mumda - I've already posted a link on this thread to Labour's plans for dentistry.

Freysimo · 15/10/2023 18:24

43ontherocksporfavor · 15/10/2023 13:47

Why does anyone need two hygenist visits a year?

If you have gum disease as I do, it's a necessity. Most NHS dentists don't 'clean and polish' now. I see my hygienist three times a year and she's done more to help me keep my teeth than any dentist!

NamechangeForthisquestion1 · 15/10/2023 18:43

It's a nightmare. After several days calling around, I found an NHS dentist, it's a 3 hour journey. The practice is great and it gets very good reviews. Having a filling done there so will see how it goes.

It annoys me when people say most problems are preventable. I don't agree, some people just have issues with their teeth - I have had issues since childhood. I do everything I can, brush x3 per day, mouthwash and interdental brushes and my teeth are still crap. I think genetics must play a part.

Mukey · 15/10/2023 19:05

Noodge · 15/10/2023 10:31

I go private and have never had an NHS dentist as an adult. I simply do not trust the NHS with my mouth following some awful experiences as a child and how they filled teeth unnecessarily etc) and don't like pain (the syringe method was invented during the reign of George the 5th and we shouldn't still need it)!

It's expensive and I'm far from well off, but I budget for it because it is worth it. Probably snobby of me but there you go.

What is the "syringe method"? Do you mean giving local anaesthetic?

Mukey · 15/10/2023 19:08

43ontherocksporfavor · 15/10/2023 13:47

Why does anyone need two hygenist visits a year?

For the majority of people if they actually looked after their teeth they wouldn't. But for a huge majority of people it's because they don't clean their teeth well enough. So they have loads of plaque and calculus build up all over their teeth.
For others they have gum disease. This can be caused by poor oral hygiene or in other cases it can be genetic. Quite frankly either way if people have gum disease and want to at least try and save their teeth they'll need "deep cleaning" (not the official dental terminology but what people understand better). And often they will need maintenance appointments after this every 3 months quite possibly forever.

SlipSlidinAway · 15/10/2023 19:10

It annoys me when people say most problems are preventable. I don't agree, some people just have issues with their teeth - I have had issues since childhood. I do everything I can, brush x3 per day, mouthwash and interdental brushes and my teeth are still crap. I think genetics must play a part.

Totally agree. One of my dcs had no enamel on his baby molars so some had to be extracted due to decay. Another needed adult teeth extracted due to overcrowding and a brace fitted. Now as an adult he occasionally has issues with his retainer. Another has had a front tooth broken playing sport and has had to have several repairs. My dentist thinks I grind my teeth which is causing additional damage to them. I have impacted wisdom teeth and had to have one removed last year. None of these issues was preventable.

None of my adult children have fillings but believe me they've had their share of sugar and fizzy drinks. But they're fortunate enough to live in an era of fluoride in water. Our dentist also put fissure sealant on their adult molars.

I don't think water routinely had fluoride added when I was a child. My parents also didn't supervise teeth cleaning. My childhood dentist drilled indiscriminately (as an adult a dentist told me that it was better to monitor the first signs of decay rather than reach for the drill as teeth could often remineralise). I now have a mouthful of fillings which have weakened my teeth so they break from time to time. I also have a number of crowns. I'm fortunate to be able to pay for a private dentist. But it fills me with horror that others can't.

Noodge · 15/10/2023 19:13

@Mukey yes, both private dentists I've been to don't do injections into the mouth.

greengreengrass25 · 15/10/2023 19:14

It feels like we are going backwards

Original poster
nodentist · 15/10/2023 19:46

Jurassicpark1234 · 15/10/2023 15:49

Not sure where you live but my local dentist in London takes NHS patients - where are you based?

Yorkshire

OP posts:
Original poster
nodentist · 15/10/2023 19:46

SlipSlidinAway · 15/10/2023 19:10

It annoys me when people say most problems are preventable. I don't agree, some people just have issues with their teeth - I have had issues since childhood. I do everything I can, brush x3 per day, mouthwash and interdental brushes and my teeth are still crap. I think genetics must play a part.

Totally agree. One of my dcs had no enamel on his baby molars so some had to be extracted due to decay. Another needed adult teeth extracted due to overcrowding and a brace fitted. Now as an adult he occasionally has issues with his retainer. Another has had a front tooth broken playing sport and has had to have several repairs. My dentist thinks I grind my teeth which is causing additional damage to them. I have impacted wisdom teeth and had to have one removed last year. None of these issues was preventable.

None of my adult children have fillings but believe me they've had their share of sugar and fizzy drinks. But they're fortunate enough to live in an era of fluoride in water. Our dentist also put fissure sealant on their adult molars.

I don't think water routinely had fluoride added when I was a child. My parents also didn't supervise teeth cleaning. My childhood dentist drilled indiscriminately (as an adult a dentist told me that it was better to monitor the first signs of decay rather than reach for the drill as teeth could often remineralise). I now have a mouthful of fillings which have weakened my teeth so they break from time to time. I also have a number of crowns. I'm fortunate to be able to pay for a private dentist. But it fills me with horror that others can't.

Absolutely agree with both! Genetics must play a part. I feel dentists are so judgy as well or they can be anyway

OP posts: