AIBU to expect dentist to offer some kids appointments after school hours?

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hello Mumsnet

I’m with a NHS dentist and i just booked my daughters regular six monthly check up, to be told they only offer kids check ups between the hours of 1100-1230.

I guess it’s tricky for dentists because they have adult clients who will also want to have appointments available later too, although my dentist is only open until 5.30 so most people would still have to take some time off work to see the dentist after 3pm.

But I feel like they should offer some after school appointments for kids?! Even if just on a day or two a week? The 1100-1230 slot is so inconvenient, it’s not at the beginning of the day, not at the end of the day…. Im
sure it benefits the practice in some
way (they offer private work too and I assume get very little for childrens check ups). But it’s really rubbish for the kids and parents.

I don’t know if I’m expecting too much from the dentist or if I’m a bit annoyed at them cos their customer service is shockingly bad so I’m generally miffed with them anyway! For example I saw the hygienist and paid immediately after my treatment, then next time I went in the told me I owed them an extra fiver for it, because apparently they’ve put their prices up and hadn’t realised when I had paid 4 months previously….. obvs I refused, which caused a hoohah. Every time I go there I consider going to another practice but it’s so hard to find a NHS one at the moment, so I’m just trying to see if my expectations are unreasonable or not!

YABU

You're luck to get an NHS appointment for your children at all.

I'm not saying that's right. But that's the way it is at the moment.

Its not great customer service but nhs dentists are increasingly hard to find never mind then get appointments so on that basis yabu. The whole system is a shambles

Yes, to be fair. I should’ve added in my post that I am definitely grateful to have an NHS dentist at all, because I very much am. I suppose I’m probably more interested in other peoples experiences with their dentists to know if there is a benchmark.

If they're just check ups why don't you make them for half term/the holidays?

Why not go in the school holidays? Isn't that what most people do, other than in an emergency?

It’s rubbish especially as it’s slap bang in the middle of the day, but you are lucky to have an NHS dentist.

My children are with an NHS dentist - they had an appointment a week ago at 4.15pm and their next one (May) is at 4.25pm.

Late morning/midday consultations for children is pretty poor considering school hours, but like you say NHS dentists are almost impossible to find so people are unlikely to make a fuss.

The kids time slot is new, and I asked if I could book one in the school holiday and apparently they’re all already booked up! So for the future will try but guess everyone who would’ve gone after school is now trying to get in within the hols

It's pitiful that some think people in the UK should think themselves "lucky" to have an NHS dentist.

Yes and no. They were unreasonable to ask for more money months after the appointment. The kids appointments are irrelevant, you can pick them up from school and then take them back after.

It is pitiful, but it’s also the reality and it won’t change, so you either have to wait until a holiday appointment is available or take them out of school.

Honestly, my DD hadn’t had a dentist for over 5 years and needs to see one.
I wouldn’t care what time the appointment was as long as we could get one.

If the appointments are at that time at least they'd be present for both morning and afternoon registration.

I bet if you were willing to pay privately they’d find you a kids appointment after school.

I don't think it's unreasonable to want some kids appointments after school!
Yes, you can try for school holidays but so will everyone else.

I ended up going private for me and DS (very good value though - £14 a month for us both, covers all check ups and hygiene. Just pay for additional treatments). When we had an NHS dentist, it was so hard to get suitable appointments.

My daughter is two and I can’t get her registered with a dentist. I’ve tried 5 dentists. Waiting lists are 2-3 years. If she gets a dentist, I’ll happily take her whenever. Even in the middle of the school day.

Yes, it’s shocking that you should be considered lucky to have a NHS dentist for your child but the fact of the matter is, you are.

Our NHS dentist lets us book school holiday appointments six months ahead. Am very grateful.

You've got an nhs dentist, count yourself lucky or pay

They probably make the least off the kiddos and also have less demand for those slots as they are at an awkward time.

It makes sense to offer free (at point of use) appointments at a less popular time. If that means they can keep offering children's NHS appointments then that's a good thing.

I had to drive my teen DS 30 minutes to a 9am appointment that was delayed until 10am which meant I had to leave him there as I needed to get to work. He figured out which bus to get home. Annoying but I'm glad he can access a dentist.

I do check ups for my DCs in the holidays although their dentist is next to school and flexible with appointments.

Sadly with the state of NHS dentistry, the choice is probably either unpopular time appointments, or no appointments at all. My private dentist opens until 8pm three nights per week which is very convenient, but I obviously pay for the privilege.

I am private after having a shit NHS dentist. Kids where moved over too don't pay anything for them presume they claim it cack as they are kids. Also had to use holidays for appointments due to the times available.

DH is a dentist and the sad truth is that dental clinics make absolutely no money treating kids. The state of NHS dentistry is already dire with many places barely making a profit and many choosing to go private. Treating kids is of course necessary but going the extra step to offer services like after school appointments is pointless from a business perspective.

The reality is that most clinics try to deal with as few children as possible without having to actively throw patients out. Doing anything which might make it kid-friendly is counter productive because it might attract even more children and lower revenue further. Again, dentists do not hate kids and are fully aware of what appointment times are convenient for parents, but they also run a business. It's comparable to owning a restaurant but dealing with guests who only order a glass of water and sit at a table for hours. You obviously can't chase them away but you're not going to actively do anything to attract more people like that.

Children usually have good teeth and the only things they need doing are checkups or a filling at most. These barely generate any revenue but takes up the same amount of time as an older patient who might need more expensive work. Dental clinics make their profits on complex treatments like crowns, implants, prosthetics etc. Children don't generate any of that. In addition, many children are scared of the dentist so they end up screaming and crying and costing more time than the allocated appointment slot. So there really is no upside to attracting more kids to a practice.

Private is fine because they can charge whatever they need to cover overheads per patient. So it doesn't matter if it's a child or adult. And it usually means the parents are also private patients at the same practice.

We don't have an NHS dentist but my ds had a brace on the NHS and the orthodontist used to do NHS appointments in school hours and private ones outwith those times.

Fortunately my son's secondary school had and has "Continental" style hours and they finish at 2.30 so we used to be able to nab an appointment at about 3.15 and avoid him having to miss any school.