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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Disgusted By Dentists Behaviour!!!

483 replies

Windchangeface · 19/03/2021 06:23

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’ Hmm 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) Angry 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!

OP posts:
NothingIsWrong · 19/03/2021 07:15

We haven't been able to get an NHS dentist in years. DH and I registered with a private one and then as our children were born they were added to their NHS list and will stay NHS once they turn 18 if they stay with that dentists.

pwheuss · 19/03/2021 07:15

I can't believe you're surprised by this OP. Getting into an NHS dentist is unbelievably difficult and I thought that was common knowledge. For 10 years I've travelled back to my home town to go to the dentist because it was impossible to get into one locally. Only recently have we managed to get us and the children into one closer and that has taken 3 years of being on waiting lists to get the entire family in. Your expectations are very out of touch.

LakieLady · 19/03/2021 07:16

I was shocked to discover that pensioners don't get free dental treatment any more. They definitely used to, I remember my mum beign delighted that she didn't have to pay any more once she hit 60 (1993).

I'll reach pension age in August, and need some treatment that I can't get at the moment because I can't afford to go private and no-one is taking on new NHS patients. I consoled myself with the thought that at least I won't have to pay if it's after my birthday when I finally find a practice with a vacancy.

When I checked, it's only pensioners poor enough to get pension credit or housing benefit that qualify. The full state pension takes me above the pension credit threshold, and I own my house so no housing benefit.

I think I'll have to sell the house to pay for my teeth!

Frenchtoastie · 19/03/2021 07:17

If your husband is a doctor then he will understand that a dental practice is given an NHS contract covering a certain amount of treatment...meaning patients.
So obviously when this is full it is full what’s difficult to understand?

CuthbertDibbleandGrubb · 19/03/2021 07:17

@Acovic well put about the government being responsible. Though if the receptionist quoted really was snooty, not the kind of response anyone would expect and not one that would happen at the dentists I have.

DwangelaForever · 19/03/2021 07:17

Being an NHS patient doesn't mean you don't pay at all - you pay a reduced fee and why shouldn't OP?

NellyTimes · 19/03/2021 07:17

I might have had more sympathy for you if it wasn't for the "Shannon" comment, but that's horribly snobbish, which is probably why people assumed that you had money.

As people have said, dentists are tied up by a poor NHS contract system and many are turning private because it is just not financially viable any more, particularly after covid ravaged NHS dentistry. The problem is the way the government runs the NHS, so you'd be better of channeling your frustration in a letter to your MP rather than at a group of women on the Internet.

mylovelydd · 19/03/2021 07:18

There is a site where you can find dentists taking on NHS patients in your area. I'm baffled why so many posters are saying people shouldn't access NHS dental care. We pay for it anyway and everyone is entitled to it. Not everyone is lucky enough to have the funds to pay and it's dentist's choice to charge a fortune privately. People shouldn't be treated as second class citizens because they can't afford to pay for necessary dental work. Hmm
I expect when GPs are doing the same you'll all be happy to shell out privately for an appointment too.

www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist

Roomba · 19/03/2021 07:19

This is everywhere, OP. We waited four years on a waiting list to get into the nearest NHS dentist, 20 odd miles away. And a few months later, she closed up and went back to Poland! So we're back to not seeing a dentist for years on end because we just can't afford private costs.

scaevola · 19/03/2021 07:20

Don't understand why people are happy with NHS privatisation

Dentists haven't been 'privatised': they, like oricians, have been this weird hybrid since the very inception of the NHS

trappedsincesundaymorn · 19/03/2021 07:20

Because I am a "nervous" patient, (for "nervous" read absolutely terrified), every single dentist I've approached for an NHS appointment has turned me down. I can't afford to go private, thus I have not visited a dentist for around 20 years. My teeth are appalling and I'm hugely embarrassed about them but as I said I can't afford the treatment and the NHS doesn't pay enough for a dentist to treat me so I'm stuck with it.

MisgenderedSwan · 19/03/2021 07:22

At our dentists, children under 5 are covered free on a parent's monthly direct debit of about £12. Once they're 5 it's £5 each. We pay £20 a month, have had 6 monthly checks ups, scale and polishes and the paste for the dcs' molars throughout. I also rang them when dd fell on her face on the ice and they got her in straight away to check up on her and reassure me.

It's money well spent. We aren't rich, I work part time and dh has a decent but not high salaried job. We prioritise the dental care in our monthly budget.

