Nhs Dental care is abysmal?

[pumpkinsweetie]

So here we are a family of 7, no vechile and cannot get an nhs dentist anywhere in our are.
We cannot afford to go private as it is extortion. So me and dh have what we think is an abscess each and we cannot get anyone in the area to accept new nhs patients and dentaline are always to busy to offer us an appointment

So tonight dh is screaming in agony and I phoned dentaline Again, only to be told they are too busy again, so I tried 111 who are basically useless as a chalk in a swimming pool, and tried to refer him back to dentaline, of course we explained no appointments were available, so half hour later a clinician phoned us back and again useless, cannot help him in any way, just the useless info of trying all the painkillers he has already tried and failed
as he has previously mentioned.
He asked whether the hospital would help him, apparently no he mustn't go there. He is now rocking back and forth and screaming and nothing is working.

When did our Nhs dentistry get so useless, that someone has to sit and suffer in extreme agony possibly with an abscess without any help??
Disgusting, aibu to be extremely peeved, and anyone any advice what to do with extreme dental pain? tia

[Mrsmorton]

I'm not sure NHS dentistry has ever been free? Has it? I've no idea, we (dentists) see it as a tooth tax.

It's much nicer to treat people who are exempt from charges otherwise you constantly get asked about your new car or your holiday etc. that said, private patients very rarely miss their appointments, NHS patients fail daily. Ho hum.

Op, it really shouldn't cost lots to get your H out of pain, if uou do see someone privately, check out their prices etc. you will probably be surprised.

I do an emergency clinic on Sunday's but I'm miles away from you

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

Try this place www.alphahousedentalpractice.co.uk/emergency-dentistry.html

[DidoTheDodo]

My offer is invisible then? An NHS dentist in your county, on a train line and with vacancies, not of interest?
Ah well, keep complaining then!

[pumpkinsweetie]

Thank you to everyone who tried helping with the situation, and to those of you who have opinions on how many dc I have or how I shoulda, coulda, woulda, obviously live wonderful life's in protective glass houses and have crystal balls you might want to start using because life doesn't always stay so damn rosey. That's why they call it life, we are all different.

Can't be bothered to let trolls wind me up about tat, money and how many kids I decided to have when I was just explaining how the NHS dentist availability in MY are is abysmal caused by government.
goodbye

[pumpkinsweetie]

Its at Kings dido, too far, it's in London

[pumpkinsweetie]

Thank you noarman, will try that

[TheFairyCaravan]

No, MrsMorton, I don't think it's ever been free. Even when I worked in practice I am sure you paid up to £250 if you had to pay for treatment, and that was a good few years ago. It's cheaper now with banding, hence why more dentists are private because they aren't making enough money to pay for the materials, staff, buildings, insurance, overheads and take a wage themselves.

[DidoTheDodo]

Its not at kings, it is in my village which is why I don't want to put the name on here.

[pumpkinsweetie]

Sorry before I go, it is free as we have exemption from tax credits, so yes it is free if on limited income

[DaisyFlowerChain]

It doesn't take a crystal ball to work out that relying on one person to earn to provide enough for seven things may go bad if that person loses their job. It's common sense, no job is guaranteed for life likewise health and relationships can change in an instant.

NHS dentistry is not free, there are still top up fees to pay.

Either way, moaning about care when you let it get to this point is mute. Take control as an adult and sort. It could have been one of your children in pain.

[HermioneWeasley]

When the NHS was founded, only a fraction of the treatments available today were even thought of. Antibiotics had only just been discovered! It's unrealistic that with an ageing population with more and more chronic illness that the NHS can offer free everything for everyone.

And yes, 5 kids is a luxury I can't afford.

[Littlefish]

Is this the number you have already tried?

"Patients should freephone the Dental Helpdesk on 0808 238 9797 or 01634 890300 out of hours"

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

The most frustrating thing is when people do have an NHS dentist so many of them book appts and don't turn up. I personally lose £80-120 per working day from NHS patients not turning up to appts.

[WookieCookiee]

Where in Thanet are you OP as on the NHS choices site there are dentists saying they'll accept non-charge paying adults in Margate- any good? Lots accepting fee-paying adults.

I'm with an NHS dentist and he's fab. He's the same person as DP's private dentist.

It's not the dentist, or the care, it's the funding that's the issue. And unfortunately the system is overstretched.

[Kewcumber]

NHS dentistry was certainly free when I was young and every dentist supplied basic NHS treatment. Now there is one dentist I know fairly locally who provide NHS care to adults. Many provide NHS care to children provided the adult signs up as a private patient.

I do have to fight regularly to not pay for the private treatment and just opt for the NHS option eg cleaning.

[OOAOML]

I thought dentistry and glasses were charged for almost from the start of the NHS? I think children got free dental care when I was young, and fairly sure glasses as well (although virtually no choice of frames unlike today).