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Original poster

Finding an NHS dentist

34 replies

42andcounting · 26/09/2013 14:20

Quick background, recently moved to a new area, 35 weeks pregnant, and due for a check up. I've tried to find a local NHS dentist, and been told there is zero availability, I am on an NHS co-ordinated waiting list which is likely to be 6 months plus, but will enable me to access emergency treatment if needed.

I've been ringing round and managed to find an NHS dentist an hours journey from home (2 hour round trip), who have offered me a registration appointment at ohmygoditsearly o'clock tomorrow. I am reasonably chuffed with this, as it means I get seen before I get too close to my due date, and the idea of not being registered with a dentist is quite alien to me. My OH however thinks I am barking mad to consider driving that far at 35 weeks pregnant, and thinks I should either just not register with anyone, and if I need emergency treatment to access the NHS waiting list service, or alternatively just register and pay privately for treatment closer to home. He's also pointed out the cost of fuel to get there, and the impracticality of doing the journey with a little baby once it arrives. Even if I go privately it will still probably be half an hour or more journey, as there is just nowhere near home that is taking on patients at the moment.

Am I being unreasonable / unrealistic?

OP posts:
MissBattleaxe · 26/09/2013 14:27

Take it and go to the appt. NHS Dentists with room on their books are like unicorn droppings.

DH and I have been on waiting list for 3 years despite being near about 4 dentists with no room for NHS patients. If they were plentiful I'd say, no get one nearer, but they're not so grab it with both hands.

Don't forget you get free NHS dental treatment for up to a year after you've had the baby so make the most of it and get registered now!

NightLark · 26/09/2013 14:33

I'm not quite understanding this, because you don't register with dentists anymore.

You just ask for an appointment with any practice that does NHS appointments.

Which isn't to say that they will have any appointments free at the moment, but you don't need to register, or stick with the same practice next time if it is too far to travel.

If you are in England, this link explains

Mogz · 26/09/2013 14:47

That's interesting NightLark, I've been trying to find an NHS dentist since moving 6 months ago but they all tell me they're not registering new patients at the moment and they won't see me.

ananikifo · 26/09/2013 14:50

That link says that some practices don't accept new patients because they are full, and that you may need to go on a waiting list. OP I think you should accept the appointment, and keep looking or waiting for local NHS dentist for the future.

ananikifo · 26/09/2013 14:53

But I should add, if it's a true emergency there's usually a local phone number you can use to find a local NHS dentist doing emergency treatment, so you wouldn't have to be registered with a dentist for that.

BreconBeBuggered · 26/09/2013 14:53

But if you don't have to register, what's the waiting list about?

Anyway, OP, definitely go to that appointment, especially if even private dentists aren't thick on the ground where you live..

MissBattleaxe · 26/09/2013 15:54

I'm in Wales and you have to register and there's never any room.

5Foot5 · 26/09/2013 16:51

Nightlark: I was in the dentist waiting room before my routine 6 month check up recently and I heard the receptionist telling someone on the phone that it was not possible for them to fit him in for an appointment since he wasn't registered with them. The best she could do was give him the number of the local NHS emergency service.

StuntGirl · 26/09/2013 17:31

I spent over 5 years waiting for an NHS dentist. Grab that appointment! There's nothing stopping you putting yourself on the waiting list for a closer dentists in the meantime (at least there wasn't for me), but don't leave yourself without a dentist if you can help it. Emergency dentists simply do patch up jobs and say "You'll need to register with a dentist to get fixed properly". Nightmare.

Alisvolatpropiis · 26/09/2013 17:37

You have to register in Wales. You can get emergency appointments but they're under no obligation to see you again once the necessary course of treatment is over.

I hate NHS dentists. I find it ludicrous they can not only charge people, um hello NHS - clue is meant to be in the name?! But also refuse to register/treat people. Hospitals can't, doctors can't. Not unless they're private. That'll be a loophole dear Tony created for the dentists.

Alisvolatpropiis · 26/09/2013 17:37

Also OP - go to that appointment!

