AIBU to think we should be more upset about the state of NHS dentistry?

ChannelyourinnerElsa · 26/05/2023 16:15

What makes you think people aren’t upset? The countless media articles, the many mumsnet threads, the Facebook discussions?

It’s as you say- what can we do?

GMH1974 · 26/05/2023 16:19

I had pain and infection at the weekend from an impacted wisdom tooth and despite ringing 111, the earliest I could see a dentist was Tuesday morning and I had to go private. My NHS dentist had deregistered me without telling me despite not having had any dentists there for me to see and that being the reason I hadn't gone! None of the "emergency" numbers 111 gave me actually had any people there. I was told to see a dentist within 6 hours from Saturday morning. Tuesday morning is a lot longer than 6 hours and I had to pay nearly £100 for an appointment and some antibiotics.

lardida · 26/05/2023 16:21

It’s diabolical. It really truly is an utter shambles. DH only moved to back to England permanently just before lockdown and he’s been on a waiting list ever since. Then we moved local authorities so now he’s on a new one. The only answer is paying privately

Turnleftturnright · 26/05/2023 16:49

Someone I know who would be entitled to free dentist appointments on the nhs just had to pay nearly 1000 pounds for private treatment because they lost a tooth in an accident. There are no nhs dentists around here anywhere accepting new patients or even putting anyone on a waiting list. They didn't even have the money and had to borrow it.

user1471556818 · 26/05/2023 17:26

I agree we should all be very concerned about state of dentistry at present
Apart from the pain and discomfort there are known health issues associated with poor dental health which can have life limiting consequences
And no I don't have the answers but something has got to change

JustWantCalm · 26/05/2023 17:44

It is appalling. There are people in genuine pain who continue working hard, paying their taxes and not able to access the care/help they deserve. And we’re just meant to accept it? Add to that the state of the roads, the chargeable bin collections, charging now to go to the recycling centres - all things our taxes are meant to cover? I have two jobs - one employed and one self employed. My children have both had their NHS dental appts cancelled this year and I’ve been told there are no NHS appts being made until at least October and not to call back before to check. Surely we put the care in now to prevent the problems in the future? Of course if I want to pay to go private (at the same surgery!) we can be seen. I’m tempted to reduce my declared income on my self employed job by the cost of two private dental appts (my children’s - I’ll go without) as I’m not getting that benefit in my taxes anymore. But I’d be an easy target though and probably get whacked with a huge fine if it were ever found out. Even though I could explain my rationale! It’s not worth the risk as tempting as it is.

Speermint · 26/05/2023 17:48

Controversial opinion but I think if there aren’t enough NHS dentists then they should be reserved for people who are on benefits and can’t possibly pay for dental care. It’s wrong if a working person has access to an NHS dentist (when they could probably scrape together enough money to pay) but a person on benefits (who definitely can’t pay) doesn’t.

Ideally of course everyone should have access to the NHS, but if that’s not possible then the poorest should be prioritised.

narwhalsarereal · 26/05/2023 17:51

Speermint · 26/05/2023 17:48

Controversial opinion but I think if there aren’t enough NHS dentists then they should be reserved for people who are on benefits and can’t possibly pay for dental care. It’s wrong if a working person has access to an NHS dentist (when they could probably scrape together enough money to pay) but a person on benefits (who definitely can’t pay) doesn’t.

Ideally of course everyone should have access to the NHS, but if that’s not possible then the poorest should be prioritised.

There are plenty of working people that wouldn't be able to afford private dental care.
People on benefits are already entitled to free prescriptions, the cost of which is going up rapidly for those who work & have to pay.

I'm not bashing people on benefits, but it shouldn't be assumed that because you work, you can afford private dental care.

Ilikewinter · 26/05/2023 18:06

Speermint · 26/05/2023 17:48

Controversial opinion but I think if there aren’t enough NHS dentists then they should be reserved for people who are on benefits and can’t possibly pay for dental care. It’s wrong if a working person has access to an NHS dentist (when they could probably scrape together enough money to pay) but a person on benefits (who definitely can’t pay) doesn’t.

Ideally of course everyone should have access to the NHS, but if that’s not possible then the poorest should be prioritised.

100% controversial opinion and one that I strongly disagree with. I've never had a NHS dentist all of my adult life. I've worked since the age of 16 and have 'paid in' to the system all my life. However, I've just had to pay out £1200 for private dental treatment. I work but can I hell like afford to spend this. Ive had to put it on a credit card. Why shouldnt I be entitled to a NHS dentist?

Tomlitoo · 26/05/2023 18:08

Speermint · 26/05/2023 17:48

Controversial opinion but I think if there aren’t enough NHS dentists then they should be reserved for people who are on benefits and can’t possibly pay for dental care. It’s wrong if a working person has access to an NHS dentist (when they could probably scrape together enough money to pay) but a person on benefits (who definitely can’t pay) doesn’t.

Ideally of course everyone should have access to the NHS, but if that’s not possible then the poorest should be prioritised.

It's tricky though as it's just another case of pay more in to get less out. I think those on disability should get it free.

