Are you still having regular dental check ups

[Pippalongstocking70]

Has anyone else given up on going to the dentist in this col crisis? Seems like visits to the dentist are a luxury for most people these days.
Private dentists are expensive & getting an nhs dentist is like trying to get blood out of a stone. Even if you do find one you still have to pay something.
I can imagine lots of people with bad teeth in the future

However my daughter has been told there is no available NHS dentist in the whole of East Dunbartonshire !

I was going annually until recently then I was offered a choice of six months or 8 months between check ups.

I chose to have 6 monthly ones, my NHS dentist is really good so I want to keep my teeth and gums as healthy as possible as I'm getting older and keep him as long as possible too.

So you actually think it’s better to apply a blanket standard to every single person but just a longer recall? I thought you were arguing against that when you thought it was 6 monthly for everyone including people that look after their teeth well. So I was explaining that some people who look after their teeth well do have longer recalls. But making those that don’t (or can’t) go for longer would just mean they end up with more issues. And quite frankly is a guaranteed way for a dentist to end up getting sued. “You knew I had Parkinsons and was unable to brush well but you sent me away for two years without a check up and now I need 6 fillings.”

Seeing patients every six months is not why NHS dentistry is failing.

What about the people who have choice of the dentist or paying the electric bill or feeding kids though?

Yes, I don't have very good teeth sadly/plus a wisdom tooth that's a bit worrying so I am diligent about going to all my check ups.

Luckily I have a (very nice) NHS dentist, and can afford the check ups/occasional deep cleans.

I got onto an NHS dentist so yes I am going for my check ups. I think if I skip them then I get struck off the NHS list.

When I was not on the NHS list, I was not having regular check ups.

I include it in my budget as an essential. I get regular hygienist cleans too. There are other things I’d like to do that I don’t do in order to maintain oral health. It depends how much you value it to a point, though I appreciate there will be people who have absolutely no room in their budget for it.

check ups every 6-9months if that what’s it takes to stay on their books . Not going to give up my spot with an NHS dentist for love nor money.

One of the very last things I'd give up! My NHS dentist went private so I just pay monthly, and that gets me two checkups and two cleans a year.
Tooth decay can literally cause heart disease.

Since my NHS dentist went private I do still go to the dentist, but less frequently than I used to.

Yes I have had regular dental check ups all my life and I'm not going to stop now. I pay my private dentist monthly and my check ups and cleans are covered by that. I'd economise elsewhere rather than risk my dental health.

Very sad that people are contemplating not having regular dental checkups. I seem to recall this being a major issue post covid but sounds like it hasn’t resolved.

I have a good private dentist and really prioritise getting those checks and cleans twice per year.

I have this in Scotland. £25 a month.

My private dentist charges £55 for a check up, that isn't a huge amount more than the NHS price so I don't stress about it

Will probably go soon just for a check because I've had 2 children in the last couple of years but I haven't been in about a decade. There's no NHS places here. But my teeth are in good shape and I look after them so I don't foresee any problems.

Only double lol.

And that £27.90 nhs band can also include scale and polish and x rays

My kids are with an nhs dentist and have check ups every 6 months.

i can’t remember the last time i went to the dentist but i take very good care of my teeth and they are strong and clean. I used to go when I was at uni and during pregnancy, both times when it was free, but was always told everything looks great and nothing feels like it’s changed since then so yeah…

unless you feel pain or like something has changed in your mouth like a tooth has chipped or something, then why would you need a check up every 6 months? Not being rude, a genuine question. I don’t go for a check up at the gp unless I feel something is wrong so I thought the same is reasonable to do for teeth? I brush well and floss. My kids I want checked up regularly as I’m not sure they would recognise if something felt wrong and I’m also not sure they are always brushing correctly, plus thier teeth are all changing falling out / coming through so I want it kept an eye on. But mine are just sitting here in my head lol

It can but it doesn't usually - my check ups with the NHS were incredibly cursory.

It may be double - but it's only £28, it's the price of a round at the pub

The NHS dentist I'm with has me on every 12 months and DH was on every 6 because his teeth weren't great, but they're much better now so he is also on every 12. The kids are very 6 months - nothing wrong with their teeth, just growing and changing so more frequent checkups are needed.

6 months used to be NHS standard, but not anymore.

I'm lucky because I still have an NHS dentist. Currently have 6 monthly check ups but my teeth are crap and the dentist is a bit judgy. I keep going because I know at some point I'm going to need big work on them. At the moment the costs are covered for NHS work through a plan at work (about £6 a month)

Yes I get a scale, polish and X ray every time.

My dentist says "it's what you pay your NI for, you're entitled to it", when I query why he's doing it.

My previous NHS dentist would spend 5 mins counting my teeth which I can do myself and that's it!

It's why I went private where I get the scale and polish and X rays rolled in

I see the dentist and hygienist twice a year.

Or 5 dinners at home for 2 people

Did you ask for one?