Why are Dentists not like opticians?

[Noisenough]

You may guess I am mightily pissed I cannot find an NHS dentist who will take me on but I can walk into nearly every Opticians and have care at the going NHS rate. I can choose to pay extra for fancy designer glasses or can make do with an adequate pair for NHS ones.

I know there isn't a bottomless pot but surely oral healthcare is as important as anything else?

Dental treatment is more expensive and invasive than having your eyes tested

I’m just guessing but more people need access to dental treatment compared to an eye test/other optometry issues. I’ve never needed to see the opticians but I see my dentist twice a year. Everyone is advised to get routine checkups regardless of having oral issues or not, but not everyone needs access to regular optician checkups

I’ve also read that NHS dentists tend to offer private treatments too to keep afloat as they don’t get much back from NHS treatment. There’s a cap of how many people they may be able to have on their books as a result.

You don't go for eye tests ever? Do you not drive, work with computers, or want advance warning of silent conditions that might lose you your sight?

Your optician is mostly private.

If you are lucky you get an nhs free eye test. All but the cheapest frames are nhs.

You’re only entitled to NHS optometry if you are a minor, in receipt of benefits, or have certain diagnosed diseases.

Everyone in theory is entitled to NHS dentistry - that’s why there’s a difference.

It’s a lot easier to qualify as an optician than it is as a dentist so there are probably a lot more of them as well.

I get free NHS sight tests because my vision is -10.5. Not sure I would call that "lucky" though! 😅

Also, you're wrong about this:

Everyone is advised to get routine checkups regardless of having oral issues or not, but not everyone needs access to regular optician checkups

— the NHS recommends adults have their eyes checked every two years, unless they have a reason to get them checked more frequently. www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/visiting-an-optician/

The uk has cheap eye tests and the opticians make the money in selling frames. In other countries the medically bit is expensive and the frames cheaper.

Plus the nhs bit is limited to certain categories.

@Noisenough

You may guess I am mightily pissed I cannot find an NHS dentist who will take me on...

Try when you're sober?

(Sorry)

Dental care is so important to/for general health. I've always wondered why it doesn't fall under NHS care completely. I live outside of the UK now and have to pay for dental treatment, and luckily, I'm able to do so, but many people struggle to afford it.

Where I live, if you have a medical card, you're entitled to 1 free check up a year, 2 fillings, a clean, unlimited extractions and root canal for front teeth. However, more and more dentists are refusing to take on medical card patients. As a private patient, if you've paid enough NI, you are entitled to a free check up and scale & polish annually. Root canal can cost around €700 plus the crown at €700! An appointment with the hygienest is generally €50. A basic dental check up is €60.

Honestly I haven’t needed to as my vision is good and hasn’t deteriorated. You don’t need a recent eye test to be able to drive. I can get dry eyes from staring at screens all day but ultimately my vision isn’t impacted. My work offers free eye tests though so might book one in!

Optician cost me more than the dentist and I don't even wear glasses.

Being entitled to NHS dentist care and actually getting it are 2 different things. All eye tests are subsided by NHS are they not? Obviously charges differ but usually around £25-30 mark. NHS dentists also charge unless you're a child, benefits/low income, you pay for treatment over a certain value and usually a topup on glasees price do you not I may be mistaken.

Go for it — there's all kinds of things an optician can catch long before you ever become aware of it yourself, and in time to prevent sight loss.

Plus, if you don't take it up, you're letting your workplace get away with not having to provide something you're entitled to in law

I'm aware you don't need to prove your eyesight is good to drive, but it's easy for deterioration of different kinds to sneak up on you, because the brain is generally good at filling in, and before you know it you're putting yourself (and other road users) at risk.

I'm not sure about smaller independents, but for the chains, the sight test (which includes an examination of the health of the eye which can flag up all manner of health things, so yes, go regularly even if you don't think you need to), doesn't cover costs. They make their money on frames.

Dentists don't sell things in the same way so the model is different.

Even people who don't wear glasses should go to optician at least every 2 years. And it's free for children.

@SofiaSoFar haha wish I was (pissed not sober)

The model being different makes alot of sense I didn't really consider that.

It's just very difficult finding the money for essential things like my teeth that need more work having spent £500+ last year on basic repairs 🙄

I know I am not the first and definitely won't be the last to put off medical care because we can't afford it just yet.