Dentist no longer NHS

[MissJeanBrodiesprime]

I feel like my dentist is really taking the mick, have been with the same one most of my life, DC’s also have gone there. Now no longer NHS. I didn’t go at all during lockdown, tried to make an appointment a few months ago only to be told I had to pay £125 for a new patients appt as I’d gone past the 2 year cut off which I knew nothing about (on top of the charge for the appointment). Then I recently made dd an appointment, asked for price which I was told, dd went to appt and price was double due to the fact they had forgotten she was over 18 when they told me the price. She paid over £50 as she was too shy to argue it. I have tried to argue it but they’re not interested. AIBU to think dentist practices are money grabbing? I know they are private and have to make a profit but there must be thousands of people who will not be able to afford their extortionate prices. All I can think is people will end up with dreadful teeth due to not going.

Lots of dentists are leaving the NHS as clearly more money private, as they can literally and do, charge what they want.

I think you have done better than most to have one for this long. I haven’t been able to find an NHS dentist for 25 years.

I agree OP. My dentist is NHS … so imagine my surprise when I got billed £60 for the appointment and £85 to have the wisdom tooth removed 🤔😒

I think it's pretty shabby of them to charge for being over the two year cut-off when they were closed for months last year. I have just realised I am going to be over that too, though I've had hygienists' appointments inbetween so maybe I'll be ok.

Do they have denplan? I pay about £17pm and it covers 2 x check ups and 2 x hygienist appointment plus other work

I think it's very unrealistic to expect ongoing comprehensive state care, tbh, with life expectancies rising/living longer, more and more complex and expensive health conditions and treatments arising and continued Tory government.