LadyGrinningSoul85 · 26/05/2023 18:15

Speermint · 26/05/2023 17:48

Controversial opinion but I think if there aren’t enough NHS dentists then they should be reserved for people who are on benefits and can’t possibly pay for dental care. It’s wrong if a working person has access to an NHS dentist (when they could probably scrape together enough money to pay) but a person on benefits (who definitely can’t pay) doesn’t.

Ideally of course everyone should have access to the NHS, but if that’s not possible then the poorest should be prioritised.

100% agree with you.

Stabee · 26/05/2023 18:22

There are many full time public sector workers in the UK on salaries of £18 to £24k, that can be with degrees and decades of experience. The new NHS fees are unaffordable for them, let alone private dentistry. We are looking at a generation of toothless people in the future. That or no more public sector workers. They aren't breaking even before dentistry.

Equalitea · 26/05/2023 18:45

It’s been like this for years here. Defo predating Covid.
I know a couple of dentists and all of them have left nhs dentistry for aesthetics and or gone private since the agenda for change 2010/11.

Danikm151 · 26/05/2023 18:48

I can’t afford to go private for a dentist.
the dentist we were registered with kept delaying appointments and when I called last they had shut down without informing anyone.

Upsizer · 26/05/2023 18:48

Dentistry is no longer part of the NHS. I wish the government would just tell people. They’ve got what they wanted - a privatised service. It’s abhorrent.

verdantverdure · 26/05/2023 18:56

Locutus2000 · 26/05/2023 16:14

I'm in the South-East but it seems to be the case everywhere. There has been no admittance of new patients to NHS lists since the pandemic, including children. Families new to the area face traveling back to their old NHS dentist (if they have one) or paying privately which is out of reach to many especially bearing in mind existing issues won't be covered by insurance.

What are people supposed to do?

This is us. I'm taking mine back to their old NHS dentist because we can't find a new one and our mortgage has gone up by a chunk, our energy bills have doubled and our food shop seems to cost more every week.

Plus I do not accept the "the country can't afford" bullshlt when I know how much money this government waste on not keeping on top of our debt payments so we end up paying more internet and on juicy contracts for their mates.

Wasn't privatising every blessed thing supposed to make things cheaper?

Isn't the private sector more efficient?!

More fucking bullshit.

nationallampoons · 26/05/2023 18:56

My dentist went private, thousands of NHS patients have been kicked off the books.

They still offered NHS dental care for 50 Ukrainian families on the towns Facebook page though. That status caused bloody murdered.

dollybird · 26/05/2023 19:01

The last time I had an NHS dentist they were shit. £25 for a 'check up' which was basically counting my teeth. Went private about 15 years ago, and pay about £40 for a check up now, which is a proper check up. Appreciate I'm fortunate not to have needed more than check ups, hygienist and x-rays though.

shakeitoffsis · 26/05/2023 19:06

@Speermint I hear you but I totally disagree.

Stabee · 26/05/2023 19:11

Yes. Check up involves counting your teeth. If you need a filling, you've to wait two months for an appointment, by which time by new NHS rules you must pay for another check up, which takes less than a minute to count your teeth again. It's ludicrous and utter shite, but why am I at all surprised that the Tory government thought this gem up to target the low paid and line their mate's pockets.

JustWantCalm · 26/05/2023 19:30

narwhalsarereal · 26/05/2023 17:51

There are plenty of working people that wouldn't be able to afford private dental care.
People on benefits are already entitled to free prescriptions, the cost of which is going up rapidly for those who work & have to pay.

I'm not bashing people on benefits, but it shouldn't be assumed that because you work, you can afford private dental care.

Show quote history

Absolutely agree. I work, have done all my life, I’m public service now and cannot afford private dental care. It’s not just me, it’s my two children as well. More the point though, I pay my taxes. My taxes find the benefit system and so why should people on benefits get another helping hand when people who work continually get overlooked. Every helping hand there’s been has gone to help those on benefits or blanket all pensioners. Nothing is means tested and, doing the job I do, I see time and time again people living a far better life than me claiming state benefit.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 26/05/2023 19:37

I’ve been waiting to go on the NHS since 2007 - I am not making this up!

InanimateObjects · 26/05/2023 19:40

Speermint · 26/05/2023 17:48

Controversial opinion but I think if there aren’t enough NHS dentists then they should be reserved for people who are on benefits and can’t possibly pay for dental care. It’s wrong if a working person has access to an NHS dentist (when they could probably scrape together enough money to pay) but a person on benefits (who definitely can’t pay) doesn’t.

Ideally of course everyone should have access to the NHS, but if that’s not possible then the poorest should be prioritised.

So the people who pay for it should not be allowed to access it?

That's 101 in how you destroy any support for a service and make it vanish entirely before long.

Lapland123 · 26/05/2023 19:48

Complain to your MP

Dentists would work for NHS if it made any sense, but they were not even making enough to meet overheads, so they’ve had to leave

Watch GP appointments go the same way right now

orangekiwiloot · 26/05/2023 19:58

My NHS dentist shut its NHS service down and there is no more surgeries offering NHS care for over 20 miles. Most people I know just don't go to the dentist anymore. It's a luxury for the rich.

I did pay for a private checkup at the same surgery and it cost nearly £80 that I didn't have and the check up was quicker and less thorough than the previous NHS ones. It felt very much like fleecing people for little return. I'll have to take my chances with at home dentistry.