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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Last time you had an appointment with a dentist?

135 replies

fingersdoublecrossed · 27/02/2022 21:22

Just wondering really.
For us, it was before Covid. Not too bothered for the adults in the family, but I'm worried for my child. Her last routine appointment was June 2019, when she was told she would most likely need braces in the future.
Should I be pushing for an appointment or are we still in 'place' where it's just emergencies that get seen?

OP posts:
MajorCarolDanvers · 27/02/2022 21:41

Pre pandemic for all of us

CovidCorvid · 27/02/2022 21:42

My nhs dentist isn’t letting me have a checkup as my dentist has left and they can’t find a new dentist to replace her. However I’m being kept on the books as they know I’ve tried to make an appointment.

Other dentists in the practice are seeing their nhs patients but booked up till July and I’m not allowed to see any of them. 🤷‍♀️

Question887 · 27/02/2022 21:43

Not since way before Covid. I called my surgery just before Christmas to ask if they were seeing patients and they said they would be starting routine appointments in January but astarting with children first..not heard anything yet. The same as you, I'm not bothered about me but my son had jaw distraction surgery 3 years ago and his teeth positioning will be effected and he should be monitored.

AmberGer · 27/02/2022 21:44

(Nhs) We went a couple of weeks ago. The first time since 2019, appointments scheduled for 2020 got cancelled and they finally contacted us a few weeks ago to say we were due to be seen.

mozziah · 27/02/2022 21:46

August 2019, mine is only open to children! Looking for a new NHS one but none near me are taking new patients.

StressyWoman · 27/02/2022 21:46

I’ve had 2 routine check ups now.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 27/02/2022 21:47

Last check up in April, further treatment in November. My husband has been removed from their list as hasn't been since pre covid and despite the fact they were shut for a year.

Tree543 · 27/02/2022 21:48

My nhs dentist has been normal for ages I think i have had 2 hygienist appointments and 2 check ups. My ds has had 2 check ups and since the dentist restarted was referred for a brace had a 9 month wait to see an nhs orthodontist and now has his brace fiitted.

thenightsky · 27/02/2022 21:49

@Minfilia

21 years here, but I have a feeling I’m not your target audience Grin
me too (phobic)
CaveMum · 27/02/2022 21:52

You need to call and check the situation. A lot of dentists have been striking NHS patients off their books if they haven’t been for 2 years and then refusing to take them back on as NHS.

We’ve been ok (me & 2 kids) because we were seen just before 1st lockdown and then got in again in Dec 2020 for belated check up and we’ve been on routine 6 month checkups ever since.

DH has not been so lucky, he left the RAF in Jan 2020 and did not get round to registering with our dentist before lockdown struck. He’s been told since they’re not taking on any NHS patients so unless he’s prepared to go on the books as private the nearest dental practice taking NHS patients is 35 miles away!

Original poster
fingersdoublecrossed · 27/02/2022 21:53
  • a'place' Sorry for the error! It seems that we're all having very different experiences, NHS wise. I'm going to contact mine tomorrow. I'm not particularly happy about it, so they will feel my wrath if they tell me we've been struck off. We moved house 12 months ago so I spoke to them then to change address but that's the only communication we've had.
OP posts:
GTAlogic · 27/02/2022 21:56

The NHS dental practice we go to got in touch with us just before Christmas. We made an appointment straight away but had to cancel so we went at the start of February. We have our next appointment in the summer holidays.

hm1610 · 27/02/2022 21:59

Mine still aren't doing routine appts. I've been twice since covid for pain related treatment. One appt was cancelled in Dec 21 and only rescheduled to Thurs last week. My son is 3.5 and only been to dentist once, I asked about this on Thurs and they said they aren't doing routine as just don't have the staff but will put him on list for when they are again Hmm I'm in Scotland if that helps.

GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy · 27/02/2022 21:59

Last Sunday I broke a tooth. Rang up first thing Monday and was seen that afternoon. They advised I come in for a full check-up so will be interested to see how quickly I can get in for a non-emergency.

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 27/02/2022 22:02

I've had 3 appts since lockdown 1 & the kids have had 2.
Dentist is not taking new NHS patients though only children & people in pain who need immediate attention.

PurpleDaisies · 27/02/2022 22:04

I’ve got one this week. I had check ups roughly six months and a year ago. This is private though.

bigbluebus · 27/02/2022 22:09

All 3 adults in this household have had an NHS check up post covid - in fact I'm due another one at the end of March. It was only because DH lost part of a filling and rang to see of he could get that sorted (he got an appointment for that quickly) that he asked about check ups for us and was told we could ring and book.

aintnospringchicken · 27/02/2022 22:12

I've had 2 routine check ups(NHS dentist and 2 hygienist appointments since lockdown ended.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 27/02/2022 22:13

We've had 2 routine check ups since covid. Ours took a while to get back up and running and then didn't really advertise that they were back doing routine work so it wasn't until I contacted them to ask that we found out. However, they have been great. Dc3 has a natural anomaly on his permanent molars that have come through and has had them sealed and at our last check up a couple of weeks ago dc1 and 2 were referred to orthodontics and we've adjust had contact, submitted photos and been given face to face appointments for in a few weeks time.

Cecilia2016 · 27/02/2022 22:14

I took my children 2 weeks ago for the check ups and as for me I was told I’m longer on the list because I haven’t been there for 4years so I have to re register again and no space for new patients until July. And only found out when I was in pain and I need the appointment and I couldn’t get one and I have to go through NHS dental emergency.

PlanetNormal · 27/02/2022 22:14

I had a routine check up with my NHS dentist on Thursday. I’m in Leicestershire.

raspberryjamchicken · 27/02/2022 22:15

Last week - the kids and I. We are lucky enough to have an NHS dentist. It was impossible to get an appointment for 18 months because of Covid (and our last appointment was 6 months before the first lockdown so we went without seeing a dentist for two years) but now things seem to be running fairly normally. We had check ups in the summer and I was able to book for the next 6-monthly check up at the end of that appointment, then I did the same this time.

Ragwort · 27/02/2022 22:16

I had an abscess last year and couldn't get an appointment with my NHS dentist so I went private ... my DH is now having regular check ups with the NHS dentist but I will stay with the private one.

NoWordForFluffy · 27/02/2022 22:16

Ours were back to semi-normal last February, when the kids were seen for the first time in a year. They've had two appointments since. I was seen in April and again last month (was told I could have a 9 month gap for a change). My husband has had two appointments since then too.

All back to normal here, definitely.

TopCatsTopHat · 27/02/2022 22:17

We had routine appointment in December which was the earliest we could get after they commenced normal appointments and cleared their banklog. That's North West England

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