Disgusted By Dentists Behaviour!!!

[Windchangeface]

We moved home week before the pandemic and then non of the dentists were taking on patients.

This made me very nervous, I kept an eye out to jump as soon as they opened up.

Well...as of a few weeks ago 3/5 practises within a 15 mile radius of us put up notices on their websites ‘taking on new patients’ great I rang to register me, DH and small DS. But oh no, they aren’t taking on any NHS patients only private or Denplan! (Would cost us a minimum of £50 per month and I’m currently pregnant so should be free anyway). The receptionists at all 3 massively tried to sell me Denplan and actually made me feel like a total sponge for asking about NHS.

‘Most families prefer Denplan’ erm sorry Shannon but I highly doubt ‘most’ families prefer to spend £50+ per month on something that should be £20 a visit for them and free for their kids!

One of the receptionists even told me (in a very snooty tone) ‘no we aren’t taking NHS patients we’ve got enough of those) another stated ‘we’ve met our quota for NHS so are only taking paying patients’.

Given DH is a Dr who spends all day looking after hospital patients free of charge I’m at a loss to understand why dentists feel they’re above the NHS.

Horrible, elitist attitude excluding people who can’t afford to pay from adequate healthcare and forcing those who can to pay high premiums they shouldn’t have to!

And, just to add, if the people who could afford to pay for private dentistry all did, there would be many more spaces for those who genuinely need subsidised or free care.

I’m wondering if Denplan is having some sort of commission push for dentists- we’ve had texts from our dentist in the last week trying to get us to sign up.

I do agree with @FuckingFabulous - my sibling and I were discussing braces recently and our NHS experience was very much “that’ll do” so we have straight-ish teeth, but not completely. The NHS for me also seemed to consist of pulling a lot of teeth out to make room so they would straighten up more quickly. My eldest has had to go private for various reasons, and their end goal is as near perfect as possible. They did say for NHS treatment 2 teeth would be removed, private they wouldn’t.

I don’t find our private dentist that expensive tbh. I had a wisdom tooth removed recently and was referred to the dental hospital so that was free.

This would upset me too. I get they need to make money but... my teeth have no issues, I have a check up once a year and my dentist might occasionally bush the back of my bottom teeth and every few years take an x-ray and my husband is the same, children are young, DS might need braces but for now its a check up and maybe a bit if fluoride on chipped baby teeth, I'm not paying £600 a year for that!

@TrustTheGeneGenie I don't disagree that it's annoying to have to do that but it's based on your own dental health so there is no standardised pricing. It's cheaper if you've had less work done / have good oral hygiene etc.

If a practice isn't being clear about what you get for the cost though, complain to Denplan. They could get into a lot of trouble if their product is being missold so they will jump on it immediately.

The NHS for me also seemed to consist of pulling a lot of teeth out to make room so they would straighten up more quickly.

Yes. Unfortunately, under the UDA system, it's a lot more cost-effective for a dentist to pull a tooth than undertake a lengthy treatment. They get the same amount of "points" for it but it takes a tenth of the time. That's not to say ALL NHS dentists will do this, but many will, simply because many of them are under so much pressure and it's the safest and quickest way to resolve the issue.

Again, I'm not bashing dentists. I'm angry at the system.

Most people understand what they need to do to take care of their teeth. Brush twice daily, for two minutes, and floss several times weekly at a minimum level. Limit the sugary drinks and sweeties, and fund a good standard of NHS dental care for kids. After that, YOU care for your teeth and your dental health. Everything you need is sold in the supermarket or Boots... YOU just have to use it.

A dear friend, currently lying in an acute care ward with heart issues post surgery, in France spent 10 months and a lot of euros to get his dental health up to a standard where he was considered operable. He had, on his own admission, neglected his teeth since he left home for university, until he was 66. He didn't like the dentist, travelled on business constantly for work. And while I feel his situation, FFS, get grown up. Nobody looks forward to a dental check-up. Clean and floss, and prevent the problems happening. If everyone was meticulous about dental health, then the NHS could afford quality appointments up to the age of 18. But parents have to teach it, and enforce it, and when the habits are established as routine, a check every year at a modest cost I think my last was £40-- is within reach of any adult in the UK. It only stops working if people don't brush and floss and eat junk.

@midsomermurderess

You always, without fail, every single post you make, point out that 'DH is a doctor'.

🤣🤣😂

And, just to add, if the people who could afford to pay for private dentistry all did, there would be many more spaces for those who genuinely need subsidised or free care.

It doesn't work like that. Either a level of service is funded from taxation or it isn't. It's not a charity. We all genuinely need dental care and we all genuinely need to contribute what we can afford to the cost. Buying ourselves out with private healthcare is not an ethical decision.

[quote Windchangeface]@MsTSwift

I’m not sure you comprehend a young family trying to survive in a pricey area on a junior dr wage (and pt income from me due to childcare). You’re obviously thinking about senior/consultant dr wages the daily Mail love to report. Junior drs earn pretty average wages.[/quote]
I am a single mum of 2 and a part time teacher on a much lower wage than a junior doctor and I can afford Denplan

Why is everyone so busy defending poor dentists - why arent we angry with the government for not funding them properly?

There's been plenty of both, and people are actually capable of feeling both at once you know

@Nocar

Weird how these hard up dentists are not highlighting their plight and doing more to get greater funding from the NHS. Its almost as if working in private practise just brings in more money, which of course isn't aligned with their original motivations for getting into dentistry.

