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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want a same day-dental appointment when I need it?

78 replies

VioletMar · 30/08/2023 11:11

I’ve been suffering on and off with a wisdom tooth on my bottom left-side of my jaw that has only managed to grow partially through the gum. So it’s pretty much mostly hidden under my gum/cheek. At my last dentist appointment 6 months ago, I asked if the tooth should be removed and was advised that the teeth are only removed in extreme circumstances. So the tooth was left.
However this morning I’ve noticed parts of the tooth that I can see look like they are turning grey/black?
I’ve had constant pain for the last week. The pain radiates across my jaw, down my neck and is giving me an ear ache. But try as I might , I can not get a dentist appointment.
Usually I would pay private. But the cost of living/mortgage rate increase and my pending divorce means I just don’t have the surplus that I used to have. And so for the first time ever, I tried to get an NHS appointment But failed miserably.

I called my local dentist at 8am. It took 25 minutes to get through and all same day NHS appointments were gone.(( But I expect if I could pay the usual fees, they have squeezed me in!!) so I rang three other dentists listed on the NHS website in my local area and none were accepting new patients. I then 111 and held for 36 minutes, just to be given a number to call. which I duly rang. I held for 58 minutes, only to be told they had no appointments today (I should have called at 8am to bag one…) but if I call back tomorrow at 8am I might get an appointment , 30 minutes drive away. I wasn’t able to to pre-book the appointment at all. so back to 111 and now im waiting for a telephone appointment. Ive now been on the phone for over two hours , whilst trying to get kids sorted for the back to school and while trying to work from home myself. (Which won’t go unnoticed). All while dealing with this constant ache!

I’ve just looked at the cost of private practises. The cost of an appointment, possible xray, extraction etc quickly adds up to £300. I just can’t cover it. It’s about all I’ve got in the bank to cover food and petrol until my next pay day on the 25th. I’m so fed up. I can literally count on one hand the number of medical / dentist appointments I’ve been able to get within the last five years. But the deductions from my salary are always upwards of £275 monthly. Meaning I’ve paid approx £16000 plus in NHS contributions during that time but have had almost nothing in return.

I’m so incredibly fed up.

Any advice would be so appreciated.

OP posts:
caerdydd12 · 30/08/2023 16:36

Bumblebee2022 · 30/08/2023 16:33

Is that statistic correct? You say that one in 5 people do not have an nhs dentist, I thought it would be the other way round, that only one in five people have access to an nhs dentist. (And I’d be surprised if 1 in 5 had an nhs dentist, I thought it would be less). There are 4 dental practices in our town, only one has nhs patients now. Out of my friendship group of 6 families, we are the only family to still have nhs dentists. One family has it only for the children (in another town) and the others have all been forced to go private (including for the children) when there dentists have stopped doing nhs treatment.

Show quote history

According to Yougov in March this year it's correct.

saveforthat · 30/08/2023 16:46

I need an urgent dental appointment. The earliest they can give me is 17 October!! Or I can "sit and wait" I'm going private.

Aprilx · 30/08/2023 16:52

I have not been able to get registered with an NHS dentist since 1997. I wouldn’t even really expect to get a same day appointment with my own private dentist to be honest, or I would consider myself very lucky. So, I think you are being unrealistic with your expectations.

Ascendant15 · 30/08/2023 17:04

It may not be "right" but you chose to go private previously, have no NHS dentist, let the problem build over time, and then expect the NHS to fit you in TODAY? YABVU. The state of NHS dentistry has been problematic for years and years. No big secret. You can't have what you want when you want it. People have been hanging on to their increasingly scarce NHS dentist for years and you want them to get out of your way because you now can't afford to opt for private treatment. I'm sorry but everyone has COL problems - yours doesn't entitle you to queue jump.

Balloonsandroses · 30/08/2023 17:15

NHS dentistry is in a shockingly underfunded state I agree and it’s worth campaigning via your MP about the state of the service. But you have to remember that the NHS should be there in case you need it regardless of income - that’s the whole point - not paying out what you’ve put in. For example my daughter got cancer age 7. Her treatment cost upwards of £100,000 (luckily she is doing well). She has obviously not paid a penny into the NHS and that’s certainly more than I’ve contributed. So for that to happen someone else has to get out less than they’ve contributed. See what I mean?

Proudofeveryone · 30/08/2023 17:32

There are no NHS dentists within 80 miles that are taking on patients.
So a few years ago we went private.
We pay £42 per month for the 2 of us.
This includes 2 check ups and 3 hygienist appt per year. Xray each per year.
Upto 2 fillings a year won't alter the cost.
If either of us has a problem they try and fit us in the same day or next day.
Yes it's a lot of money but we want to keep our teeth.

It's sad that the government has not helped people to get an NHS dentist.

