To think I'm a bit stuck either way

[squashedalmondcroissant]

I've just had a third filling fall out of my tooth, the last 2 have been gone for a few years but I have not been able to access an NHS dentist since 2018 and since I wasn't in pain and couldn't afford private I had no choice but to leave it for the time being.

I don't have very good credit and am paying off some debts incurred during Covid times when I couldn't work so my financial situation is improving but slowly. It's going to take about a year to pay off everything I have left.

Seems like my choices are:

Go private and get into (more) debt to fix my teeth now
Wait and save up as much as possible while paying off my old debts

Obviously the problem with the latter is that my teeth may well get worse in the time it takes to save up, it's going to take at least a year to pay off my old debts and probably at least another 6 months to save enough for the dental work (assuming nothing gets worse in that time).

Aibu to think neither choice is good? I'm basically getting opposite advice from various people and no idea what to do next. I'm not in pain (yet) but it could happen any day now and the last filling to fall out is making eating more difficult.

[YoBeaches]

Can you try to get back in an NHS practice? Contact them and explain it's urgent?

[squashedalmondcroissant]

The waiting list for nhs dentists is currently about 8yrs, I'm at 4yrs and counting, friend of mine had been on for 9yrs so far.

[NoSquirrels]

Please get the dental treatment.

Is your credit rating OK? Can you get a 0% credit card?

[NEmama]

Phone 111 and get referred as am emergency?

[Outtasteamandluck]

@NEmama

Phone 111 and get referred as am emergency?

Is a lost filling classed as an emergency?

[NEmama]

@Outtasteamandluck it is if you can't get it fixed yourself and you can't eat properly.

[Aprilx]

@NEmama

@Outtasteamandluck it is if you can't get it fixed yourself and you can't eat properly.

You are giving out advice that is not going to help OP. A loose filling is not a medical emergency no matter how much you personally think it should be. And access to NHS dentistry is not available on demand.

OP, book the private dentist and go now, a stitch in time and all that.

[NEmama]

Well it should be shouldn't it .
You do need to get it fixed though op

[Blip]

I'd go to the dentist now OP as if you leave it the bill could be a whole lot worse and your dental health may suffer. Also toothache is the worst.

Situation sucks though.

[squashedalmondcroissant]

@NoSquirrels credit rating is not really ok due to past debts. I am currently paying off a credit card with a fairly high interest rate as that's the only one I could get at the time.

Don't really want to get another credit card but I've got enough spare on the one I have to theoretically pay for the treatment, I would just then be maxed out and paying off a lot of interest.

[squashedalmondcroissant]

I'm very reluctant to ask for an emergency appointment at this stage as even though eating is becoming more difficult I'm not in pain and I don't want to take an appointment that's needed by someone else that is in pain.

The fillings that have fallen out are all in my molars so anything I have to chew gets pushed into the holes, two of which are right by the gum line which makes it uncomfortable to chew as things are being pushed into my gums when I eat (if that makes any sense). Sorry for the tmi! I have no idea if any of this makes a difference in terms of urgency though.

[PaddyDingDong]

@squashedalmondcroissant

I'm very reluctant to ask for an emergency appointment at this stage as even though eating is becoming more difficult I'm not in pain and I don't want to take an appointment that's needed by someone else that is in pain.

The fillings that have fallen out are all in my molars so anything I have to chew gets pushed into the holes, two of which are right by the gum line which makes it uncomfortable to chew as things are being pushed into my gums when I eat (if that makes any sense). Sorry for the tmi! I have no idea if any of this makes a difference in terms of urgency though.

Dont be A martyr it is absolutely ridiculous you can't access an NHS dentist. Phone 111 lay it on thick and see a bloody dentist.

[SheWoreYellow]

You could go private and then plan which teeth you get fixed and which could be left a bit longer. So something in between your two options.

[Mabelface]

Phone 111 and get that emergency appointment before you find yourself in the position of intense pain and no way to stop it.

Another option is if you live near a dental hospital, there's quite often a sit and wait clinic. You have to get in the queue early though!

There's also dental plans, but they usually have a short waiting period. You can claim back the majority of the cost so if it goes on the credit card, you can pay it off, usually before you get charged interest.

[soontobeamama]

Another option would be if there is a dental hospital you could visit? Most cities have them and you could possibly receive treatment there.

[UnicornsHaveDadsToo]

Can you afford putting some away every month? Denplan is basically a saving scheme to pay for dental care to spread the cost over 12 months rather than having to pay in lump sums every time you see the dentist.

www.denplan.co.uk/denplan-homepage

I don't think it's a credit thing so your credit history may not be relevant but I don't know. Might be worth asking the dentist/looking up the nearest Denplan dentist and asking them.

[xogossipgirlxo]

@YoBeaches

Can you try to get back in an NHS practice? Contact them and explain it's urgent?

Everyone's treatment is urgent. It's not that easy on NHS.

I'd go into more debt and fix these teeth now, OP, before it gets worse. So sorry about your situation.

[Hankunamatata]

OP check local hospitals to see if they have dental school. Sometimes u can get treatment that way.

[crossstitchingnana]

@YoBeaches

Can you try to get back in an NHS practice? Contact them and explain it's urgent?

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
No chance.