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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To phone the emergency NHS dental line after seeing private dentist?

36 replies

StopTheEarthIWantToGetOff · 01/02/2024 16:39

My NHS dentist went private in December. I was due a yearly check up in February and would have qualified for free treatment as I've just had a baby.
I decided to go private for a check up as I have a history of bad teeth due to not being taught to look after them when I was young. I started looking after them mid twenties when the penny finally dropped for me but I think it may be a case of too little too late.

Anyway, this dentist has said I need 6 fillings as 4 of my existing fillings from about 20 years ago have decay behind them.

This is going to cost me £1300.

I can't afford it. I am a carer for my special needs son so don't have a good income. I can't work due to caring for him full time.

This is just the start of my treatment costs as one of the teeth that needs a filling replacing actually is badly damaged so the dentist said it should really have a crown placed. So another £800.

And then there's the issue of an xray showing a shadow that points to a failed root canal.. I didn't even ask what the cost would be regarding that as I was already about to cry.

I don't know what to do. If I don't treat the decay I'm going to lose my teeth. I'm only in my 30s and don't want to be toothless.

But I honestly don't know how I can pay this.

I didn't know if I'd be able to ring the emergency dental line and say what's going on and seeing if I could get the fillings done by an emergency dentist. Probably not possible though.

OP posts:
Wetweatherandmud · 01/02/2024 16:50

An emergency dentist is just that, a dental service for emergency treatment for abscesses. It's strictly triaged so your chances of being seen are zero. If you have a huge swelling then you would get an appointment, but from your description, you don't qualify as an emergency.

I have worked in this field for years and do triage and, sorry, I'd tell you to go back to your dentist to discuss further.

DamnSpots · 01/02/2024 16:51

Its unlikely that an emergency dentist would do these as they're not emergencies.

Have you spoken to your dentist about whether they have any sort of dental payment plan? Loads of them do, and it will let you spread the cost and generally work out cheaper overall.

Alternatively, you could look at getting private dental insurance - monthly fees and then a lot of the treatment will be covered, at least partially.

windymcgregor · 01/02/2024 16:51

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MeMyBooksAndMyCats · 01/02/2024 16:55

An emergency dentist is for emergencies they won't do all that work for an emergency unfortunately.

Could you ring round and see if there's any nhs dentists taking on even if you have to travel out? I lost my teeth in my 20s due to a disability; I wear dentures and I swear they aren't as bad as what people make them out to be.

DRS1970 · 01/02/2024 16:57

I would be asking how all that has happened since your last check up. It sounds like an awful lot to have occured in 6 months.

treeinthedistance · 01/02/2024 17:21

You have my sympathies, this is not a nice sutuation to be in - however this isn't what emergency dentists are for. I went to one once as I developed a massive infection (it was over Easter weekend so everywhere was shut) and I was in so much pain I couldn't eat or even fall asleep and painkillers weren't touching it. That's the sort of thing they treat.

I think I would be asking for a second opinion from a different dentist, and if they agree that the work needs doing, ask them what is the priority to be fixed first. I have a cavity in a tooth that my dentist has said wants fixing at some point, but doesn't need fixing urgently because it's glacially slow at doing anything. It may be you can spread the costs out a bit by not doing everything all at once (but under the advice of a dentist of course - I'm not suggesting to just ignore/leave it)

Gettingbysomehow · 01/02/2024 17:24

The emergency dentists here in Somerset will only pull teeth, they will not do any fillings on crowns, I was horrified when I found this out.
I had to get a loan for my work.
Can you get a small loan?

Gettingbysomehow · 01/02/2024 17:25

Also maybe try Go Fund Me?

VanilleA · 01/02/2024 17:32

Get to an NHS dentist? You'll have to wait but it's your only choice really. Or you could find the nearest dental school and see if they'll be interested in practicing on you?

VanilleA · 01/02/2024 17:33

If its a yearly check up I find it hard to believe none of these issues would have been evident last year. I would get a second opinion.

Nomoredamnmats · 01/02/2024 17:37

À friend has had long term treatment at the (fairly) local dental hospital. It’s done by the more experienced students under supervision. Worth a try?

Unleashthecrazy · 01/02/2024 17:38

I saw the out of hours dentaline dentist the weekend just gone and even though it was decided I needed the tooth pulled they could only prescribed antibiotics and advise me to contact my dentist for the work to be done. I am very fortunate to have an NHS dentist but they do say if you don't have a dentist and need work done then to call 111 so that's your best bet. You have my sympathies OP, such a horrible situation to be in x

mitogoshi · 01/02/2024 17:41

You need to go on the waiting list for nhs, took us 6 months but we got one (Bristol) the emergency dentist pulls teeth, gives antibiotics, certainly not a crown. My wisdom tooth was pulled but took several months of antibiotics and lockdown for the emergency dentist to take me on

BlackAldi · 01/02/2024 17:47

So sorry, this is a horrible situation for you.

