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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To no be expected to pay for private dentist as my nhs dentist is not able to complete work

26 replies

Cinnamonbun92 · 07/02/2024 07:59

I have an nhs dentist and I believe he is fairly new in the industry and doesn’t have a large amount of experience, this is now the 2nd time I’ve needed certain treatment that he’s unable to do and is telling me I will need to go to see a private dentist and pay to have the work completed he cannot do…

This is unfair surely it isn’t my fault he’s not experienced enough to do it and he should refer me to another nhs dentist who can? I’ve already had to pay privately for an extraction he messed up and couldn’t finish leaving me with blood pouring out my mouth until I could pay to see a private dentist to finish it.
I’ve also recently had a baby so really don’t have the funds for private dentistry and should still be receiving free nhs treatment for a year

Any advice would be appreciated

OP posts:
IfIHadAHeart · 07/02/2024 08:02

It’s a few years ago now but I had to be referred to a private dentist for a complicated extraction. It was covered under my NHS fee. I did not pay extra.

Hereyoume · 07/02/2024 08:03

It's your health. I never understand how people run around trying to find cheap doctors or dentists.

You're not getting your car repaired, why would you even consider messing about trying to get treatment for free.

Go private, your health is more important than your bank balance.

ohtowinthelottery · 07/02/2024 08:04

My NHS dentist has years of experience and in the case of more complex proposed root canal work or extractions for broken teeth (where there's not much to grip) she has advised me that she would have to refer on to either an NHS clinic (long wait) or a private dentist (short wait but £600 bill). With what I've heard about contract payments from the NHS to dentists I wonder how much of that is down to inexperience and how much is down to it being too big a job for the payment/ time allowed.

The whole of NHS dentistry is a mess and has been for many years. It's just got much worse over the last few years.

artfuldodgerjack · 07/02/2024 08:04

Ask him for a NHS referral to do the work that he can't do.

Kpo58 · 07/02/2024 08:08

Hereyoume · 07/02/2024 08:03

It's your health. I never understand how people run around trying to find cheap doctors or dentists.

You're not getting your car repaired, why would you even consider messing about trying to get treatment for free.

Go private, your health is more important than your bank balance.

Because if you can't afford it, you can't afford it. There's no point saying look at my new shiny teeth if you and your family are now homeless because of it and seen as making yourself homeless due to paying out huge amounts on dental.

viridiano · 07/02/2024 08:10

You're an NHS patient so yes, he should refer you to another NHS dentist if he can't do the work.

viridiano · 07/02/2024 08:11

Hereyoume · 07/02/2024 08:03

It's your health. I never understand how people run around trying to find cheap doctors or dentists.

You're not getting your car repaired, why would you even consider messing about trying to get treatment for free.

Go private, your health is more important than your bank balance.

A very privileged perspective.

Original poster
Cinnamonbun92 · 07/02/2024 08:12

@Hereyoume im not ‘running around’ trying to find the cheapest option I physically don’t have the money, not everyone is in the position to just go private.
I would love to be able to go back to the private dentist I saw before as he was great and I’m terrified of another botch job from the nhs one.

thank you for the other helpful replies. I will ask if I can be referred to another nhs who can do the work

OP posts:
Treacletreacle · 07/02/2024 08:16

I had to wait almost 6 months last year to have a wisdom tooth removed at the hospital as my nhs dentist wouldn't remove. 4 lots of antibiotics for a continuous infection i would have paid anything to have the tooth out. I even called around private dentists and couldn't get further than the receptionist to see anyone. I only managed to get a cancellation as the woman on the phone felt sorry for me. Nhs dentistry is shocking.

MagpiePi · 07/02/2024 08:16

Why are dentists supposed to be expert at everything? You don't expect your GP to carry out surgeries and give you physio treatment, although they could probably have a good go at it if they had to.

Original poster
Cinnamonbun92 · 07/02/2024 08:19

@MagpiePi im not expecting him to? I said shouldn’t I be referred to another nhs dentist who can do it? As you would be from a gp, you’d be referred to an nhs waiting list for a consultant/surgery not straight private???

I also kind of do expect a dentist to be able to do a filling or a tooth removal.

OP posts:
Despair132 · 07/02/2024 08:35

Not a lot you can do. Most dentists have seen their client number increased by 50% due to our new arrivals and they are trying to rush train what they can to fill in the gaps which is causing more problems. This is only getting worse. NHS will
be gone soon as people will wonder why.

spottedinthewilds · 07/02/2024 08:49

Is it a root canal OP? I don't think many NHS dentists will do them as they are a specialism. The alternative would be to have the tooth out which I suspect would be the NHS view on it.

NewYearOldMe2024 · 07/02/2024 09:05

I had to have a re root canal a while ago. My NHS dentist didn't have the facilities/ ability to do it and there was no NHS option.

I paid for it privately because having a functioning front tooth and no pain was worth giving up some other things for. I also travelled 200 miles to do it as it was significantly cheaper than the Harley St option suggested.

