What happens at dentist if you have treatment but no money to pay after?

[HighlyOptimistic]

Need emergency dental treatment wisdom tooth acute pain.

Furloughed on about £200 month absolutely zero money in bank until next pay day. Nobody to borrow from, work won’t sub me, don’t have credit for loans, not eligible for free dental.

If I just have the appointment and afterwards present my debit card for payment, it will be declined as there’s about £3 in my bank, what happens next?

Will dentist just invoice me? Keep my bank card as security? Call police?
I have no way of paying but the pain is making me nearly faint and I’m already at the limit of how many paracetamols I can take in this 24 hour period.

I’m not trying to defraud or steal, I just genuinely have no money in my bank until pay day in 2 weeks time (work pays early at Christmas so it will be Christmas Eve , too late to wait).

Is there a dental receptionist or dentist/assistant on here that can advise?

I don’t want to risk saying before my appointment I can’t afford to pay as they won’t take me in. My whole face is throbbing. I’m not wasting A&E time as 111 said only go if you’re having breathing difficulties. I am but that’s me trying to keep a panic attack away because of the pain (I’m managing the panic attack).

I was going to suggest the HC1 form (for help with health costs,) but I see from further posts, that the OP is married, but her husband apparently won't sub her £20 for her dental bill. So she won't get any help, as the assessment goes on 'family' income. Yes, FAMILY income. The DH should be sharing 'his' fucking money with his WIFE, not keeping it to himself!

WTF? Having a joint bank account should be mandatory when you're married, and two thirds of each partner's wage should go in! Yeah have a separate bank account each if you like, and the other third of your wage can stay in your own individual account.. No WAY should anyone be keeping money to themselves when they're MARRIED.

So for example, if HE earns £1200 in a month, £800 goes into the joint account, and if she earns £900, she puts £600 in. Something like that. It's absolutely scandalous that a man can earn much more, and keep it to himself. And this happens a lot! Never heard of a woman earning much more money, and keeping it to herself! Then again, most women don't earn more than their husband.

That said, I am a bit sceptical about all this, and I don't think @CupboardOfJoy will be hearing from @HighlyOptimistic with details of her dentist, so she can pay.

I had to get a wisdom tooth out a few years ago, and because I was slotted in at the end of the day after hours, the payment systems were shut down so I couldn't pay. I rang the next day and paid over the phone, but didn't get a chance until after work (teaching, so can't make calls easily) and was very apologetic for the delay - the receptionist said they usually have to chase people up.

I have been at the same surgery since I was a child, not sure if that makes any difference.

Your abusive husband is a far bigger problem than toothache

What kind of abusive dick would allow his wife to be in pain rather than pay £20 for emergency dental treatment?

Its a bit devious to have the treatment knowing you can afford it. Personally I'd ask the question first, regarding a payment plan, I am sure they see this a lot. I dont think I could get it done knowing the card would be declined, just seems wrong, would feel like stealing.

If your DH genuinely won't lend you the money, then I'd probably just take it out his wallet or hunt around the house for cash if your pain is unbearable. Not that I have ever had to do that and couldn't imagine I ever would as DP is generally very kind and certainly wouldn't dream of not helping me out if I needed it. I just really can't believe your husband wouldn't give you it without a second thought.

I would be honest with them and they may be able to set up a payment plan.
I think it would be a lot worse having your card declined.

@HighlyOptimistic

No 12 year old has no piggy bank money ! And DH wouldn’t pay if it was the apocalypse and the last dentist on earth

(Wish there wasn’t Advanced Search on Mumsnet always feel very judged if someone searches out I hate the colour purple and uses that against me in a thread somewhere on why I like the colour Orange, makes it feel like we have to change usernames and be devious every time want to post a question).

I'm sorry OP - (and to Cheetas who thinks I have more time than them ) but I was feeling awfully sympathetic to your plight because dental pain is the absolute worst, and my thoughts were straying towards the "I could bung her £25 for an emergency NHS dentist" and then, because I'd had that thought and I know it's not a great plan, actually, I checked your posts. In case other people were feeling like me.

I really hope your tooth feels better and that you get the treatment you need. And I hope you leave your horrible husband for someone who treats you better in 2021.

If it's an NHS dentist an emergency appointment shpuldnt be more than £22.70. Mine makes you pay before the appointment though.

You could try and get a certificate for free dental care based on low income, but not sure how long they take to process though

I always pay my dentist after treatment. I did ask one time if I could pay at the end of the month when I got paid. They were ok with that, but they knew I was coming back for more work in about 2 weeks anyway so I couldn't have escaped without paying. I think if you explained that it was a real emergency they might be sympathetic and give you a few weeks extra to pay.