Doingitaloneandproud · 19/03/2021 07:22

I've been on denplan for around 15 years now, and my son is also. When my son did need extra treatment though, he was referred back to NHS for the treatment. He got seen the next week for it. I'm not on a high income, but I didn't fancy the wait when it comes to my teeth.

lovelyupnorth · 19/03/2021 07:27

I’m with you op. We got totally done over by a private dentist doing treatment not required, making things more complicated to make more money.

Glad we’re now with a NHS dentist and since barely any issues. And my DD is getting braces sorted for problems both missed and caused by the private dentists. Total scam.

TeckanandMultra · 19/03/2021 07:27

Shannon?

Mrsmorton · 19/03/2021 07:29

Not sure who Shannon is OP, bit unfair to name someone on here. Unless it's just your prejudice bubbling through. Which it sounds like it is from the tone of your posts. Maybe have a think about that.

NHS dentistry simply isn't funded. It would be like going to a plumber who does some work for the council (under a tax payer funded contract) and asking them to fix your boiler. If it's not in their contract and therefore funded... they're not going to do it for free.

The person you need to speak to is your MP.

And for everyone whose teeth are falling out "because they can't see a dentist" absolute bullshit. You are responsible for your diet and your oral hygiene. 99% of issues are entirely preventable using google and a 99pence toothpaste. Stop blaming other people for your poor choices.

Beautiful3 · 19/03/2021 07:29

I agree, it is disgusting. Children should be given a free place, if theres spaces.

TableFlowerss · 19/03/2021 07:31

Totally agree OP- I think part of it is the recruitment aspect too. Plenty of dentist go private because obviously it’s bigger bucks.

I do think the government should invest in training more dentists and I think there should be a clause in their eco tract as a student to say they have to work within the NHS for 10 years at least before going private or they’ll have to pay back the tax payers tuition fees etc...

HeyDuggeesCakeBadge · 19/03/2021 07:32

I'm so surprised by the responses here. I've been trying to get my children seen for a year for a check up and they aren't seeing anyone due to COVID, which is terrible as they are open to private clients. We are creating a two tier health system and the NHS need to sort it out, we pay for the NHS through taxes so it's not free and we pay for dentist appointments as adults anyway but at a discounted rate.

Blockedoff · 19/03/2021 07:32

Your DH does not treat patients free of charge!

The NHS is funded by working people.

You sound so entitled.

CupboardOfJoy · 19/03/2021 07:33

@Suzi888

OP I agree with you. DM can’t get one either. Never goes, dentist phobia but her dentures have brokenSad it’ll cost her thousands to get new ones. If it’s just a check up you need it shouldn’t cost too much? To be honest I think it’s an excuse because they know people are desperate.
If it's just dentures that your mum needs, and not actual dental treatment, then she could try using a Dental Technician instead. They are the people who make dentures. To give you an idea of price, my mum was fitted for an upper denture last week, three teeth on a plate, less than £200. If she'd seen an NHS dentist she'd be paying £282 for the same thing. She went direct to the technician's premises so didn't have to visit a dental surgery, it was very calm and quiet. The dentures take about a week to make up.
Claudia84 · 19/03/2021 07:33

I agree with your frustration but I don’t think it’s down to greedy money grabbing dentists. If there was more money in the NHS there would be more money for dental care.

NellyTimes · 19/03/2021 07:34

They are, but there aren't spaces!

scaevola · 19/03/2021 07:34

NHS 111 is meant to be able to help you access dentistry services.

Dentists (like most GPs, incidentally) are independent practitioners with an NHS contract.

I can't remember when the dentistry contract was last reviewed. I know a lot of 'hybrid' practices become private only when their NHS contracts were not renewed in a review in the early 00s,

But I don't think there's been one for dentistry since, under either coalition or Tories

CovoidOfAllHumanity · 19/03/2021 07:35

I do get where OP is coming from
I always assumed NHS dentistry was a normal thing and that only very posh people would pay for private like it is for medicine.

Our family have been lucky to always have an NHS dentist (there's actually quite a few near us) and I just accept that it's a second class service to their private patients (can't have the best appt times, have to pay for hygienist separately, can't have white fillings) I am OK with that. Paying privately for a better dental service isn't a priority for me.

I think it should be like medicine that you are entitled to a basic NHS service and if you want nice extras you pay but surely no-one should be excluded from what I thought was still a universal service for being too middle class.