How am I going to pay for my dentist treatment?

[Foody8410]

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

You said you had no problem paying? This does not make sense.

It's the start of your second message. No problem paying.

I hadnt been to the dentist since pre-Covid and they did the same. I had a decayed tooth crack and was in terrible pain and I called around surgeries looking for an emergancy appointment. I managed to get one with a random dentist on the same day and they removed the tooth on the NHS for £65. I then spoke to my normal surgery and explained that I would need to come back on their books for checkups post removal and they agreed. Have you tried booking an emergency appointment with other dentists? Really hope you manage to sort it!

@Lesperance you've misunderstood. I was referring to people saying it's OK to ask husband to pay as if he had refused. I was answering that he will always happily pay for anything I need but dental comes with a large cost which at this moment in time we can't afford.

Sorry but private treatment for most things will be in the thousands . A tooth extraction is probably the cheapest element- I've had that done for around £150.
A scale and polish is around £80-100.
But it sounds like a filling or root canal treatment is required for the painful tooth, that's what's going to cost a lot.

We’re you given treatment plan?- a breakdown of what each thing costs
You should have been

Email the practice manager and explain about the cost. They may arrange a way to pay a bit at a time.

And yes dental treatment is expensive

In the last 30 minutes I have just arranged a root canal treatment [yuck!!!] appointment that my dentist said I needed after losing a filling last week. I have been quoted £75 for the initial consultation and £925 for the treatment [which will include the consultation should I go ahead].
I am still reeling....

OK so I have just been. Had to py £60 for 4 x rays. Painful tooth has decay inside that goes deep, one next to it has some too.
She wants me to go back next week for invesgation, I only heard the word drilling. This will cost £290. Then she says will come up with a plan, mentioned root canal. I said no to that. I don't even understand what I'm having done next week, I presume the £290 is without fillings?? But surely once she's drilled them I will have no choice?

My dentist offers 0% interest credit - so if something like that is available it is better than a credit card.

However, even privately, I had to cancel a check-up in February, and I couldn't get another appointment until April (next week).

I went private as no NHS available (very low income, single parent) they gave me a breakdown of the treatment I needed and I had to prioritise, as I have poor credit and low income I couldn't spread the cost. I had to start with where I had pain and go from there each time I could afford to.

If is shocking the state of dentistry in this country. But my sibling paid £150 to have a tooth pulled and I spent £120 on having a tooth saved, so it's worth getting the worst bits seen to before extraction is the only option. Actually saved me a tooth and some cash!

Just ring them back OP, surely the receptionist will be able to see which treatment you are booked for, and will confirm filling costs too.

underneaththeash

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.“

This happened to me too. They claimed I missed an appointment. I knew nothing about it and am very good with such things. They always call the day before with a reminder. I received no call.

At 58, I have good teeth and haven’t required any “work”. I suspect they just wanted me off the list because I wasn’t profitable.

Is there a dental hospital.

The other option you have is to see if there is a dental hospital in reasonable distance if you.

We have a dental hospital in Sheffield where you are treated by supervised students. At a fraction of the cost. More complicated procedures are done by 4th year students. Less complicated by 2/3 year. But all supervised at all times.

@EmeraldShamrock1

Is there a dental hospital.

That's what I was thinking too. OP said she has been now so may be too late. You can ring 111 your teeth sounded like they needed looking at. Teeth are important.

I had a lot of work done through the dental hospital.

If you're in pain I'd head to the a&e and enquire about student dentistry.

They're usually 5th year students.

@Foody8410

OK so I have just been. Had to py £60 for 4 x rays. Painful tooth has decay inside that goes deep, one next to it has some too. She wants me to go back next week for invesgation, I only heard the word drilling. This will cost £290. Then she says will come up with a plan, mentioned root canal. I said no to that. I don't even understand what I'm having done next week, I presume the £290 is without fillings?? But surely once she's drilled them I will have no choice?

Why didn't you ask more detail at the time? I don't understand why you wouldn't ask a few questions about it since you're so worried to type up a thread about all this If?

If you'd be so crippled by a £500 essential bill like you said, could you consider getting a job even part time?

I could hardly understand what she was saying through all the ppe & I'm a nervous wreck in dentists.
I've given her a call and spoken to her directly. I'm correct, she wants to drill to see how deep the cavity is and will put a temporary filling. That's £290. Then the proper fillings after that are £200 each!! They don't offer any kind of payment plan. She just said can do it one at a time.

Underneaththeash
Dentists can remove you from their "list" with no notice and for no reason, as no NHS patient is actually registered with a practice anymore. Since the contract change, and end of capitation in 2006, the practice has no obligation to see a patient unless they have accepted them for a course of treatment, and this obligation only lasts until the treatment is complete. Once that treatment is complete the patient has no legal right to be seen again at the practice - it is up to the practice if they accept them again or not. This was the government's brilliant solution to the lack of NHS dental appointments!
With the news that a large percentage of dentists are planning on handing back their NHS contracts this week, the situation will only get worse....

Contact the NHS emergency dentist peeps and say it's an emergency. You'll get it all sorted at the capped rate. You don't need to go private.

It may be you go to the NHS dental hosp or they may just send you to the local out of hours dentist ( who will be a local dentist taking NHS patients and they'll take you on).
And I'll just say that this is why we can't let our beautiful NHS go the way of dentists where they do NHS work ( allegedly) but can do private work because as our dentist service is proving the greedy buggers just start freezing out NHS patients ( although they still make good money from those patients, and some) in favour of the private work that they can charge whatever they like for. All while being trained by the NHS for peanuts and gaining experience through the NHS with guaranteed patients before sodding off with all those years experience to only cater to the wealthy.

OP, I'm similar to you in that my husband has paid out for my expensive dental care when we've not had the funds and it has gone on his credit card. I used to feel quite guilty about this. I'm blessed with bad teeth, which took a noticeable dive after having the two children that he really wanted, and I wanted too, but he always dreamt of being a dad. X rays show how much my teeth demineralised(?)before and after two pregnancies.

A five year BDS at over £9000 per year is, hardly peanuts, WalltoWallBtards! And I wouldn't class any of my colleagues as greedy buggers, just professionals who want to provide a decent service but are struggling within the confines of NHS funding.
As for this good money they are making from NHS patients, have you any knowledge of how UDAs work?

@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?

I net he wouldn't feel horribly guilty if he had a sore tooth that needed fixing,he'd just get it fixed.

Dont feel guilty for essential health care that needs paying for. If things are tight generally then consider bringing in some extra cash with a weekend/ evening job or something part time unless your children are very young. Also have you checked for any benfit entitlement, you may be surprised?