To ask what's the situation with dentists where you are?

[TheVampiresWife]

I've just been told that the next available appointment is in October - it'll be two and a half years since my last scale and polish. I've had two teeth out since March 2020 during emergency appointments, both of which could have been saved if the dentist had been able to do fillings. I've another one which started grumbling over the weekend and I'm worried that it won't hold on until October. Even if it does, the receptionist told me they 'probably won't be able' to do anything which results in areosol spray (proper scale and polish/drilling) then anyway, so it'll be another extraction. She said I could get it all done this week if I went private with them.

Not having a go at dentists at all - they're just trying to make a living. It's the NHS dental provision in the UK that's shit. Even before the pandemic getting an appointment was a nightmare and it's something so fundamental to good health. DD needs a dentist desperately but nowhere local is accepting new NHS patients, presumably because of the covid backlog.

Anyway, rant aside, is it the same everywhere?

I had a 4 week wait and they weren't doing scale and polish. Had to wait outside and put my stuff in a bag when I came in. Other than that it was normal. This was in March.

When I've been for my emergency appointments I've had to put my coat and bag into a plastic crate. Also the toilet wasn't open which was a real pain!

Oh but they definitely can do the aerosol stuff but have to clean/leave the room empty. My dad has had loads done. A worrying amount.

When I call mine it days for emergency appointments only and their pre recorded voice messages says 'DO NOT come to the practice..
I repeat DO NOT come to the practice' I think my DD needs a tooth out is this classed as an emergency appointment??

Mine are still getting through kids and old people. I call up every few weeks.

Ours are not seeing anyone unless it's an emergency

Nhs here. We’ve been told no routine appointments this year and probably next. Last went October 2019. It’s truly shocking.

Our whole family is private (children free under 18 if parents pay) and appointments have been running as normal since last summer. We’re due to go tomorrow for second check-up since then.

The issue as PP says is aerosol means the room cleaning, extra PPC, extra time between appointments. I assume this makes it totally uneconomical to prioritise NHS if they also see private patients. The funding for NHS work is woeful. Tomorrow I’m seeing the hygienist too and they won’t use all the electric tools, it’s more the manual pick etc - takes longer but reduces their risk.

If you can at all afford it I would go private, tbh.

I called our NHS dentist last week and was offered an appointment the same day (central London). I needed some work doing based on the check up and they’ve given me an appointment within 7 days.

However, while I was there the receptionist had so many calls from people wanting to book who weren’t already registered and they were all turned away.

I am not NHS so it’s different but I wanted to say that my dentist has been seeing patients since before the end of 2020. During the first lockdown it was emergency only but I went for a check up and a scale and polish in January - the only difference is that I had to have two appointments on different days rather than all in one go, because of changes to their tools / cleaning protocols.

I’ve also had cosmetic dental work at the orthodontist too, extra social distancing and cleaning but no real changes to appointments etc.

If you can afford it for DD I would pay privately for her in the meantime whilst you wait for NHS to come up - you shouldn’t have to of course but it really comes down to necessity at this point.

I’m shocked at the dentist / GP situation. It’s unethical to leave people. Barbaric really.

I've had no problem with my NHS dentist. Had a proper scale and polish last summer with the hygienist (she wore a proper respirator). Had a routine examination about a month ago, followed a week later by a filling. When I called to book the routine appointment, I got one for the following week. All NHS, although I know they're not taking new patients at the moment. I can't get to see a doctor though!

Our checkups were cancelled last year as they were when we were in lockdown. However they were rescheduled and we all saw the dentist in February half term. They did tell us when we went that they were running a year behind so that we wouldn't have another check up for twelve months. However, they stressed that if we had any problems between now and then we should ring them.

I had to wait about three weeks for an assessment and was told when making that appointment they weren't doing work really since then though I've had fillings and stuff and wouldn't have classed it as urgent. It's now about 6 weeks for an appointment I think at my practise, they're not really doing routine check ups and there's waiting lists for some work. The dentist explained it as they only have a certain amount of work they can undertake daily on the NHS at the moment so it's hindering what they can do slightly.

Does anyone know if there’s as much covid theatre for private patients as for NHS patients? I.E. do you get bossed about if you’re actually perceived as a private customer?

Only emergency treatment still unless you pay to go private. I checked with them recently. They said maybe towards the end of the year for NHS patients...

Sorry should've mentioned that DD is 25! She was seeing the dental students at the local hospital until just before the first lockdown but they haven't been seeing patients since.

Going private isn't an option unfortunately. I completely understand why it's not cost effective from a dentist's POV for NHS patients to be treated because of the extra measures needed. What I find outrageous is that the NHS isn't covering these costs - dental care is essential, particularly for certain groups. I'm on medication which affects my gum health and I have an autoimmune condition which doesn't help - there must be millions like me.

It's so depressing to hear that so many are in a similar situation.

@camelfinger

Does anyone know if there’s as much covid theatre for private patients as for NHS patients? I.E. do you get bossed about if you’re actually perceived as a private customer?

And are you allowed to use the toilet?!

I had my check up cancelled for a third time. I get it's been difficult during the pandemic and they have to prioritise emergency appointments, but I do wonder how many future issues they're causing by bumping check ups. I'm doing everything I can to keep my teeth and gums healthy, but would like to at least have a check up at some point in 2021.

NHS dentist. Still emergencies only.

@camelfinger

Does anyone know if there’s as much covid theatre for private patients as for NHS patients? I.E. do you get bossed about if you’re actually perceived as a private customer?

Surely it depends whether you go truly private, or private patient at an NHS practice?

Ours is 100% private - they don't do anything NHS at all and it's great. Very relaxing, unhurried and friendly.

NHS patient here, check up and hygienist appt for a deep clean and x rays last month

I haven't been to the dentist for a couple of years (dentist left the practice and I didn't have confidence in her replacement). I can't afford private, so am NHS (which is quite expensive enough imo).

I lost part of a filling early in the first lockdown and couldn't find a new dentist last year. A couple of weeks ago, I developed pretty bad toothache in that tooth. I rang every practice within approx a 10 mile radius, and couldn't find anyone who could see me. I managed to get an appointment in October, at a practice 8 miles away.

Because it was so painful, I tried to get an appointment at the emergency out of hours dental clinic. The local one couldn't do any treatments because the nurse had phoned in sick, and the one 18 miles away was fully booked within 30 minutes of the phone lines opening.

I took some codeine and some ibuprofen and went to bed. The next morning, thankfully, it stopped hurting.

If I won the lottery, I'd have all the bloody things out and have implants. Apart from a some root canal work in my early 20s, I've hardly needed any dental treatment. Forty years on, all the teeth that had the root canal fillings seem to be disintegrating. I had a couple of extractions about 10 & 12 years ago, and reckon that the one that's troubling me now will have to come out too.

Bastard teeth are a damn nuisance, and an expensive one at that, even on the NHS.

This is shocking!! Me and the kids all had checkups in Feb and I had a scale and polish. Think we had to wait 3-4 weeks from when I called to ask. DH had an abcess last October which was dealt with quickly - next day iirc. Were all NHS. I honestly thought dentists were fine once the lack of PPE issue was dealt with

I have gum problems which are getting worse. Called dentist last week to be told that hygienist is currently booking for November, and that my own dentist has retired. They haven't been able to get a new one to start so 2 dentists are doing the work of 4 and the only way to get an appointment is to call as an emergency at 8am!

Dr Google says my condition has moved to the next stage and I need to be referred, but even though it is urgent it isn't an emergency as such.