Get sent down to get your teeth fixed?

[Thegoatliesdownonbroadway]

I read somewhere that HMP service have to provide NHS dentistry. So, if like me, you have a pile of teeth problems. I lost 5 crowns during the lockdowns and no longer have an NHS dentist. So what if I refuse to pay my council tax? Won't I get sent down, eventually? Then I could refuse parole until they fix my teeth? any ideas?

Seems a bit extreme

Yeah if that's what you want to do.

Assuming you're an adult with your own mind?

It's not something most clear thinking individuals would do, but again if that's what you want you can always try it?

No-one's going to stop you.

Yeah why not ......
Maybe you should do something 'more illegal' to quicken the whole process 🤯

Assuming this is tongue in cheek 😆 but NHS dentristy needs an overhaul. It’s ridiculous that it’s so hard to get on the list.

I do think prisoners should be able to have dental treatment though, and it’s not like they can afford to go private. If that’s what you were getting at?

I might suggest this to my mother 😂 she desperately needs her teeth sorting and no funds to do it. Mind you, you may find they only do NHS removals? 😬

I'm not sure prison dentistry would include replacing crowns, more emergency work.

But you could always give it a go and report back..?

I don't think you'd go down for not paying council tax. You'd have to do something serious, like being offensive on Twitter.

One of my work colleagues similar … neglected her teeth for years because NHS impossible to see dentist. So, she just doesn’t.

She does a lot of other body maintenance, and pays, but weirdly she thinks tooth care must be free. If she’d done basic Bupa dentist & paid over the years so likely be in better position now.

She pays for tattooos, lips, Botox, nails, hair color changes, spray tan …. I think annual cost of each of these would be more than routine dental care … years of tooth neglect, it’s now “thousands” to fix.

If going to dentist had influencers … and was trendy…
Maybe Bupa should combine dental care w lip plump, or tattoos.

Courts are so backed up it takes at least 2 years for most cases to be heard so you'd be waiting a bloody long time still.

Nhs dentistry hospitals will do some work more cheaply than private. You could ask your dentist for a referral?

I remember a NHS Dentist once telling me he was obliged to ensure patients could chew and were pain free. Not sure if this is still the case but you might find your treatment would be extractions and dentures ( and a criminal record) rather than replacement crowns.

Prison dentistry is in crisis as well. Overall prisoners have very poor dental health.
problems with being moved at short notice , prison staffing levels , dental staffing levels etc mean it is very rare to finish a course of treatment , or in many cases actually start one. Health care , in general, in prisons is not good , appointments are often not able to be kept because there isn’t the staff to take prisoners backwards and forwards.

Before anyone mentions refugees this is also a total fallacy , they have even worse problems accessing NHS dentistry and eg Ukrainian refugees often return home to get treatment . As for what is provided in camps etc it is very ,very,very basic emergency treatment in conditions you would not wish on your worst enemy.

Inability to pay is not a reason to refer to a dental hospital. The referral would be rejected.

Had this same conversation a few months back with someone who worked in a prison. He said the dental care is pretty basic and inmates have to go on a list as appointments are limited. I think as a pp said it would be limited to being pain free and able to eat. Medical care always seemed to be very prompt though, no waiting for appointments.

You’d have to go down for a serious stretch. A relative got two years and after 6 months requested a visit.He was still waiting for first appointment on release. And was warned it was very basic, filling or extraction.

Dentistry in prison is provided in the same way that dentistry outside of prison is provided - you are entitled to free dental treatment. Actually getting that treatment is another matter, and no it won't include crown replacement!

If you end up in prison with the current state of our prison estate, your bad teeth will be the very least of your worries

They might give you new crowns but they would almost certainly be metal ones, not tooth coloured.

I temped in a prison about 20 years ago. One of the inmates had done exactly this, not for dental but mental healthcare. Just caused small public annoyances until he got sent down.

A bit of a bonus you would get free food and accommodation too. Probably not to your liking but you know…..

I think we're going to see people doing this to get 3 square meals a day and live somewhere heated

Which is not a surprise given the cost of living

Dental and medical care in the prison and detention estates is dire. I have personal experience as someone who does voluntary work within the system. The residents at the facility I visit are lucky to get anything other than a paracetamol and there was a recent death where a resident's symptoms were brushed aside.

So yes, I think your plan is a poor one, unless you enjoy having no control and no agency over your health and welfare.

You'll probably find its emergency stuff only and the cheapest option. Eg removing a tooth rather than fixing it.

Crowns? An NHS dentist will probably just pull the stumps and give you falsies. No frills.

You could save the money from not paying your council tax to get it done privately, in case the judge is feeling lenient.

This reminds me of a episode of ren and stimpy, they committed crimes to go to prison, so they wouldn't have to pay rent and get free meals!