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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How am I going to pay for my dentist treatment?

60 replies

Foody8410 · 31/03/2022 07:42

Aibu to say that dental treatment is extremely expensive?
I'm currently a sahm, husband pays for everything I need but we don't have much to spare each month. Don't claim any benefits.
I haven't been to the dentist in 3 years because as covid began they didn't calle for my check up, then accused me of not attending & took me off their books. Since then I have been ringing dentists in a 40 mile radius every day and none are taking on or even have waiting lists. I now need multiple things done but they arent emergency treatment as not in pain.

I've been plodding on hoping I find somewhere else, but now I have a tooth that broke in half and previous dentist built it up with composite??? This has fallen off. And I can't bite on the other side as feel a huge electric shock up a tooth when I bite down. I also have areas of decay on my front teeth that I need sorting.

So I've had to go private, my first appointment is today. I am very very worried about what this is going to cost?
I need it done but how am I going to pay for it? I don't believe the dentist offers payment plans etc so is it the case of putting it on a credit card and paying it off afterwards? I don't have my own credit card as not eligible so will have to go on husbands. I feel horribly guilty

OP posts:
Dreambigger · 31/03/2022 07:51

Hope you get sorted with dentist.. sounds awful. Im sure it won't be as bad as you fear and it is def worth the money.yes you will need to pay with credit card. I think the bigger issue is about finances and how you need to have your own credit card and that your husbands income is equally yours and you need to get a hold on this situation...its not a good place to be ! Maybe it's time to consider going back to work ? You can't live like this longterm ...you need financial independence. Good luck

caulkheaded · 31/03/2022 07:55

How about taking our denplan or something similar and finding a private dentist which accepts it.
Also - work out the finances with DH. It’s either shared or it’s not, and if it’s not you need your own income.

TomDaleysCardigan · 31/03/2022 07:56

Private usually do a payment plan? Ring and ask.

Original poster
Foody8410 · 31/03/2022 07:58

My husband has no problem with paying, we have a joint account and I have access to it for everything I need with a card.
But what I mean is I feel guilty that he might have to pay a huge dental bill for me.
I will ask them today if they accept insurance or plans.
Does anyone know how much roughly a private dentist would charge to just take the tooth out?

OP posts:
SilverGlassHare · 31/03/2022 07:58

Are you sure they don’t offer payment plans? It’s worth asking.

Dentistry in this country is in crisis - there just aren’t enough NHS dentists. It’s a disgrace. My son’s appointment was cancelled by his NHS dentist, I got a text advising me to call to reschedule and the next available one outside school hours was December! I managed to get one in May but he’ll have to miss a morning of school time. I really feel for all the people who were off-rolled over the pandemic, it doesn’t seem fair at all.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 31/03/2022 08:01

My dentist offers payment plans. I had 3k worth of work done relatively recently, I had it on interest free over 20 months.

Sidhdbej · 31/03/2022 08:01

I recently went private because after moving my dentist is 70 miles away, I needed 2 fillings and a special scale and polish, they wanted about £180 per filling and £350 for the scale and polish so total bill £700! They also terrified me saying I had the start of gum disease and stuff. There's no way I could afford that so I had to go back to my NHS dentist (who said there is nothing wrong with my teeth or gums and just did my normal scale and polish)

If they say you need lots of stuff you can pick which bits you want when and stuff though, is just having the tooth removed an option?

Ragwort · 31/03/2022 08:06

Don't feel guilty - you are a team and share expenses, and dental treatment is essential. You are a SAHM, presumably caring for your DH's DC and home .... surely he wouldn't begrudge you dental treatment? Don't fall into the trap of thinking it's his money.

I was a SAHM for 12 years ... all money went into the joint account as was used as needed.

bookish83 · 31/03/2022 08:09

Mine charged about £100 to remove a tooth but that was pre covid so I'm sure a bit higher now.

Once they have checked your teeth and done any work needed, you could then go on denplan. It is a way to feel like you are in control of dental bills.

underneaththeash · 31/03/2022 08:12

Did you actually miss (ie not attend them) your scheduled check ups? Otherwise the practice can't just take you off their lists without notice (and giving you the opportunity to come in).

