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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Dentists are greedy and disgrace

233 replies

Thisismynamenow · 12/09/2022 09:48

I have a hole in my tooth (thanks pregnancy for the poor teeth!)

My nhs dentist has apparentpy cancelled their nhs contract to go private (without telling patients) and not a single dentist within 20 miles is willing to take on nhs, but everyone can offer same day private appointments.

I know the nhs is underfunded but it's disgusting dentists are allowed to be only private, they should be made to be half nhs!

My tooth is killing me, I can't afford the £400 I've been quoted for the filling (it's a tiny hole, literally a pin hole!) And the hopsitall will only pull it which I don't want. Its annoying me more as i currently have a maternity exemption which I can't use.

Aibu to think dentists are greedy, and that it shouldn't be allowed?

OP posts:
Timesawastin · 12/04/2023 17:26

TrashPandas · 12/09/2022 09:57

Absolutely. You go first - drop to part time and take a 50% pay cut so you can use half your days to volunteer for a good cause. Okay?

Because NHS dentists work for free. Sure. My NHs dentist drives a Jag.

ReadersD1gest · 12/04/2023 17:35

Timesawastin · 12/04/2023 17:26

Because NHS dentists work for free. Sure. My NHs dentist drives a Jag.

Show quote history

What's your issue with a highly skilled professional charging for their services accordingly?

notwavingbutdrowning1 · 12/04/2023 20:33

My DH is an NHS dentist - the last full-time one in the town where we live. He is going off his head with stress. He is earning roughly a third less than he was a few years ago, because lab bills, staff costs, etc have gone up but his contract hasn't changed. He has about 2,500 patients on his books and is still trying to catch up after Covid. Ten years ago he would arrive at work 15 minutes before his first patient; now he gets there an hour and a half early to deal with the increase in paperwork.

He works for the NHS because he believes in it and is proud to provide NHS care, but this government is treating NHS dentists like shit. If they continue to do so, there will be none left. The answer isn't to 'force' them to work in the NHS, it is to offer them a proper contract once again.

I'm sorry you've got toothache but maybe look at the structural problems relating to lack of NHS dental care before you start blasting dentists as 'greedy'.

Naddd · 12/04/2023 20:38

RunningAlong · 12/09/2022 15:49

Nhs dentists are no better I was charged £300 for a root canal by my nhs dentist. The permanent filling fell out after a week and when I told them they explained that this would count as a whole new course of treatment and cost around £800. I was kicked off of their books when I informed them I was making a complaint!

Treatment on the nhs is covered for 12 months.
I have had to have 2 fillings done 3 times each recently!

Original poster
Thisismynamenow · 13/04/2023 01:21

notwavingbutdrowning1 · 12/04/2023 20:33

My DH is an NHS dentist - the last full-time one in the town where we live. He is going off his head with stress. He is earning roughly a third less than he was a few years ago, because lab bills, staff costs, etc have gone up but his contract hasn't changed. He has about 2,500 patients on his books and is still trying to catch up after Covid. Ten years ago he would arrive at work 15 minutes before his first patient; now he gets there an hour and a half early to deal with the increase in paperwork.

He works for the NHS because he believes in it and is proud to provide NHS care, but this government is treating NHS dentists like shit. If they continue to do so, there will be none left. The answer isn't to 'force' them to work in the NHS, it is to offer them a proper contract once again.

I'm sorry you've got toothache but maybe look at the structural problems relating to lack of NHS dental care before you start blasting dentists as 'greedy'.

@notwavingbutdrowning1 this thread is like 6 months old - I commented on like page 2 i realised I was unreasonable.

I didn't understand how the contracts worked, didnt realise it was so bad for dentists, had horid toothache, no money due to mat leave, an unusable exemption card, and my then dentist (who I'm going to argue is a terrible dentist - and I'm willing to die on that hill) failed to tell anyone they were going private until too late. I think I can be excused for ranting then accepting my error and failure to annoyed at the right person though I'll still be annoyed at that specific dentist.

I moved to another private dentist 4 doors down, who took much better care of me and offered cheaper prices/better quality. Seems like most of the patients of my old dentist moved as I've seen some heavy advertising from them recently stating they're taking on new patients (with an NHS logo on it - naughty them!)

I got the call last month that my new dentist will take me and my son on as nhs patients (they've got a recently graduated dentist so who knows how long they stay nhs for - but I'll take advantage whilst I can). Happy days!

Sorry your husbands so stressed - it's unfair on dentists really now I think full about it , I do hope for the sake of them and the patients government step up and properly fund the budgets.

OP posts:
OriginalUsername2 · 13/04/2023 02:10

TrashPandas · 12/09/2022 09:57

Absolutely. You go first - drop to part time and take a 50% pay cut so you can use half your days to volunteer for a good cause. Okay?

Ha!

JudgeRudy · 13/04/2023 02:36

JonahAndTheSnail · 12/09/2022 09:58

That's pretty rubbish that you have an exemption that you can't use. Do NHS dentists have a catchment area? Thinking it would be cheaper to travel to one of the NHS dentists 20 miles away than pay the £400 (not that you should have to!)?

I think you've underestimated the rarity of practices taking on nhs patients. They're like hens teeth

Megani · 11/06/2023 13:18

So sorry to hear about your toothache. Maybe starting a petition to the government regarding there are few, if any NHS dental care. Sadly the NHS IS ALSO under threat. It’s happening slowly. Take care.

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