User37652 · 30/08/2023 17:34

Yes and that’s after 5 years of university and one year of training. And without taking into account professional registration fees (£695 pa), indemnity (mine is £400 a month but that is low, I’ve heard of dentists paying thousands per month and you can’t practice without it), lab fees, CPD fees and any clawback from the NHS at the end of the year if you didn’t manage to hit targets or they think you’ve done too many of a particular treatment. Some days I am paid less than minimum wage and go home at the end of the day covered in other people’s blood, spit and plaque. Even I don’t love teeth enough for that.
The government want to drive out NHS dentistry but they want to do it by making us the bad guys who don’t have appointments available and are all walking out to charge private prices…

KnittedCardi · 30/08/2023 17:41

Not many countries provide free or subsidised dental care beyond 18. Some do for low earners, most are privately funded by insurance. From experience this seems to provide better and cheaper care!

Hayliebells · 30/08/2023 17:49

Surely people who pay privately for dentistry don't just pay the costs as they arise, they have insurance? It's been obvious for a very long time, decades almost, that NHS dentististry just don't exist. If you've got one you stay on their list, wherever they are, and if you don't, you're pretty buggered as you won't be getting a new NHS dentist. Ime insurance is not that expensive, and generally you claim back all costs, so as NHS dentistry isn't even free, it's often not that much more over a year for the insurance premiums. You shouldn't have to, but isn't it what everyone who can afford it does? This is the reality of the UK in 2023.

Original poster
VioletMar · 30/08/2023 19:53

So many of the replies agree - the NHS is an issue / has been an issue for years. Though experiences vary depending on location/whether you’re already registered etc but for the most part it’s problematic

And many posters didn’t seem to read my post in full or all of my further posts so there are also some replies which seem a little unnecessarily vitriolic.

  1. I am at registered at a dentist. They offer NHS and private appointments. I wasn’t on a private plan. But a pay as you go. My last appointment was 6 months ago. The problem tooth has been monitored and I’ve asked for it to be removed. Which they’ve declined to do but never really went into the depth about the complexities that some posters here have.
  2. the pain only started late on the Friday night. It’s been a bank holiday weekend. And up until last night, it was tolerable and being managed with ibuprofen/paracetamol. So didn’t require an out of hours emergency appointment. but Last night was unbearable, hence why I called first thing this morning. I didn’t just ignore the problem for a week. But to be very clear : The tooth has been in the same position for 5 years.. that’s at least 10 previous dental appointments where I’ve been told the pain is a ‘growing pain’ and nothing can be done unless in an extreme circumstance. and these growing pains have been coming and going in that time but never as bad as last night/today.
  3. Prior to the last two days, I’d never not been given a same day appointment though perhaps this was because I was paying the full fee. Today was the first time in 13 years of being registered that they had no appointments and advised me to call 111.. I then spent over two hours and made a total of seven calls trying to get an appointment. But was being passed from pillar to post.
  4. my post was venting frustrations at the impossibility of trying to get an appointment unless I pay out of pocket which i can’t justify until I save a little. But as I was talking about the NHS i mentioned the last 5 years as it’s been a battle to try to get a gp appointment at my local clinic since prior to covid. And now they’re like gold dust.
  5. My circumstances have changed since my last appointment. I can’t afford the private fees. Hence why I was seeking an NHS slot. I was in a two income household where the main bread winner has gone and so my income (whilst still good), is now being stretched to cover everything. Not to mention changes in mortgage rate (fixed 2.7% rose to 7% and the payment have more then doubled). The house is on the market for sale and I am doing what I can to make the situation better but financially things are bleak.. and a slow house sale/drawn out divorce and legal fees aren’t really helping.
  6. i understand the NI payments to be NHS. I didn’t realise that it goes to any other purpose.. it’s good to have this clarified. am very aware that the contributions are not my personal pot but it would be very nice to be able to access a service that my salary deductions contribute to which was designed to be accessible for all who need it. I’ve had one baby in the UK, but made 13 years worth of contributions for all who queried it, so I’ve definitely put in my fair share. But once the divorce is done/ house is sold, I’ll be immigrating home so won’t be taking out a UK state pension.
OP posts:
Aprilx · 31/08/2023 06:22

Hayliebells · 30/08/2023 17:49

Surely people who pay privately for dentistry don't just pay the costs as they arise, they have insurance? It's been obvious for a very long time, decades almost, that NHS dentististry just don't exist. If you've got one you stay on their list, wherever they are, and if you don't, you're pretty buggered as you won't be getting a new NHS dentist. Ime insurance is not that expensive, and generally you claim back all costs, so as NHS dentistry isn't even free, it's often not that much more over a year for the insurance premiums. You shouldn't have to, but isn't it what everyone who can afford it does? This is the reality of the UK in 2023.

Strange assumption. No, we pay for the dentist when we go.

BBno4 · 31/08/2023 06:45

There's so many nhs dentists where I live and they take new patients.

Are you allowed to register miles and miles away or do you have to be local?

