Does anyone know how long it takes to register with a new NHS dentist?

[user1471867483]

I emailed my completed forms over on Tuesday morning this week and I have heard nothing back. I’m already registered with an NHS dentist, but the dentist I had at the practice has left and the new one hasn’t examined me properly when I told him I had a niggling tooth. The new practice said they are taking new NHS patients on so I don't know if I need to wait longer or aren't they interested in taking me? TIA.

Just ring them and ask to make an appointment?

Could be as long as a piece of string? Maybe the receptionist is off? Maybe that practice has a procedure? Maybe your email went in their spam folder??

why don't you just ring them and ask?

Yes. I rang them and they said they'd received them and that they'd ring me, but they haven't 🤔

Well it's only Thursday?? Thursday morning at that! Give them another ring tomorrow

I think I'm pessimistic. The form asked me when I last attended a dentist (which was 02.12.2024) and I'm worried they think I should stick where I am.

Hasn’t been much time at all, give it until next week then ring and ask, they won’t care the dentist last visit was soon in terms of registration

Maybe they are waiting on references from the dentist, it's a business so they need to make money from you. If you've had too much of too little work perhaps you don't meet their patient profile. Either way, give it a few more days.

There is no such thing as registration on the NHS in England and Wales, you are only entitled to treatment whilst you are under a course of NHS treatment. The minute that finishes you are not entitled to another NHS appointment.

You will have been put on a waiting list for treatment and, depending on what the lists are like for the surgery , you will be waiting anything from a few weeks (very lucky indeed) to several years . You will only find out how long your wait will be by phoning the practice.