To think that dental care is now only for the wealthy in the UK

[Tygertiger]

I would love to be considered U here and if I am, please explain it to me.

I have been in the privileged position until now of having an NHS dentist. Obviously I still pay a fee for every visit (not entitled to free healthcare) but it’s still cheaper than private dental fees. We’ve now been told that our practice is going private as of next year and will offer monthly payment plans, the cheapest of which is £19 a month. I’ve been on the NHS site and there are no other NHS dentists in the local area, at all.

So how do poor people afford to go to the dentist? If they can’t afford a monthly insurance plan?

I have not been able to find an NHS dentist since about 1996. I did have one then but I left because they did some appalling work and I decided not to go back to them, I moved out of the area anyway. Anyway, never found one since.

I accepted that dentistry is not generally provided on the NHS 26 years ago, ot sometimes amazes me that others are surprised by this. I am not wealthy, I have simply accepted that this is part of my living costs that I need to factor into my expense management like all my other living costs.

I'm lucky to have an NHS dentist but my friend hasn't. When she tried to get her kids into my dental practice she was told there was a 5 year wait in the area.
That's all because she hadn't taken her kids to check ups until there was an issue and they had taken them off their registers at their practice which is tough luck I suppose.

I accepted that dentistry is not generally provided on the NHS 26 years ago, ot sometimes amazes me that others are surprised by this. I am not wealthy, I have simply accepted that this is part of my living costs that I need to factor into my expense management like all my other living costs.

No we understand the longstanding situation perfectly well, thanks; we just don't know the justification for why two specific healthcare essentials are deliberately excluded from what is meant to be an all-in free-at-the-point-of-use basic healthcare system, that is funded by taxes.

Suppose they said that the NHS would treat cancers and all other issues relating to the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas, but anything to do with lungs and you're on your own - would that make any sense to you?

Our NHS dental surgery was closed and we were moved to one which is part private, part NHS. NHS patients there are treated like second class citizens. We had to wait over a year for check ups even though we hadn’t had them since since before the pandemic, due to restrictions at the old surgery (we were due them just as the pandemic started and had our appointments cancelled, and they never resumed check ups before closing). So we didn’t have check ups for over three years - and I have DC who are under 10. When I finally had my check up they told me I needed a root canal - which is what happens when issues aren’t spotted early on I guess. However I have to wait six months to have it done on the NHS. Google tells me root canals aren’t something that can wait. If I pay the private price (many hundreds) then I can start treatment within a month, and also have a better success rate (apparently). There is no option of a monthly plan. I can’t afford it so waiting is the only option.

We had to wait over a year for check ups even though we hadn’t had them since since before the pandemic

This is kind of what makes me a bit suspicious of some dentists' motives: there doesn't seem to be an accepted timescale for when you need checkups - it's just coincidentally urgent when they have capacity (or you can afford to go private), but otherwise, it's not really that important at all.

Children are supposed to have check ups every six months according to the NHS website, and mine did before covid. So to not be seen for over 3 years was unacceptable. The way they speak makes it obvious that they’re doing this to try to get NHS patients to go private (suddenly appointments are available months earlier with the same dentist, and treatment will have a much higher chance of success).

I think unfortunately we all need to get used to reprioritising in the current climate.
Lots of my friends say they can't afford private dentists yet go on plenty of foreign holidays that they can afford.

It's because it's banded depending on your teeth, the dentist has to assess and then quote you depending on your teeth condition

I would have to check mine but I am on the care plan, have had a filling before denplan (so average- good teeth!) and pay £20 a month. Twice a year I go for a check up and hygienist
They even covered a small amount of composite bonding for me which was cosmetic

It's because it's banded depending on your teeth, the dentist has to assess and then quote you depending on your teeth condition

Ah, OK - but that kind of individual-based pricing doesn't stop the likes of life insurance providers from quoting a 'cover from' price based on their 'best-case scenario' - which will obviously rocket if you have any factors that concern them.

My private dentist cost less per month than a Sky Cinema package. I get a check up and deep clean twice a year and 10% off of any treatment plus holiday cover in UK and globally.
He once refunded me £500.00 when I had an implant - it wasnt as complicated as he first thought. He will drop you off his list if you do not attend regularly, he is so popular that his private list is now closed.

Any young person starting their working life now should make insurance cover for teeth part of their living expenses.

They dont! This is where I feel things are grossly unfair at the moment. You have rich people taking or rather keeping their nhs places when they could easily afford a dental plan and private dentistry. You then have poor people, a lot in this group through no fault of their own thatcannot afford dental plans or private dentists and cannot get a place so cannot see a dentist or look after their teeth. Its quite disgusting really and the whole dental service needs a major overhaul!