Getting an NHS dentist

[HeraInTheHereAndNow]

Just wondering if anyone can tell me where all the NHS dentists have gone? Have moved area for work and need to register.

I’m baffled that there are literally no practices within a 20 mile radius unless it’s an emergency. Are we going to go back to grotty teeth by the time we’re 30 because we don’t get regular checks and hygienist treatments?

I phoned around and they’re ALL either Denplan or MyDentist or “payment terms available”. I think you need to be desperate now, ie. decay and tooth/gum damage, teeth dropping out to get basic dental care.

I just don’t understand. Don’t we, as a nation, train dentists anymore?

The ones in my area have waiting lists that cut off at 250 people :S We just have to suck it up and pay for private

This is what getting care in the nhs will be like, before long. We’ll be in pain, awaiting surgery/intervention and them hoping we drop dead before we come to the top of the queue.

I’m not sure we ought to be training dentists at cost to the tax payer then, if you can’t get any appointments for basic care. Obviously, I don’t mean emergency care. That’s available is you’re desperate but, I’m noticing a lot of grotty teeth on young people and wonder whether it’s just not a priority in terms of available income.

It’s disgraceful.

Same situation here. DH and I have had no choice but to pay for private treatment. There are absolutely no NHS options near us, none are taking on new patients.

@ToryStelling

Same situation here. DH and I have had no choice but to pay for private treatment. There are absolutely no NHS options near us, none are taking on new patients.

This is our situation too. Even private my dentist wanted £2k upfront for treatment (yes a lot of work needed to be done), due to not being able to find an nhs dentist with my dental problems worsening and not being able to afford private treatment earlier.

"This is what getting care in the nhs will be like, before long. We’ll be in pain, awaiting surgery/intervention and them hoping we drop dead before we come to the top of the queue."

Its been like that for years. Cancer treatment. Routine operations. Hip replacements. Covid has been a great time for the NHS for saving money. Or could have been, if it had been properly handled... sigh.

It is a lot cheaper if people die before they get proper treatment. And dentures are a lot cheaper in the long run than a lifetime of 6 monthly checkups.

NHS is there for benefits britain, really. (I know its not sold as that, but lets be clear, statistically its not people working full time and paying into the system that spend all day trying to extract its resources, we dont have the time)

MyDentist practices are all mainly NHS with a small private contract.

There is very little government funding for NHS dentistry. A dentist can only work as an NHS dentist if they have a contract with the NHS to do so. There are a limited number of contracts available, therefore a limited number of dentists/practices can offer NHS treatment. It’s not to to with how many dentists there are, but how much government funding is available to provide the service.

Plus, social distancing is having a huge effect on how many patients we can actually get into the practice in one day, hence no-one taking on more.

My dentist is an nhs one. They are dreadful at seeing patients. Theyve not even got a hygienist anymore. They dont even answer the phone. I did have a private dentist but he closed his surgery, and I refuse to pay denplan or private for shitty nhs ten minute treatment if theyll actually answer the phone.

I dont actually think nhs dentistry will be a thing for most for much longer.

I can’t find any local NHS dentists taking new patients. Earlier this year, I had to have emergency treatment at a surgery about an hour away.
I am on a waiting list at two NHS places, one I’ve been waiting for more than two years to get a look in.
There are spaces if you are willing to pay, of course.

A friend still has her entirely private dentist and was seen three times last year as normal and also saw her hygienist. Funny that

Private dentists do not have to follow NHS regs re COVID. NHS ones do. So private can open all hours and see as many patients as they like. NHS ones are bound by their NHS contracts and do as they are told!

I’m not sure we ought to be training dentists at cost to the tax payer then, if you can’t get any appointments for basic care.

Dental students pay their own university fees for the first 4 years. At £9,250 per year, no wonder they all want to go private ASAP.

I pay £12 per month for a private dentist: this includes two check ups, two hygienist visits and basic x rays. Not too bad really, I never understand why people are so adverse at the idea of paying for dental care in the UK.

