The state of UK dentistry

[FirstSheIsWise]

I know how difficult people find it to see an NHS dentist, plus there are the costs of treatments etc on top for most people. I really do think this is having a dreadful effect of us as a population.

I notice when I'm out and about that so many more people than I've ever noticed before have terrible breath. I'm talking 'standing in the same aisle in a shop a few metres apart and I can smell your breath' terrible. And it happens a lot. It's got me paranoid about my own breath too, and my sinuses in case these smells are coming from me... but they aren't as confirmed by my dentist and hygienist.

What's going to happen to all these people with likely gum disease? Especially if they can't afford or can't get to see a dentist. The links between gum disease and dementia and other diseases is also concerning. It's going to cost more down the line to treat all of these consequences than it would to provide a proper service focused on prevention now, not to mention the human costs in terms of emotions and relationships (who wants to kiss or have sex with someone with rancid breath? Is the ensuing rejection yet another driver into incel-dom for young men?)

However, I know there have been other threads about a general decline in hygiene standards, and I do agree there has. Is this just part of that? Have people's sense of smells been so affected by COVID that they don't notice it? And what, if anything, could we do as individuals and as a society to improve things?

It's not a huge problem, the vast majority of people I see seem to have OK teeth. Can't say I've ever had the issues you have with bad breath in supermarkets.

The main issue is the food we eat. There are isolated tribes the world over, who have zero dental care but perfect teeth. It's literally down to the food we eat.

Better diets would eradicate this issue entirely.

How on earth would know? do you ask them?

Dental issues in the UK are huge, yes it may have something to do with diet but kids don't have a choice or in whether their parents teach them good teeth brushing habits and healthy eating is usually expensive.

Dental care in many parts of the UK, even for children, is non existent unless you have money.

1 in 460 people in the SW have had to go to AE for dental issues, waiting list to see the only NHS dentist near me, if they took on new patients, is years....

Hugely disappointed that Labour have not even started to address this lack of access.

I’ve noticed it a lot more recently but it’s more tonsil stone smell which is really distinctive

Maybe that's what I'm smelling sometimes. I do have a ridiculously acute sense of smell. There seems to be four common types of bad breath smell but I'm not sure what causes each of them.

I've just read something that says vaping can increase the risk of tonsil stones through irritating the mouth and causing changes to mouth bacteria. Smokers breath is less common but now perhaps we have this instead.

It's absolutely scandalous that Labour aren't addressing this. Yet another thing I feel let down over by them.

I'm glad there seems to be at least some areas that don't seem to be as badly affected. I do think dental care should not be a postcode lottery though.

Diet obviously plays some part, as with hygiene habits, but I think it's not as simple as it being the solution.

I have been to the those places, and lived alongside the people I am referring to. It was part of my job for a number of years.

Is there an element of greed on the dentists behalf too? No one seems to question why they're all going private and charging through the nose. Yes, the fees paid to them for NHS dentistry are too low, but what many are asking for private dentistry is far too high considering the average UK salary is around £36k.

Dental plan is usually an option
mine covers check ups, hygienist, extractions, fillings and lab fees so would make a crown about £90
its around £26pm for me

I don't begrudge dentists earing considerably more than 36k, which tbh isn't much now a days.
They train for many years, and have to have considerable on going knowledge as techniques/equipment improve.

But the fees paid by the NHS are laughable, a few pounds for a filling? which might involve 2 people, equipment, medication, materials..... etc etc and take 30 to 45mins...

there should be the ability to claim back the NHS fees from the amount paid to private dentists until they sort out this sorry sage... if they ever do?

Ministers are extremely wealthy, why should they bother about dentist fees.

Really? the Denplan my dentist offers covers routine appointments a hygienist

Not seen any that cover extensive work for just £26 pm

It’s an enormous problem, and can’t be dismissed as just diet, and people not looking after their teeth. Some never had proper dental care as children, so not their fault, and have a mouth full of fillings by the time they are adults. In middle and old age they are high maintenance with treatments like crowns, dentures, bridges and possibly implants needed. Some have had traumatic injuries to the mouth.
It’s disturbing to see people in their twenties with discoloured, decayed and missing teeth. Some pull their own teeth out because they can’t bear the pain, teeth that could otherwise have been saved.
Medications can ruin teeth. Some have very overcrowded teeth, and not had any treatment.
There are many areas where not one NHS dentist exists.
Dental plans are a good idea if you have straightforward, uncomplicated teeth, but a dental plan for those likely to need lots of future treatments may find them unaffordable.
it’s not just about vanity, as some say. Being unable to open your mouth because you are ashamed of your teeth is bad for your physical and mental health.
It is a shameful situation, the Tories did little to remedy the situation, and now Labour are only making a half hearted effort.