Ring 111. They have an emergency dentist line

They will send you to an NHS dentist. That won’t be as expensive

Like a couple of pp I had an abcess caused by a wisdom tooth many years ago. I was crying in pain in the chemists lol. The dentist gave me antibiotics which sorted the pain and I had the wisdom tooth out at a later date. But the dentist did tell me that swilling salty water round my mouth every half hour would also kill the infection and therefore stop the swelling and pain. Never needed to try it myself but I told someone else about it and they said it worked. It's worth a try I think .
Also I found painkillers that combine paracetamol and codeine worked best for toothache.

Hope you get it sorted.

But they’ll send in the debt. Could go to court. To baliffs. Would affect your credit rating.

So rather than see a private dentist. Ring 111!

A and e probably wouldn’t sort it. They’d give you more pain relief. But they won’t have dentists on hand

Unless it needed surgery. Even then it would be waiting.

Dentist’s have started asking for payments up front. Especially for emergency treatment sadly.

I'm truly shocked that people are having to suffer pain because they can't afford a dentist.
We're supposed to be a civilised country for goodness sake.
Animals get treated better.

Surely a dentist wouldn't leave someone in acute pain?
Don't they follow the do no harm principle,
Or is that doctors.

So what would happen if a person didn't get treatment for an abscess on a wisdom tooth?
Could the infection eat away and cause even more problems
Shame on any dentist who turns people away.

@Buzzthedragon

It’s goes somewhere where they check. If you aren’t covered. You get charged around £90. It’s also from the government. You get a few weeks if that to pay. Then they get super tough

I was on maternity and checked the maternity box for my prescriptions. They got my number wrong and it was absolute hell trying to sort it.

Call the dentist and explain. They may possible offer a payment plan or allow you to pay later, it depends on the surgery.

Present at A&E and you'll get it sorted
Don't do this, daft advice. A+E aren't dentists.

Fair enough @Beautifulbonnie
Don’t do that then op.

I wonder if the recent posters have twigged that the OP says her husband won't pay for her to have this seen to?

OP do you have parents or friends?

It's hard to understand how you have a husband in employment who can see you suffer yet not pay for this.

Or a parent?

Or a close friend?

And presumably within your marriage you have no access to a joint account or his money?

Please, once this is over, consider contacting Womens Aid to help sort out your marriage as it's abusive to be treated like this by someone.

And DH wouldn’t pay if it was the apocalypse and the last dentist on earth sad

What can anyone say?

Dental practices are businesses, with staff to pay. Dental practices were forced to close for many months due to COVID, and a lot of them are running at huge losses just now.

@likeamillpond. It’s because of the above. Dental practices are businesses that can go bankrupt like any other business.

Although the dentists/people associated with dental practices who’ve posted on this thread are giving the OP the best advice they can. I wouldn’t be surprised that if she contacts a dental practice she’s been to before, they’ll see her-I’m pretty sure my dentist would see me for an emergency and let me pay in installments...and I’m in the US, where everything has to be paid upfront.

I would go to A&E for this. Failing that go to your bank and get an overdraft?

I don't think this is a dental problem so much as a 'D'H problem. If he won't give, or even lend, you money for this then you need to get the fuck out of the marriage.

More immediately, can you sell something to get money to pay the dentist? Your wedding ring perhaps?

@Buzzthedragon. It’s poop.

It’s the government though and they will get their money the quickest. When my friends husband walked out and she had £25 to last her. I said to her. Whatever you do. Make sure the first bill you pay is your council tax. When the time came round and she couldn’t pay her bills the council tax gave her 14 days to pay it before sending people in. It was awful. I tried to give her money but she wouldn’t take it. I tried to put it in her bank. She gave it back. Tried to send a cheque in a card. She wouldn’t cash it. She’s so proud. We ended up coming to an agreement where she came to work for me. She’s still hands down my best employee. It’s sad

Though it’s been so wonderful to see on this page all the dentists on here who are saying they’d help. Without money. Warms my heart. Not sure my private dentist would. Sadly. In fact because he took money off me and refused to refund it. He’s not my dentist

But you guys have made me smile on here today. Those who said they’d help.

They send an invoice OP. I had this a couple of times with my wisdom tooth. Emergency appointments and just felt completely crap after the appointment. Forgot my card once and just completely forgot to pay afterwards and the receptionist didn't prompt me after I'd handed back my files. Not a great experience really. Had multiple appointments over months and ended up paying almost £200 despite the removal being completely free at another dentist because it was classed as surgery. My own dentist couldn't get the bloody dreadful thing out