If you have no access to NHS dentistry, what do you do?

[applegatebanana]

I live in a region with no NHS dentistry. There's no waiting lists to sit on etc. no dental hospitals. No NHS input for children etc. there just isn't any NHS dentists any more - you can get emergency input if you fit the criteria but it's just a patch up job until you see a proper dentist. We were kicked off the books around a year ago as they went totally private and thats the general theme for all here.

I need some dental work doing. I'm just trying to figure out what non NHS folk do?

Prices are around:
Appointment - £100
Hygienist - £85
X-rays - £75
Extraction - £325
Crown - £850
Filling £150-250

How do you pay for it? Is there something I'm missing? Dental insurance doesn't seem to be much of a thing and paying in instalments relies on good credit as it's a finance agreement which isn't something to take on easily.

They have a monthly cost you can pay but that just covers the check up / hygienist and for the 4 of us is over £100 per month and we'd still have to pay for all treatments as needed.

What do you do for private dental input?

Unfortunately, you either pay, or you look after your teeth as well as you can and hope for the best. If your teeth are in good condition, you only need a check up and hygiene visit once a year, which makes it slightly more affordable. If you need work done, people either save up for it, manage the issue until they can't (i.e. put up with pain or do a DIY patch up job on fillings), or have problem teeth pulled out.

I have a private dentist and they charge £9 per x-ray. Dental appointments and hygienists appointements are also slightly cheaper than your list above, so it may be worth shopping around.

Dental insurance is still very much a thing, although insurers seem to have tightened the rules and lowered that value of what they will cover. If you're still working, do they offer dental insurance through work? Premiums are cheaper through group schemes. Alternatively, you could look at a health cash plan that incorporates an element of dental insurance. (These are useful if you'd use the other cover included, like for eye health checks and glasses, physio etc.) The problem will be, if a dentist has already identified you have these problems now, you won't be covered if you suddenly took out dental insurance, as they would be pre-existing conditions.

I never go to the dentist! I never went as a child due to weird parents with weird beliefs. I’ve been for a couple of check ups as an adult, and have been told I have beautiful teeth - I acknowledge this is incredibly lucky! Very fortunate that I never needed a brace etc, but obvs would have got one as an adult if i needed to. I don’t share my parents mad anti-dentist views, but I’ve moved area quite a bit over the years and never felt I ‘needed’ to go to the dentist, as I’ve never been in the habit of doing it.

I just brush them regularly and have a few grand in the bank that I would spend on cosmetic dentistry is they ever fall out or started to look really ropey.
Maybe my mad old dad was on to something with his ‘if you go to the dentist you’ll need to go to the dentist’ theory!

Are you aware that NHS isn't free?

It still costs quite a bit for a family of 4 to have a checkup.

I have to drive to a neighbouring county (30 min drive) to see my NHS dentist. Recently I paid £550 for a tooth coloured crown which would have cost twice that privately. My husbands employer pays for dental cover which covers 100 percent of NHS work. Could you drive out of county to do it? I appreciate that's difficult if you need lots of return visits, for a root canal or implant etc,

Scotland check ups are free, just had two fillings for £35 each and a crown for £360. I'm amazed some are saying their NHS prices are near the private prices quoted.

I have DenPlan and pay £38pcm. I can see a hygienist and dentist twice a year. All treatment and emergencies are included. I've had DenPlan for approx 8 years after I moved to an area with no places at an NHS dentist.

My total income per month is £800. I don't buy takeaways to start.

I pay private, mine is about £30 a month and DH is £20 a month as I have extra hygienist appointments, treatment like fillings is on top with a 20% discount. Our dentist went private in the Blair years and it was quite difficult to get an NHS dentist even then, though not as bad as now.

Shop around. The list in your OP looks very expensive - I’ve always been a private patient and have never paid anything like that, my current dentist (London) charges half what yours does for an appointment, and about a third less for all of the other things. I have a Bupa dentistry plan which covers me for Bupa and non-Bupa practices.

I go privet when i need to see a dentist the price hurts more than the pain.
But it has to be done.
My last bill was 2,200 bhat that was for one tooth removed.
Having my teeth whitening and a clean can cost me between 2,500 to 4,900 bhat but thats just once a year thank god.

Our dentist is about to finish as an NHS dentist and offer private only. We’ve taken up their Denplan package which is £19 per month and includes 2 check ups a year, 2 hygiene cleans, 2 X-rays as needed, and 10% discount on treatment. Of the work I’ve had done recently I’ve had to pay private rates as the NHS would only allow silver & it would’ve been visible when I smiled so I’ve had to pay for white.
It’s really not ideal, but having learnt that the NHS do not allocate enough time for treatment anyway I’ve decided (and am fortunate enough to be able) to take any hits as they come.

£2,200 just for a simple tooth extraction?
😳

I’m guessing since they refer to baht, this poster lives in Thailand.

In thai bhat not uk sterling.

Honestly, nothing. No NHS dentists here at all, and I can't afford to go private.
All I can do is try my best to look after my teeth and hope for the best.

Yes i do.

I have over 1k worth of work that needs doing in extractions. I've been on the waiting list for the hospital since before covid, and have no NHS dentist.
I buy antibiotics online and keep a box spare for when something gets infected.
It only happens a couple of times a year.

I have denplan care
Covers everything except lab fees
So hygienist and check ups free, fillings and extractions free

Another person surprised at how comparible the private vs NHS prices are. I’m with NHS dentist and we pay similar each time.
Hygienist isn’t included so that’s £70 a time anyway. White fillings also aren’t included so they are still £150 ish.
I think I paid around £100 for a check up and X-rays. Not needed anything further other than the odd filling. It’s just something we have to pay for and to be honest we all better get used to it because soon enough we’ll be paying for all of our own healthcare

I used to go to the dentist really regularly and took care of my teeth - but they are shit teeth with lots wrong with them. DH has never had a thing wrong and looks after them much less.

It's only been a year since my NHs check up and now I've a broken tooth and a filling that probably needs redoing. I just don't have the money.

I know it's not free. And I know it costs a fortune. I just don't know how people are supposed to manage.

I don't have ANY takeaways - I can't even afford shoes for work?

Prices here are largely the same in every dentist near me. It's a captive market as there is no NHs treatment.

Costs are largely the same for kids so I have to factor that in. I'd rather they had dental care over me if 1 of us is going to get it.

For my broken tooth, I think it'll need an emergency appointment, an X-ray, a filling and a crown - that would cost around £1k - that's not how much it costs on the NHs???

@applegatebanana Do you have employment? A lot of companies offer a dental benefit through work where the employer pays a portion towards the premium via Denplan. Those plans often include reimbursement of certain costs up to a cap.
Oral health is really important but it’s so hard, particularly if you don’t live near a big city and have options.
I’ve always looked after my teeth too but sadly cracked one on a bit of bone in some meat. Annoyingly good oral health is a combination of good care and good luck.

People either:
-Travel to find an NHS dentist
-Pay private
-Get treatment abroad
-Do nothing and and hope for the best

The uk is turning in to the us in the end they wont be a free NHS you will have to pay for it and pay for everything.
Pretty much how it is over here.

Ironically I work for the NHS. No perks there!