To think I should be able to see a dentist

[crinklyfoil]

Starting to get a bit frustrated. Never had problems with my teeth and had them cleaned by the dentist twice a year. Last had them done January 2020. Obviously stopped due to covid. My dentist was only taking emergency patients even when restrictions were lifted.

I’ve got a horrible taste in my mouth. It’s only temporarily relieved by toothpaste or mouthwash. It’s at the very back of my throat - really horrible. I suspect my teeth are long overdue for a really good professional clean.

But I can’t because we’ve now moved and none of the dentists are seeing NHS patients.

AIBU to think dental care is fucked up!?

YABNU we had similar issues when we moved late last year and I had to go private. Dental care is no longer available on the NHS !

Assuming you brush and floss regularly then it’s more likely to be tonsil stones.

You’re not wrong about the lack of NHS dentistry provision - it’s a disgrace.

I did wonder about tonsil stones. I have very occasionally got them in the past when I’ve had greasy food like a KFC or chips! But they always fall out of their own accord while this has been going on for a few months. It’s making me paranoid. DP keeps rolling his eyes and saying it’s fine but I know I just can’t clean my own teeth as thoroughly as a dentist.

I think going private is my only option but it’s frustrating as I’m not working at the moment and moneys tight!

Tonsiliths or sometimes reflux see your gp to rule anything else out

Their just isn't enough NHS funding. Blame the government. Not the dentist.

Also you can also phone 111 for your nearest NHS dental clinic if you're worried about it.

No I do blame the dentists. They didn’t have to stay shut to NHS patients but accept private ones!

Unless you get your NHS treatment totally free, wouldn't your missed appointments have mounted up so you could afford a private check-up by now? Unless you need a lot of work done, it doesn't have to cost that much more.

@crinklyfoil

No I do blame the dentists. They didn’t have to stay shut to NHS patients but accept private ones!

They do if they don’t get paid enough by the NHS to cover their own costs.

Dentistry is one of the services that is being quietly privatised. NHS funding is pathetic. Contrary to popular belief dentists don't hold lists like GPs do but at the end of the day it's just about ringing round and finding an NHS dentist who will put you on their waiting list.

There was a complicated contractural reason why dentists couldn't take NHS patients but could take private - something about the NHS funding 45% of pre-covid NHS patients but no more because they decided dentists could only safely do 45% of the work (dentistry was very high risk for covid because of fishing round in people's mouths/spraying saliva everywhere etc). Once the dentists had hit that 45% they couldn't offer any more NHS appointments. Something like that.

You don't need a dentist to clean your teeth for you unless you can't clean them yourself.

Hygienists have direct access these days, why don't you give one of them a call?

You know absolutely nothing about how dental care is funded, I admire your commitment to publicly announcing your ignorance.

I never had an NHS clean, hygienist was always a paid for option.
I dropped off my dentist list in 2019 after illness.
I'm on four waiting lists (shortest is 4 months now woohoo) but I had to 111 for an emergency filling, had a couple of days mess about but tooth did get filled for £20.80!
The hygienist does a clean without anaesthetic for £52 at my usual dentist although they aren't taking bloody private patients either
It's a minefield.

It may depend on the dentist, mine didn't accept either patients during lockdown, only emergencies. They're open for everyone now. But I couldn't find an NHS dentist for years. I can imagine many people never go to a dentist because of that. Eventually I found one near my office. It's not as convenient as having one close to home, but at least moving houses doesn't affect things.

During lockdown I had a toothache, called 111, and got an appointment the same day, so that's an option if things are bad. But I agree it sounds like something not tooth related, so a GP may be able to help.

Also if you're on income support or receiving jobseeker's allowance, you may be entitled to free dental care?

It’s tricky purple but it is frustrating from my point of view.

pink it isn’t that straightforward. I would normally have seen the dentist twice by now in any case - last time I had my teeth cleaned was January 2020. So normally would have seen the dentist in July / august 2020 and in January 2021. So perhaps saved £60. I haven’t reserved that in a pot saying ‘dentist’ and it would have been totally free as pregnant.

I did enquire about private and the costs were huge. I’ll obviously have to fork out at some point but right now I just can’t and I am worried that something could go wrong and I won’t have a dentist!

The NHS put strict guidelines in place that meant only emergencies could be treated as part of the pandemic.They were still receiving government money even though they weren't seeing patients so they have no financial incentive to reopen.
Many NHS practices are still not open/back to working capacity due to this unfortunately,
Yet Private practices have been working following all new legislation since June last year (I work in Private practice) I'm not sure why NHS practices aren't doing routine treatments at the moment as we are obviously as we have no financial backing so if we don't work we don't get paid.it's not right that NHS dentistry is so underfunded and people should have the choice for NHS dentistry but sadly I'm not sure how long it will be available as so much is being cut back.It will end up as Private treatment only eventually.

@crinklyfoil

No I do blame the dentists. They didn’t have to stay shut to NHS patients but accept private ones!

My dentist does NHS and private. The cost of a private check up is £5 more than the NHS costs. They charge £50 for a clean and polish. So not much more than the NHS charges. A crown costs £500, I paid £300+ for an NHS one.

I am entitled to free dental care. But only from the NHS. I can’t find an NHS dentist so it’s a no go.

soon, a check up and a clean is £170. I am still entitled to free treatment on the nhs but in any event, it used to cost £30.

@shazkevincarrotlover

The NHS put strict guidelines in place that meant only emergencies could be treated as part of the pandemic.They were still receiving government money even though they weren't seeing patients so they have no financial incentive to reopen. Many NHS practices are still not open/back to working capacity due to this unfortunately, Yet Private practices have been working following all new legislation since June last year (I work in Private practice) I'm not sure why NHS practices aren't doing routine treatments at the moment as we are obviously as we have no financial backing so if we don't work we don't get paid.it's not right that NHS dentistry is so underfunded and people should have the choice for NHS dentistry but sadly I'm not sure how long it will be available as so much is being cut back.It will end up as Private treatment only eventually.

This.

I haven’t had a problem seeing mine, had a crown done as soon as they were open and we’ve all had checkups.

Also, just because you move house doesn’t mean you have to move dentists - unlike GPs

Well no but I can’t really be driving two and a half hours to see a dentist!

Time to accept that the government are privatising everything they can.

Can you afford a private checkup?

www.which.co.uk/reviews/dentists/article/private-and-nhs-dental-charges-al0jA6J1Swyl

No, that’s why I’m in this predicament.

And yes, the government are responsible but dentists aren’t totally without any responsibility either. It isn’t good enough, IMO, to accept government money and refuse to see patients - I’d be pulverised for that!