Tabby1963 · 26/09/2013 17:47

My local dentist has moved to bigger premises nearby (10 min walk away) and is taking new NHS or private patients. Sadly this is in Scotland so no use for you. I remember the difficulty of finding an NHS dentist when living in England, its really frustrating.

Loa · 26/09/2013 18:00

I'd take it - then keep looking for one closer.

We got a better response when we actually wrote to the dental practices - everyone in 1 hour radius. Found a good one to take us one that way after we were told no-one but the first one we tried would take us. Got NHS one much closer and very good.

First ones which everyone said was only NHS one in entire area only took DC and then we so bad we wondered why we bothered - they were later investigate, stop from taking NHS patient's and one dentist prosecuted. So glad we didn't listen to people telling us to suck it up.

RedHelenB · 26/09/2013 19:41

You only visit the dentist once a year so not a biggie in terms of travel surely?

Mrsmorton · 26/09/2013 20:39

alisvolatpropiis you are so badly informed that it's almost funny. NHS dentists are independent practitioners who subcontract their time out of some vastly misplaced sense of duty to the "big lie" that is NHS dentistry.

Dental treatment hasn't been free at the point of delivery for a long time, way before TCB. Those dentists who choose to spend their time trying to do their best for ungrateful patients do not choose to take money from them, that's the rules they have to abide by under the contract. To say you "hate NHS dentists because they charge you for treatment" is at best childish and at worst offensive.

As a business owner, dentists are well within their rights to decide who they provide their services to. I hope that you have a wonderful relationship with your dentist Hmm

NightLark · 26/09/2013 23:28

Very interested to hear that dentists in England are still citing registration to their (potential) patients - was having a discussion with a dental services planning person last week in which it was firmly stated that registration no longer exists. Nothing Little has been done to let the public know but it seems some dentists are outside the loop as well... or my colleague is wrong (which I find hard to believe, given colleagues job).

Alisvolatpropiis · 26/09/2013 23:46

MrsM

I have a perfectly fine relationship with my dentist. We don't tend to chat about our views on each other's respective professions.

I dislike the way the profession operates not individual dentists.

HTH

ukatlast · 26/09/2013 23:53

Go privately locally and choose a decent dentist you can stick with - make sure that they actually own the practice so they haven't moved on 6 months later.

Mrsmorton · 27/09/2013 06:36

You may like to rephrase your original post then...

Alisvolatpropiis · 28/09/2013 07:26

I'd imagine most literate adults don't usually need things rewritten for them, so no.

TiredyCustards · 28/09/2013 07:39

Agree with Allis re NHS dentistry, but remember Op it's free until your dc is 1 (or 1 year from their due date perhaps?) so why are you in a rush?

Mrsmorton · 28/09/2013 08:34

You're quite right Alis.

VivaLeThrustBadger · 28/09/2013 08:47

I think the free dental treatment in pregnancy/for the next year is only with nhs dentists. Can't imagine a private dentist would give free care?

I'd take the appt. if you need something major then a private dentist can cost a fortune. There was someone on here recently posting about been quoted £800 to have a tooth repaired.

A friend of mine pays £50 a month for her and her dh to be on the books of a private dentist. I'm assuming it means any (most?) of any treatment is free......but that's £600 a year. Which is a lot of money for a check up and a polish if you don't need anything g else done.

Mrsmorton · 28/09/2013 08:51

Yes, it's only for NHS dentistry.

sarahtigh · 28/09/2013 09:49

a dentist can only reasonable look after X number of patients(2,000-2,200 max for a fulltime dentist) hence not taking on new ones, so if you live in a town of 15,000 people with only 4 dentists the lists will be closed

you will also find that some doctor's practices not taking new patients though will see in emergency for the same reason , there are only so many appointments a day and it is not reasonable to see you today for a check up and tell you well you need 3 fillings but because we seen everyone the next appointment is 27th February 2014 at 3.15 which is exactly what would happen if you accepted every phone request
so the reality is that the list is closed to new patients

my list is not closed but I work in scotland where incidentally you do need to register