I live in west london.

hdbs17 · 31/08/2023 08:09

Hayliebells · 30/08/2023 17:49

Surely people who pay privately for dentistry don't just pay the costs as they arise, they have insurance? It's been obvious for a very long time, decades almost, that NHS dentististry just don't exist. If you've got one you stay on their list, wherever they are, and if you don't, you're pretty buggered as you won't be getting a new NHS dentist. Ime insurance is not that expensive, and generally you claim back all costs, so as NHS dentistry isn't even free, it's often not that much more over a year for the insurance premiums. You shouldn't have to, but isn't it what everyone who can afford it does? This is the reality of the UK in 2023.

I don't have insurance and I just pay privately as the costs arise, but then the worst I've needed is a filling which is £120 privately.

Anything that has cost me more is purely cosmetic so I'm happy to pay it - but private dentistry doesn't have to be extortionate. In a year, 1 x check up and 2 x deep cleans will cost me £203 at my dentist and I think that's very reasonable but I know I'm lucky that my dentist keeps their costs as low as possible for their patients.

merrymelodies · 31/08/2023 08:13

Personally, I get my teeth cleaned and examined for potential problems twice a year. That way, I avoid catastrophe and the urgent necessity to see a dentist asap.

cyclamenqueen · 31/08/2023 08:22

merrymelodies · 31/08/2023 08:13

Personally, I get my teeth cleaned and examined for potential problems twice a year. That way, I avoid catastrophe and the urgent necessity to see a dentist asap.

I do this but am still in the middle of a dental crisis . Sometimes problems just happen . OP I really sympathise .

gogomoto · 31/08/2023 08:28

I waited 10 months with my wisdom tooth, (started April 2020!) getting an appointment means calling early and they will pull it for the basic fee £22 or whatever it is now, it could be anywhere in your commissioning group area (or whatever they are called now)

For regular nhs dentists you need to call around often

SushiSuave · 31/08/2023 08:41

My dentist closed down and now the nearest NHS dentist is 28 miles away. I struggled to even get a place for my son (when I thought dentists had to take on children) and so I have had to go private and pay £85 for an initial appointment just so that they will then see my son who we have a concern about and needs to see a dentists ASAP. The proviso to seeing my son with all the dentists was that 1 parent had to be a private patient in order for them to see him. It's really not good. We earn decent enough money and the costs are still a struggle. I really feel for people on low wages who don't qualify for help with the cost and can't find NHS places.

SushiSuave · 31/08/2023 08:43

merrymelodies · 31/08/2023 08:13

Personally, I get my teeth cleaned and examined for potential problems twice a year. That way, I avoid catastrophe and the urgent necessity to see a dentist asap.

This is such an tone deaf comment. You could go to the dentist 4 times per year and have perfect teeth and then chip one on something one day. Also it doesn't matter how well you look after your teeth if you have an impacted wisdom tooth. Not helpful.

MrsSkylerWhite · 31/08/2023 08:46

I’m envious that you even have an NHS dentist.

Freysimo · 31/08/2023 08:53

merrymelodies · 31/08/2023 08:13

Personally, I get my teeth cleaned and examined for potential problems twice a year. That way, I avoid catastrophe and the urgent necessity to see a dentist asap.

I see a dental hygienist privately four times a year as I've got gum disease. She's much more use to me than a dentist (I have NHS one). Healthy gums = healthy teeth. Obviously she can't help with emergency treatment but I've not needed any treatment from a dentist in two years.

Trulee · 31/08/2023 09:11

merrymelodies · 31/08/2023 08:13

Personally, I get my teeth cleaned and examined for potential problems twice a year. That way, I avoid catastrophe and the urgent necessity to see a dentist asap.

This is me but I still managed to break a molar and needed urgent treatment in between 6 monthly visits.

EggOverEasy · 31/08/2023 09:57

merrymelodies · 31/08/2023 08:13

Personally, I get my teeth cleaned and examined for potential problems twice a year. That way, I avoid catastrophe and the urgent necessity to see a dentist asap.

Oh my you are smug! I get regular dental check ups and cleanings. That routine care still didn't prevent an infection in one of my unerupted wisdom teeth. It was extremely bad luck and had nothing to do with my dental hygiene as the tooth was fully inside my gums.

Dental emergencies can happen to anyone at any time.

merrymelodies · 01/09/2023 06:57

@EggOverEasy Sorry - that sounded horribly smug! 😩

Aprilx · 01/09/2023 07:45

merrymelodies · 31/08/2023 08:13

Personally, I get my teeth cleaned and examined for potential problems twice a year. That way, I avoid catastrophe and the urgent necessity to see a dentist asap.

I see a hygienist twice a year and dentist for a check up about once a year (privately). I still have a lot of trouble with my teeth, they chip and break, I have had abscesses twice, root canal treatment about three times, crowns, crowns replaced, wisdom teeth removed. I honestly think some people have naturally weak teeth and unfortunately I am one of them.

My husband on the other hand, well he has never been to a dentist in all the time I have known him (20 years) and has not had a single day’s trouble with his teeth. And they are straight and white too. I once told my dentist that my husband has not been to see a dentist in twenty years and he replied “I bet he has great teeth”.