Dentists have fought very hard to get greater funding for the NHS. All dentists I know, me included, would love to offer well-funded, quality NHS care. It just ain't going to happen - 1% pay-rise for nurses anyone?

I have found that dentists located in more deprived areas are more likely to have NHS contracts as the locals simply can't afford private, but this doesn't necessarily mean they aren't already full. I have heard of dentists who will take on children as NHS patients if a parent joins as a private patient.

Remember this thread the next time your MP, whichever party they belong to, lies about the NHS being "free at the point of use".

@XingMing

Most people understand what they need to do to take care of their teeth. Brush twice daily, for two minutes, and floss several times weekly at a minimum level. Limit the sugary drinks and sweeties, and fund a good standard of NHS dental care for kids. After that, YOU care for your teeth and your dental health. Everything you need is sold in the supermarket or Boots... YOU just have to use it.

A dear friend, currently lying in an acute care ward with heart issues post surgery, in France spent 10 months and a lot of euros to get his dental health up to a standard where he was considered operable. He had, on his own admission, neglected his teeth since he left home for university, until he was 66. He didn't like the dentist, travelled on business constantly for work. And while I feel his situation, FFS, get grown up. Nobody looks forward to a dental check-up. Clean and floss, and prevent the problems happening. If everyone was meticulous about dental health, then the NHS could afford quality appointments up to the age of 18. But parents have to teach it, and enforce it, and when the habits are established as routine, a check every year at a modest cost I think my last was £40-- is within reach of any adult in the UK. It only stops working if people don't brush and floss and eat junk.

I’m not sure why some people presume that everyone can have amazing teeth just by flossing and brushing twice a day and a yearly check up. Just like every other area of health some people are luckier than others. Some people have poor quality enamel, some people’s’ teeth erupt damaged due to infections/ medication, some people have less than ideal oral anatomy, some people take medication like anticonvulsants which can damage teeth. Some people have conditions such as reflux or tooth grinding that damage teeth. Some people have had dental treatment that damaged their teeth (pay per drill in the 80s!) Good dental treatment is needed because for some people home hygiene alone is never going to be enough. There is a lot of judgement over teeth that doesn’t happen with other medical conditions, perhaps that’s why it’s such a low priority

I pay £10 a month for private dental care which includes a check up and a scale and polish once a year.

It’s worth it to me to know that when I need the dentist I have access.

@mrcerec love your username!
We have one at work, I love it. Another thing the NHS just can’t fund.

It’s all down to funding op
Nhs dentists have a quota which they can’t exceed otherwise the government take back the extra money
But dentists are also running a business so if patients are prepared to pay the dentists need the money
A lot of dentists are struggling financially

@MsTSwift

If your dh is a doctor surely you can afford to pay? Always assume we have to pay for dental work don’t think the state can stretch to paying for the entire nations dental care.

If her dh is a doctor then it's fair to assume he has paid for nhs care via his taxes.

The nhs is not free, it's free at the point of use - we do however pay for it.

[quote Alfaix]@mrcerec love your username!
We have one at work, I love it. Another thing the NHS just can’t fund.[/quote]
Thanks

Yes, what people don't realise is exactly how far dentistry has advanced the last 20-30 years. I regularly get patients coming in and saying, wow, I didn't know you could do all this. The NHS is never going to be able to fund dentistry properly - and people's dental health is suffering because of it.

[quote Windchangeface]@StepOutOfLine

no I just grew up in a very low income struggling family and therefore feel social injustices like stopping ‘poor people’ having access to dental care is horrible and should be highlighted![/quote]
I couldn't agree more with you.

OP I can see from the first replies this probably hasn't gone well for you but I agree. Dental care is health care, it is a postcode lottery and no one should feel pressure to go private. It's frustrating how difficult it can be to get NHS dental care which isn't even cheap in itself, the pandemic really highlighted the inequalities for NHS and private patients.

I think dental care in the UK is in atrocious.

I was under an NHS dentist from my old area, but when my daughter had a dental emergency they couldn't help as didn't have dentist cover that day. I went private (not something I wanted to have to do as I don't like the premise of private healthcare profit/people) and it's been amazing. The dentist we see has helped me so much with my anxiety around dental work. They have gone the extra mile for my daughter and always been very clear about costs of things. I wish there was an NHS option for us but there isn't, and our old dentist was not great, often cancelled our appointments and couldn't be there when we needed them. It's worth it for us. I just hope GP doesn't go the same way

I sympathise OP, dentistry is NHS care just like any other and is paid for out of our taxes so finding a dentist should be no different than finding a GP. I do however acknowledge that NHS dentistry is underfunded. TBH I'm surprised at how many people think that those who can afford to pay for private dentistry should do so, I certainly won't.

I agree with OP. Dentists should be available for families, on the NHS, for free.

On a slightly different topic, Nearly all of Ds1's friends have had a brace on the NHS but I was told he didn't qualify even though I thought his teeth were semi-bad /not that great.

I was previously told the Ds2 would get a brace, but this week I've been told that he he too is not entitled. it makes me really cross so many people do get it for free. how come we don't?

I am furious about this atm,

I don’t understand this either re. Braces.
DDs are clearly overcrowded, several not straight with a significant overbite but no... she doesn’t qualify. It’s weird.

I do however acknowledge that NHS dentistry is underfunded.
Private dentistry certainly isn’t. It’s where the money is and they are raking it in with their monthly fees and extortionate treatment prices.