I’d ring round to find an nhs dentist, travelling if necessary. Otherwise, I’d seek a second opinion, privately if necessary.

My husband was told at a private check up about 5 years ago that he needed 11 fillings! We had a second opinion at an NHS dentist and they said everything was fine, a couple of teeth might need filling in the next few years. He’s been fine the whole time.

Ratw21 · 01/02/2024 19:29

I didn’t think I’d be able to get an NHS dentist but I spent an afternoon calling round and found 2 that would give me an appointment within a couple of weeks. Be prepared to travel a bit but worth the saving. Sometimes smaller village dentists have more availability.

Ratw21 · 01/02/2024 19:38

Also agree that some private dentists definitely seem to think you need more done than NHS ones! My husband was quoted almost 2k for a dental issue, that was rectified by another one for under a hundred!

Portakalkedi · 01/02/2024 19:45

I agree that private ones do tell you that you need more work doing than an NHS one would, and while I'm inclined to think it's greed, it could be that the NHS one is going to do only what's absolutely necessary.

Original poster
StopTheEarthIWantToGetOff · 01/02/2024 20:42

This whole thing has stressed me out so much I just got the worst migraine I've had in months! Had to go and lie down!

I know calling the emergency dentist isn't something I can realistically do. I was just panicking and desperate!

It's frustrating though as I don't understand how none of the NHS dentists I've seen over the years have said I need this much work! I only had a check up last February with the NHS dentist I had and she said everything was fine and that I'd been taking care of my teeth well and to keep it up.

But she didn't take xrays and I hadn't had xrays for a while so maybe she missed this decay that's happening underneath my fillings?

I want a second opinion but I can't afford one! To get a second opinion privately I'd have to pay the new patient fee again which seems to be around £100 in most places. So that's an extra £100 I don't have to potentially be told the same thing and have to pay that £1300 anyway.

I can't get an NHS dentist as there are basically none in the whole of my region. The closest one that's taking adults is 120 miles from me and a 3 hour car journey.
I can't make that journey because my life revolves around caring for my special needs son and of course now have a 10 week old baby too!

And this £1300 is just the cost of the fillings! The dentist hasn't even gotten round to talking about the crown yet etc.

I'm horrified. How are people on low incomes supposed to afford this? I wish I had been taught as a child to care for my teeth properly so that I could have avoided this but I wasn't! By the time I could figure out the importance of it myself the damage had already been done and I've looked after them ever since but it's obviously too late.

OP posts:
Speckledpasta · 01/02/2024 20:59

You won't get the treatment you need with an emergency dentist, it is not what they do.

You need to sign up to as many local Facebook groups, next door forums and the like and watch them like a hawk. As soon as you hear of a dentist opening it's list go in person and sign up. It might take a couple of months but you'll get there.

Or go to Croatia.

Firstgear · 01/02/2024 21:39

Hi there, I am a dentist. I wouldn’t agree with some posters saying that private dentists find more treatment due to greed, however the way the NHS system is funded is so poor that there is an inclination to possibly do what is clinically necessary only. It might be that the fillings you have only have small shadows and in an ideal world (where money is no object) they would be replaced. However it might not be essential right now. I can only speculate of course. You could ask what is necessary right now and possibly get the treatment done over time. Regarding the root canal - it sounds like you have a chronic infection, these can remain asymptomatic forever or they can flare up and cause pain or infection. If it’s not bothering you right now I wouldn’t worry too much right now but as long as you’re aware and can have a think for the future. Sorry you’re feeling so worried, it’s a very sad state of events. The funding from the government and the state of the NHS is incredibly demoralising for us as well.

FuckinghellthatsUnbelievable · 01/02/2024 21:41

Emergency dentist doesn’t do proper fillings, they put on temporary repairs and tell you to see your own dentist for a permanent repair. I’d try and find an nhs dentist asap and see what you can get done

XenoBitch · 01/02/2024 21:42

Fillings are not an emergency. If you call 111, you will just be told to find a dentist.

It is ridiculous. I need some fillings, but will just have to wait until the cavities reach my roots and I get an infection. No NHS dentist here, and also can't afford private.

FindingMeno · 01/02/2024 21:51

In my experience a nhs dentist treats problems and a private dentist aims to prevent problems.
I would go back and be honest with the private dentist about the manageability of the cost and see if they can suggest either spreading the work out or a payment plan to spread the cost.
Good luck!

maximist · 01/02/2024 22:03

About 20 years ago I was seeing a private dentist. I asked about joining their scheme (I think it was Denplan). My dentist said that before they accepted me I'd have to have any outstanding work done, and listed several things. I moved shortly afterwards and found an NHS dentist, and none of the things the private guy suggested have had to be done....

scoobs321 · 01/02/2024 22:04

Do you have a dental school near you? They usually take patients for students to practice on.