What do you do for dentistry?

[Rolson77]

Just received a letter to say that my dentist is going private. There is not one NHS dentist taking on new patients in the whole city. I work full time but am on universal credit and my son and I haven't been to the dentist for a very long time. Even when we had an NHS dentist they weren't able to offer an appointment as all their NHS dentists left. I can't afford any treatments under denplan. A filling alone is £120+. So wonder what the point would be in even going on denplan. So, is that it? We just don't go to the dentist? I have considered travelling further afield, but just feel like it'll be expensive and a nightmare. The nearest dentist to me taking NHS patients is in London, and the train there would cost at least £80/90 for me and my son.

Feeling deflated. What does everyone do for dentistry?

Not a chance. Scotland is as bad as England, NI and Wales are worse .
Different parties have been in power in all the home countries , all have paid lip service to NHS dentistry , all have neglected it so we are now in crisis.

Dentists have been warning since 1992 that something needs to be done. We warned in 2006 that the new contract was unworkable. Every pilot since has been unworkable and we have warned that they are a waste of time and money .

Dental access centres were opened with salaried dentists and NHS running and paying bills. A course of treatment ended up costing £480 as opposed to £36 in general practice.

The latest wheeze is to have therapists doing the majority of the work with dentists just doing complicated work. Has been done already with the problem therapists were not happy to work at the rate and for the money that a young dentist would (not surprisingly ) on the NHS but the biggest problem is what NHS pays does , increasiningly, not cover what it costs to run a dental practice , let alone pay anyone.

It would require a massive amount of cash to bring dentistry back to even what was happening in 2006 and no party is willing to do that. It would be political suicide to admit we can’t afford a universal dental service and we would be better focusing on a core service that would get anyone out of pain and healthy and leave complicated stuff to be done privately .

Instead they are choking NHS dentistry to death and blaming dentists for not wanting to work themselves to death and bankruptcy.

European dentists have gone home or gone private because they cannot believe how they are expected to work in NHS dentistry , how litigious the U.K. is and how powerful and vindictive the GDC (general dental council) is.

Try simply health, my dentist recommended them over Denplan anyway.

Technically, I have an NHS dentist. In reality, the checkups are at NHS prices but everything else is private. If you need a filling, they no longer do amalgam ones so you have to pay £200 for a white one.
I am someone whose mouth was filled with metal fillings in the 70s/80s. Over the past 10 years I've had these replaced with white fillings and/or glass onlays. None of that was cheap but the standard of work was very high. I am hoping these teeth will see me out! I do try to save a bit of £ every so often for the dental fund.

Hi there,
I understand how challenging it can be to access affordable dental care. While I’m based in Arizona, I can suggest a few options that might help:

1. Community Dental Clinics: Check if there are local clinics offering sliding scale fees based on income.
2. University Dental Schools: They often provide lower-cost services performed by students under supervision.
3. Payment Plans: Ask local dentists if they offer payment plans or discounts for those on universal credit.
4. Preventive Care: Maintain good oral hygiene at home to prevent costly treatments later.
5. Travel Considerations: If you must travel, try to find any first-time patient discounts or special offers.

Stay proactive, and don’t hesitate to seek emergency care if needed. I hope these suggestions help you find the care you and your son need. Best regards, Dr. Jason Nordean AZ Dental Club

I was in the same position quite a few years ago. I pay monthly for Denplan and as my teeth are not in bad condition I have only once had to pay any extra (for a crown). I have had 2 extractions, a filling or two and a root canal filling in that time (it's probably 15-20 years ago and I am now 63 so have wear and tear on my teeth), plus annual x-rays, and I haven't had to pay any extra for any of those.

@Rolson77 have you tried https://www.gooseberrydental.co.uk/

I know someone who just got in here on NHS

We are fortunate to have it through DH work and covers quite a lot and all emergency works as well. Just nothing cosmetic like bonding etc. it includes teeth straightening too.

Labour had a meeting with the British Dental Association in early july.

imho by the next GE, nothing will have changed and we'll have a series of new promises.. that wont be kept.

Same boat here, my dentist went private at during covid so haven’t had once since as they just aren’t taking on - hated them anyway! If I have an issue I guess it’ll just be urgent care dentist.

I did manage to get my son into one taking on under 17s only. He desperately needs braces, current wait is around 3 years, he’s gutted and I’m worried he’ll age out before he gets them but I cannot afford the £3,000 private fee for them.

I am still with an NHS dentist as they haven’t changed to private. DH and DS dentist went private last year. DH and DS were just phoning round and assumed they would have to pay privately, made an appointment at one and was told it was an NHS one. This was in village about 2 miles away, they were surprised but very pleased.

I will need some extensive treatment in the future to replace a bridge I had fitted 25 years ago. It’s a six unit bridge as lost teeth in an accident as a teenager. This is a long time for a bridge to be in place, the first one lasted 14 years . To have what I really would like is not possible on the NHS at all, dental implants. I am seeing a colleague of my dentist for a second opinion on what is actually feasible. Then I have to make a decision for when the time comes on do I go denture or pay for a new bridge, which may not be feasible due to bone loss or am I suitable for implants. My friend had a bone graft and an implant recently and one tooth cost 5k. I would probably need bone grafts for the two implants and also four new crowns so it would probably be 15k minimum.

On a monthly Bupa plan. It’s expensive but I do go the hygienist every quarter. My teeth are rubbish partly due to the appalling NHS dentistry I had in the 1970’s as a child. Very much “drill and fill”. I had to pay for glasses/contact lenses once I became an adult and think dentistry could go the same way. I think all children should have free good quality dentistry that should set them on the right course in adult life, but it’s yet another thing where you ask the question, can we really afford to pay for the whole adult population of the UK to have at least partly subsidised dentistry?

We've not been able to get a NHS dentist for 6 years, I was paying for Denplan, going for check ups/cleans twice a year but my dentist charged me for the hygienist last time, saying I needed a deeper clean! Wanted over £500 for 2 white fillings that were not even visible.

I now go to the dentist ( I did my research) when I go to Thailand on holiday and have the work I need done there, last time ... check up, x-rays, 2 composite fillings, clean & polish, whitening and 2 composite veneers cost me £237 they even gave me painkillers in that price, checked in with me a few days after and had a open door if I had an issue etc I had it all done in 1 sitting, my old dentist quoted me in excess of 4k.
Not an ideal situation :(

I finally have an NHS dentist and have my first appointment in 4.5 years in month!