To ask how on earth anyone gets access to an NHS dentist anymore

[Burnt0utMum]

I need an NHS dentist for me, DH and 2 kids. We can't afford private even through my work benefits. I've been searching and calling and literally cannot find a single dentist accepting NHS patients within a 50 mile radius. I'm willing to travel if necessary but would prefer not to. It's just ridiculous that there's nowhere offering the service. I know I have mild gum disease but I'm priced our of getting it treated. How does anyone get dental treatment without high costs these days?

Keep checking local dentists. After 3 years I've just managed to register with my local NHS dentist in the East Midlands

I used to be with an NHS dentist, but then moved house and decided to change dentist and had to go private. Honestly, it's not really any more expensive unless you need lots of work doing.
The checkups were cheaper with the NHS dentist, but they didn't include a clean (unlike my private dentist). You pay the same price for the hygienist regardless. The hygienist at my new dentist is cheaper than the previous one, so the overall cost of of an annual dentist and hygienist appointment is the same as my old NHS practice.
Children are free as long as the parent goes to the dentist too, so no difference in price there.

Same here. I do now pay £59 for my annual check up and scale and polish.

Echoing everyone else, you don't. Our town had one NHS dentist but they stopped NHS treatment a year ago so now it's either pay for their dental plan or don't go.

I'm near Newcastle and was struck off as after lifetime with practice. I didn't attend during Covid as they told us not to unless in pain. I wasn't so didn't. They've lost two dentists out of 5 so down to 3. Seems there's more £ in cosmetic work now and a customer of mine who IS a dentist told me the Gvt changed the NHS contracts a few years ago and now it's not worth them financially to see NHS patients. I've just paid god a check up privately - £50. Will write to my MP as this is unacceptable.

Meant to add the practice I paid privately at told me they had over 700 people on their NHS waiting list so I could not be added at that time.

Are there any dental hospitals near you?

Op, have neither you nor your DH ever registered with a dentist? Or have you moved? Wondering why this is a new thing for you.

I’ve made peace with the fact that all my teeth are going to drop out. I’m in my 30s ffs.

I have severe periodontitis, diagnosed when I had to spend £100 on an emergency appointment, and was quoted thousands for the work.

Cannot get any insurance because of it.

Cannot afford it.

I’m single, have 3 children, one is disabled which means my earnings are knee capped as I have to be around for her, which means freelancing and WFH.

Until last month, I lived in a city centre, and like you, nowhere within 50 miles was accepting NHS patients.

Round here people can't even get a private dentist.

Before Covid I was registered with my dentist as an NHS patient and had checkups every six months.

I was due a checkup a month after the lockdown started - April 2020. I am still waiting to be called up - next month will be 3 years since I saw a dentist. I have checked with them and I am still on their NHS list. They claim to be “working through the backlog”. I suspect they are treating emergencies for NHS patients and apart from that seeing only private patients for checkups and routine treatments.

I wish they would be honest and just tell us what they are prepared to do under the NHS, if anything.

I am in central Scotland - not all areas are like this. Friends and family in other parts of Scotland have been having regular NHS treatment for a while after Covid restrictions eased.

Who was your dentist before now? Have you never had one? The people who have stuck with their NHS dentist long term are the lucky ones as far as I can see.

Impossible. We got lucky and managed to get registered with one about 18 months ago. However they've just gone private now. Our local NHS dentist has a 3 year waiting list. We've felt we've had no choice but to sign up to their membership plan, mainly because they'll keep the kids on as NHS patients if we do! Luckily we can afford it but I really feel for those that can't. Dental health shouldn't only be for the well off.

No idea. We travel 80 miles for ours as we moved cities and no-one was taking on in our new area. Our friend does the same but travels 170 miles!!

I did have an NHS dentist but I lost it during lockdown as they weren't seeing patients except for emergencies and then they took us off the list. We also moved area (although not far enough for me not to consider that area now) and the dentist was so awful so I wasn't too bothered about being taken off their list as I thought it would be best to get one near my new house anyway. I didn't struggle to find that dentist back then so didn't realise how difficult it would be to find another one.

Braces aren’t always free for kids. They have to be assessed (out of 5 I think) Only if you’re a 4 or a 5 do you get them free. My son qualified otherwise he’s still have wonky teeth. That was our area anyway, not sure if the grading thing works exactly the same all over the country through.

I can't offer any more advice than you have already had @Burnt0utMum but you have my sympathy. Me and DH have an NHS dentist, and are genuinely and honestly so grateful we are registered, and feel so blessed that we have one. I am DREADING them going private, and pray they never do. Soooooo many dentists have gone private now, and although ours is NHS, there is no guarantee that they will never go private. It could happen to anyone's NHS dentist.

Our dentist has just gone over to private dentistry only AND they want you to join a pre payment scheme. There's no way I'm having my money sitting in their bank account earning interest during a financial crisis.
As a result I phoned every dentist in Bristol and Bath, and not a single one was taking on NHS patients. One receptionist told me that she has heard that the nearest surgery taking them on is in Poole.
Luckily we have a dental hospital in Bristol, so I expect they are experiencing a massive rise in people requiring emergency treatment.
I have good oral hygiene but as my dad died of an oral cancer I am scared that if I don't regularly visit a dentist I might have more need for preventative consultations than most.

Thanks for this.

Until enough people complain through the official channels it wont make a difference.

This might help?

NHS dental care is too limited. Hit take: anyone earning over say 60k a year shouldn't be allowed to use an NHs dentist.

I moved from Somerset to Cardiff 3 years ago and haven't got a dentist here. Trips back over the bridge when we have a check up. It sucks.

My DH has been waiting 6 years for an NHS dentist. We can’t afford private so he can’t be seen but he desperately needs a friend or the tooth to be pulled

This has surprised me, I'm in Scotland and in our area I'm not aware of any problems at all getting an NHS dentist. Maybe just my area.

I’m in Scotland and most people I know are with an nhs dentist. I moved house and area recently and had no problem registering with a local nhs dentist.

could you try writing to your mp?