I'd try making a complaint first - if you've already tried complaining to the practice, then call NHS england on 0300 311 22 33.

bluecandicane · 31/03/2022 08:15

Mine was £50 dental examination and £75 tooth out

VeganGod · 31/03/2022 08:15

I had a tooth taken out a few months ago, privately. I think it cost about £150 with x rays but it will depend on your dentist and how easy the extraction is/which tooth it is etc. Good luck.

Lovemyheathershimmer · 31/03/2022 08:25

We just earn just over the benefits threshold, so not entitled to any benefits except child benefit. We struggle every month. I work 9-3 Monday to Thursday around the school hours. Min wage. I need a lot of dental work done and it’s building into my confidence as I have a chipped tooth. I have an nhs dentist so that’s a bit cheaper, but still expensive. I can’t seem to get an appointment though. With gas and electricity went up another 50 quid a month, it’s hard.

AngelinaFibres · 31/03/2022 08:31

@Foody8410

My husband has no problem with paying, we have a joint account and I have access to it for everything I need with a card. But what I mean is I feel guilty that he might have to pay a huge dental bill for me. I will ask them today if they accept insurance or plans. Does anyone know how much roughly a private dentist would charge to just take the tooth out?
He isn't paying the bill. He is working ,you are at home with his children. You are a team. It will cost at least £150.00 to have the tooth removed. It is likely he will do x rays too ,as you haven't seen a dentist for so long. You may well have a big bill. I have just had 2 crowns done . Private dentist, no NHS places in our area. It cost £2,000.
DomesticatedZombie · 31/03/2022 08:35

You can ring and ask, OP. Your dentist should be able to give you an estimate, if not a price list. My dentist took the initial consultation fee off the work I needed doing.

Bagelsandbrie · 31/03/2022 08:38

As others have said you shouldn’t feel guilty - if you’re a sahm you’re half of the team and are equally deserving of all use of family income. Would your dh feel guilty if he needed dental treatment?!

Livebythecoast · 31/03/2022 08:38

My DD is a trainee dental nurse in a private practice. She said they will need to x-ray the tooth £20 and extraction about £150 or so. This may vary in different practices.

Hope it goes okay for you.

Lesperance · 31/03/2022 08:46

This thread doesn't make sense. You don't actually have a problem beyond your tooth, do you? You need to see a dentist, and you have money to pay for it. A sense of perspective is needed here, you can afford it. And what you do is valuable. Give your head a wobble and get your tooth fixed.

Number1driver · 31/03/2022 08:47

I'm in Thailand currently, last week had a big molar filled, £34 tomorrow I'm starting root canal, estimate id about £200 !

urrrgh46 · 31/03/2022 08:49

You won't just be landed with a big bill with no idea of what's coming. At this first appointment the dentist will examine your teeth, take X-rays, Do anything that's an emergency and can't wait at all and work out a treatment plan for you. Sometimes it's totally possible to delay things that aren't totally urgent to spread the cost. I'm partway through a crown treatment that I should have had done in March 2020 but with covid and then some more urgent dental treatment superseded the crown being done until now. I'm lucky to have an NHS dentist but he's doing my crown privately as I want a white one which the NHS won't cover on a molar tooth.

garlicandsapphires · 31/03/2022 08:55

Why are you not eligible for a credit card? This is the sort of emergency I use mine for. Not ideal I know.

Original poster
Foody8410 · 31/03/2022 08:58

Thanks for reassuring me. Will I be eligible for a payment plan because I don't work?

@Lesperance we can't afford it at the moment. A bill of over 500 would cripple us and take a very long time to pay off

OP posts:
Chely · 31/03/2022 09:00

Don't feel guilty about spending on your health care.

We're a single income household too. I have always had an NHS dentist thankfully, we were back for checkups as soon as they started doing them. For paying I had a health plan that covered some of treatments but the premiums doubled this year so now I pay that money in to a savings account so I will have funds available should I need them for dental or optical. I got new glasses just before my plan ended and have a maternity exemption until August for dentist (having a filling today).

SartresSoul · 31/03/2022 09:04

Private will set you back thousands if you need lots doing, sorry. They usually have payment plans so you may need to do this or whack it on a credit card if you have one.

user1471457751 · 31/03/2022 09:05

@garlicandsapphires a look of banks will not give a credit card to someone with no income as a blanket rule. There will be no legal liability on the OPs husband to pay her credit card bill if the card is in her name so that's why they wouldn't take his income into account.