To think Dentists are greedy and disgrace

[Thisismynamenow]

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?

After 15 years as an nhs practice from when I registered our practice is going fully private. They could not recruit any dentists and as majority were EU those have gone back to their home countries the practice has been limping for over 3 years now.

the NhS system is so so broken. Would you be able to go to a shop and pick 5 or more things for the same price as 1 thing?

Would your plumber or electrician provide you work for free. 4 bathrooms for the prii oh very of 1.

denstists are not getting getting paid adequately for nhs work and also humans and have responsibilities.

All the people in need to get active and write to MPs and make denstistry a priority rather than blame dentists. And BTW the rest of the nhs is going the same way.

NHS dentistry seems to be dead I'm afraid. I don't blame the dentists though.

@BungleandGeorge BUPA are a corporate. Most private dentists are not corporates

A single private practice yes will make a profit because its a business. Most of that profit will get reinvested back into the practice for equipment. Some will go on to training staff, which costs 1000s of pounds. Perhaps doing a masters which can cost over 40k a year.

Of the average private filling price some will go to the dentist, and pay for their time and training, plus obviously GDC fees, indemnity etc. Some will need to pay nurse, receptionist, practice manager, cleaner. Some will go on materials, then practice maintenance, obviously electric, gas, water need to be paid.

There is profit but no practice is a multimillion pound corporation. Dental materials are expensive, dental equipment is expensive and costs money to maintain.

I’m not totally convinced that there isn’t a fair profit in private dentistry. Realistically the prices suggest that there is. Which is fine but personally I believe in an nhs for all so isn’t what I would choose

There are so many dentists leaving the profession. Due to the pay and stress, if it was an alright job and paid loads we wouldnt be having these problems.

But who wants to earn 35-45k and pay professional fees, insurance, training, do CPD, pay for lab work, xrays and supplies out of that, to do such a stressful job and have the majority of people you see everyday admit they dont like you or want to ge there.

It's got a high suicide risk associated with the job so I really dont think it's about greed, I think it's about not valuing services and not paying fairly for them then wondering why we lose them

I think children should be prioritised for NHS dental treatment, at least.

@BungleandGeorge of course there is reasonable profit, because the dentist has to make money and its a business. But to provide a true, good dental service, that has the time for patients, uses good materials, has dentists who keep up to date with training; good, modern equipment, good lab work, you are looking at roughly private prices. Dentistry is really expensive to provide a good service. The practice has to make a profit otherwise it would shut. To provide that it would be a massive increase in the NHS budget, which is something that a lot of people aren't prepared for

Personally I work in the NHS, in a hospital. I would never go back to NHS practice as its incredibly stressful, poor pay and I don't feel that you are able to provide a decent standard of care on the NHS.

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!

I guess now I've calmed down a little and the painkillers have kicked in, I'm not pissed off at the dentists as much, it is the government's problem. But it just seems suspect that opticians and doctors who are also independent manage nhs contracts, it's just dentists who are all moving to private, though I don't know what the contracts are so can't comment too much.

It's so expensive because before they'll fill it I have to have a £50 examination and a £30 xray, then the filling is more expensive because I want the white compound (it's a visible filling).

Even harder when you're on stat maternity and your dog is needing vet exams for cancer too. My tooth will unfortunately have to wait until I'm back at work next year.

Using the DIY temp stuff doesn't remove any of the damaged tooth, which means it still spreads.

Poland and Czechia have dentist that are as good or better than the UK. I am sure a filling would cost £50-70 even at a dentist orientated to foreign clients.

Yes UK dentists are a complete rip off.

Oh please. Of course there are good dentist in other countries but to suggest there is an overwhelmingly higher standard in these countries is ridiculous. It costs less because the cost of living is lower. Not because UK dentists are ripping people off.

YABU

Have you maybe tried thinking why they are moving to private?

And if they are working privately it's up to you whether you want to pay their prices or not.

It's like me saying I think riding schools are expensive because I cant afford their lessons.

They are private identities they can charge what they like, obviously if enough people refuse to pay that price possibly the proce will decrease.

But they need to pay their expenses just like any business.

Ours NHS dentists was great - as it was staffed by qualified dentists from the EU doing extra training while working for the NHS (the one who was at school with Messi really impressed my eldest 2) - BREXIT has hampered that somewhat! We only have 6mth apts so it's not too bad but for new patients it must be difficult to get in.
DD's orthodontist (seen post Covid after a long wait) offered us NHS treatment with a 5 YEAR wait or go private - not through greed but because their NHS budget couldn;t cover the demand until then!

It wasn't Messi - my mistake - can't remember who it was - someone Spanish!

YABU OP. You do realise that NHS dentists are paid a set amount per procedure from the NHS? This is not enough to cover wages, rental, equipment, insurance, registration, let alone service the £45,000 student fees they take on to train?
If you are angry please write to the Conservatives who have cut payments to dentists to such a level, that they can only practice privately. I'm sure many would love to deliver skills and knowledge to those that need it most but they have to cover overheads like anyone else.

op where are you based? I work for a dentist and we’re currently accepting nhs patients.

My sister has been a practice manager at a dental surgery for many, many years. The 3 dentists she works for all earn 6 figure sums - they take NHS patients, so it can't be that bad all over.

It is entirely the government’s fault. You can’t blame dentists for wanting to make a living and be able to pay back their student debt. If the NHS paid realistic costs for dentistry then they wouldn’t be forced to rely on private patients.

You can’t compare then to opticians. Opticians do the things they’re trained to do then send people out on to the shop floor to spend lots of money on the things they’ve just prescribed. Dentists do the thing they’re trained to do and send people home to recover. The businesses are completely different.

Are dental practices allowed to get rid of some of their NHS patients? Ours have said they may not be able to see our children anymore, though they have been very good NHS patients for 7 years. They don't have enough NHS dentists anymore, they said. Just wondering how they decide who to get rid of, is there no priority for under 18s or those who have been long term patients?

@ForTheLoveOfSleep
MyDentist is a good service from what I hear, it is not extortionate you pay for the treatment you get but not as high as some Private Practices

I do agree they are greedy, surpassed only by vets.

agree

really makes you appreciate the NHS

I can’t get an appointment with a private dentist either, have been trying for four years since moving to Wales.

Absolutely agree with this but the NHS will no longer grant child only contracts. It’s ageist or something. Child only contracts would probably mean many private practices would take on NHS children.