So I think it is possible that there is no NHS option and if you want to be free of pain you're going to have to pay for it.

Sorry.

Lollygaggle · 07/02/2024 09:39

If it is a root filling , particularly on a back tooth, then they can be very complex and need specialist equipment eg an operating microscope and a dentist who has done further training to become an endodontist.

In general the NHS do not employ endodontists , it is difficult to justify spending £800 to save one tooth when extracting it would solve the problem.

Hence if a root treatment is complex ( we are talking microsurgery on root canals a fraction of a millimetre across , blind with complex anatomy) then the only place you can be referred is privately .

Original poster
Cinnamonbun92 · 07/02/2024 09:42

Lollygaggle · 07/02/2024 09:39

If it is a root filling , particularly on a back tooth, then they can be very complex and need specialist equipment eg an operating microscope and a dentist who has done further training to become an endodontist.

In general the NHS do not employ endodontists , it is difficult to justify spending £800 to save one tooth when extracting it would solve the problem.

Hence if a root treatment is complex ( we are talking microsurgery on root canals a fraction of a millimetre across , blind with complex anatomy) then the only place you can be referred is privately .

That’s really helpful thank you!

OP posts:
lioneggs · 07/02/2024 10:08

What's the treatment? There's a general dentist which is what he is then there's specialist dentists. If it's outside his scope of practice he isn't allowed to do it and a lot of specialists aren't NHS dentists because there just isn't any money in it and it's incredibly expensive to be a specialist

Lanawashington · 07/02/2024 10:10

Hereyoume · 07/02/2024 08:03

It's your health. I never understand how people run around trying to find cheap doctors or dentists.

You're not getting your car repaired, why would you even consider messing about trying to get treatment for free.

Go private, your health is more important than your bank balance.

This is one of the most out of touch things I've ever seen on here and that is saying something.

Go private, your health is more important than your bank balance.

You do realise that's not actually possible for a lot of people? Lots of people don't have access to any savings, credit cards, any form of credit

Muchof · 07/02/2024 10:17

Cinnamonbun92 · 07/02/2024 08:19

@MagpiePi im not expecting him to? I said shouldn’t I be referred to another nhs dentist who can do it? As you would be from a gp, you’d be referred to an nhs waiting list for a consultant/surgery not straight private???

I also kind of do expect a dentist to be able to do a filling or a tooth removal.

Well this is a dentist not a doctor and the fact is, it just doesn’t work the same way. Working people need to be realistic and accept that they need to pay for dentistry in the UK, I haven’t come across a dentist taking on NHS work since 1995.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 07/02/2024 10:19

I am very lucky to have an excellent NHS dentist but per pp when I needed a root canal on an upper molar she suggested I see a private specialist. The tooth has very long curly roots, and while my NHS dentist did say she would give it a good go, she also said an endo with a microscope would have a better chance at a successful treatment.

My options were her do it, and if no use then go to the private dentist for a retreat, go straight to him, or her take the tooth out. I was very fortunate that my mum actually loaned me money to go straight to private, and also that my NHS dentist then crowned the tooth once the treatment was complete which reduced the cost. The private surgery was very fancy - it felt like a spa - so I did think part of the cost was about that!

Jasmine876 · 07/02/2024 10:19

My husband has an NHS dentist but needed referral to a specialist private clinic. He is only paying NHS fees to get the work done.

MillyMollyMardy · 07/02/2024 11:20

@Jasmine876 thats brilliant that that service exists in your area. Unfortunately those services haven't been commissioned everywhere and in those regions it's usually pay a private specialist or have the tooth extracted for things like complex endodontics.

Mynewnameis · 07/02/2024 11:21

My nhs dentist won't even see me, despite me having a painful tooth.

Nannyfannybanny · 07/02/2024 11:38

Lollygaggle is correct. I had the same dentist then practice from 1975 to a few year ago. I had moved so a 100 mile round trip. Found one about 5 miles away on a recommendation of a friend. I broke a double back at him level (granary roll) dentist apologised, said she couldn't remove it because the root was 45% angle under the next tooth. Referred to Maxfax surgeon. DH yesterday, agony toothache since last week. Got appointment yesterday (a fluke cancellation) temporary plug, again dentist unavailable to remove because of position and complexity. Appointment Monday,NHS surgeon, weirdly in our village. He would have paid if the appointment was a longer wait. We aren't rolling in money, pension and no savings.

Mrsjayy · 07/02/2024 11:42

Hereyoume · 07/02/2024 08:03

It's your health. I never understand how people run around trying to find cheap doctors or dentists.

You're not getting your car repaired, why would you even consider messing about trying to get treatment for free.

Go private, your health is more important than your bank balance.

that's wonderful if you can afford to pay £££s on private health care the peace of mind you have unfortunately not everyone has your privilege and rely on nhs dentistry which fwiw isn't free .

op ask the dentist to refer you on they can do that.