There’s two plans, denplan essentials which I think is that one and mine is denplan care
not all dentists offer the care I don’t think

Not my dentist but I have this one and just checked and it’s £23pm for me

https://www.paullowedentistry.co.uk/denplan-payment-plans/denplan-care/

In the UK people don’t like paying for healthcare (out of pocket, they pay through the nose through taxes, of course). People complain about a £50 bi-annual dental check-up but happily drop £50 on a haircut every couple of months.

I physically wouldn’t have the money for the work I’ve had done
yes I pay £110 for my hair but that’s as and when I can afford it, probably once a year
This year I’ve had an ongoing tooth problem and ended up with 4 visits which would have been unaffordable plus X-rays to figure out what was going on, a filling removed and replaced etc etc

So many people think nothing of spending money on any-old-shit shopping, leisure, cars, holidays, but balk at picking up a dentist bill.

It costs , in a cheap area , at least £140 to £160 an hour to run one room in a practice providing, mostly NHS treatment. NHS fees do not cover that and most NHS treatment actually costs the practice to provide. Most practices provide some private treatment because it subsidises the cost of NHS. https://www.bda.org/media-centre/nhs-dentistry-treasury-now-no1-roadblock-to-saving-service/

A room in a private practice will cost upwards of £200 an hour to run.

A newly qualified dentist graduates with £80000 to £100000 debt. They will pay £7000 plus a year for indemnity and registration . They will then pay for their continuous professional development. If eg they decide to specialise in endodontics they will pay £30000 for the course , then equipment on top eg an operating microscope is £20,000 plus. The cost of student loan repayments , registration and cpd means young graduates struggle to afford postgraduate training and buying a practice is increasingly unaffordable , 78% of dentists do not own a practice and that percentage is increasing. A practice that is owned by a corporate then has layers of management and shareholders to pay that a dentist owned practice doesn not.

The NHS insulates people from what is costs to provide dentistry. Oasis sold 85 practices because they could not make it work , even some private practices, and are closing more practices as we speak.

Dental inflation is running at well over 10% a year and has done for many years. Laboratory(16.5% increase) material costs, utilities (10% increase) have gone up massively and from April so will national insurance paid by employers (staff costs up 10%)

Most private dental practices make between 3 and 5% profit . I fail to see the greed in that.

I'm not suggesting that I think dentists should be paid £36k. I'm saying that their prices are unaffordable for many people considering that that is the average salary and that dental care is a necessity. It's a broken system entirely! Where I live NHS dentistry pretty much no longer exists, the few people I knew who had NHS dentists have been informed that their dentists have gone private only.

I think many dentists are very greedy. I’m sure that for many of them a large part of their courses were funded back in the day. I’ve seen the sorts of prices they charge locally; and they are quite happy to turn away children.

I see many people in Fife with missing teeth. Part of the problem is the inability to access NHS dentistry.

I had root canal treatment at my dentist today: the practice had a sign up saying that they're taking on new private patients.

I rather suspect that my Practice Plan premiums will jump up next year, after all my root canal treatment is finished. (The dentist is cleaning out and refilling a tooth that first had root canal treatment well over 20 yrs ago and I think that the tooth in front probably also needs attention.) Even though I'm paying for private treatment, I'm finding it difficult to get appointments: to be honest, I'm surprised that the practice if advertising for more patients.

I’m in an area of the NW which is blessed with enough NHS dentists, but people’s teeth generally still seem to be appalling. I’ve also noticed halitosis way more often in people at work, and I don’t just mean too much coffee/curry last night-type bad breath. It smells rotten. I’m probably pearl clutching, but I think standards of hygiene are generally subterranean in the UK.

I am kind of glad that more people have bad teeth as it makes me feel less bad about mine. I lost my NHS dentist during covid. Had one private appointment to have a tooth removed that is in my smile line. I see so many people now with missing teeth. I feel less self conscious and it does not bother me anymore.
Thanks to my boyfriend I now have a NHS dentist. First appointment is this week. My teeth are awful but self care is something I struggle with anyway. I just hope they are nice about it. I am on UC and entitled to free treatment so am also worried they will turn me away as they will get no money from me.
I am worried they wont do any treatment anyway. I read a comment on here by someone whose NHS dentist would only do check ups. Any treatment they were tole they had to go private.

Just one of many serious issues the UK is going to have in coming years.. alongside the poverty and deprivation we are going to see once disabled people have their benefits removed (so can't pay for dental care, and couldn't in the first place)

Who's going to employ someone with no teeth?

Agree with this. My friend refuses to pay a private dentist because "she can't afford it" but thinks nothing of spending on expensive holidays, hair and nails.