@RachelRavenR0th

My dentist is an nhs one. They are dreadful at seeing patients. Theyve not even got a hygienist anymore. They dont even answer the phone. I did have a private dentist but he closed his surgery, and I refuse to pay denplan or private for shitty nhs ten minute treatment if theyll actually answer the phone.

I dont actually think nhs dentistry will be a thing for most for much longer.

Agree, I briefly had an NHS dentist about 15 years ago but promptly switched to private as it took too long to be seen.

I’m lucky that I’ve not needed much treatment, had braces, but otherwise not had anything done. The denplan payments cover the checkups, X-rays and hygienist appointments and I don’t think the costs are unreasonable.

The denplan payments cover the checkups, X-rays and hygienist appointments and I don’t think the costs are unreasonable.
It sounds like it was cost effective at your practice. But at my dentist’s surgery Ive relatives who aRe denplan aNd were not seen once last year at all and have spent hours trying to get through on the phone. So, for them the denplan cost was not reasonable.

Dental students pay their own university fees for the first 4 years. At £9,250 per year, no wonder they all want to go private ASAP.
What's unusual about university fees?

Good point made that dental problems mount up and then, it costs a fortune to sort out. My grand generation were fond of having teeth out and dentures in by 25. What a sorry state of affairs if we go back to that.

I called my local MyDentist today. Receptionist said they could take me but everything is on a payment plan, no nags work at all.

It’ll do me no good but I’ll drop a line to my MP. He was an NHS Dr. Again, the gap (pardon the pun) between rich and poor.

No NHS work at all 🙄

I’m noticing a lot of grotty teeth on young people and wonder whether it’s just not a priority in terms of available income.

When I read that almost half of adults have gum disease by the time they are 30, I started flossing daily and looked at getting a private dentist. When I mentioned this to some of my friends, they were horrified that I was choosing to go private. They don't bat an eyelid at spending the equivalent of £12 on a cocktail, a takeaway, bottle of wine, make up, clothes, phone contract, fancy night cream etc etc. But £12 a month on dental care is a luxury .

You only get one set of teeth. If you get problems with them it's painful and can make you miserable, it can affect if you can eat or sleep or not, and from a vanity point of view it's one of the first things people notice. It's bonkers that so many people don't see it as a priority.

As I said, I’m Denplan and saw a dentist (only because I’d cracked a tooth) after 12 months and no hygienist at all, due to Covid. No rebate on my £36 per month denplan though!

@RachelRavenR0th

Nothing unusual about university fees, but the OP said that we shouldn't be training dentists at the cost of the tax payer, which isn't really the case.

The only two good NHS dentistst in my area have a one year wait just to get registered....i worked abroad for a year so got removed from my dentist...as missed the check ups etc....!...so now i go to spain which is private but cheaper or now i use dentist in turkey when over there on holiday....but have to pay private for any emergency work here now.

@AlrightTreacle. Okay. And what if you work two/three jobs on zero hours contracts and have kids to feed/clothe?

Very judgemental, there. If you HAVE dental problems your initial denplan assessment and resulting monthly cost will be considerably higher than £12 per month.

@AlrightTreacle. Much of the training actually happens within the nhs

My example was that in my group of friends: late 20s, early 30s, most without kids yet and fairly comfortable disposable income, paying for a private dentist is seen as unthinkable. But fairly expensive phone contracts or cars on finance is seen as normal. So I was agreeing with your point about noticing a lot of grotty teeth on young people and wondering whether it’s just not a priority in terms of available income.

Dental students pay their own fees for the first four years, the final year is covered by an NHS bursary:
www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/study-and-training/considering-or-university/financial-support-university/financial-support-medical-and-dental-students

Just signed up with an NHS dentist - the only one in a 50 mile radius taking new patients. I have my first appointment booked for November 2022.

I had an accident as a child and lost two front teeth. If I go privately that’s about 5 grand every eight years. Same dentist, same practice but have their quota of NHS patients.

I’m not surprised people on modest incomes find it unaffordable.