NHS dentist can't fit me in for 2 months

[Amithatbad1]

Last dentist appointment was meant to have been 18 months ago but the first lockdown started. Since then we've had to wait for them to work through the backlog to be offered another appointment which still hasn't happened.
The last few months I've noticed really awful tartar build up that is now on the front of my teeth and looks hideous but more scarily it has moved my front teeth and now when I eat I can feel a couple of my teeth moving.
I've rang them and explained the situation and they said that just comes under a check up and they're only doing essential dentistry so I'll still have to wait. I explained that my gums are now receding because of the tartar and some teeth are moving so they agreed to see me but not until the end of January.
I'm worried that I'm going to lose a couple of teeth by then!
I'm not sure of the situation - as an NHS patient could I contact a private dentist and pay for a one off treatment to get the tartar removed whilst remaining a patient at my existing dentist? Are there clinics where I could just book and pay for a one off scale and polish? My dentist said it's not considered essential but keeping my teeth is pretty essential to me!
Can anyone help /advise me?
Thanks

A one off trip privately shouldn’t be a problem.

Can you not see the hygienist at your practice, while you’re waiting for the check up? If your day is flexible, could you also call your practice every morning and ask if there have been any cancellations?

Find a direct access hygienist. You make the appointment with her, no need to see a dentist first. Can be any practice, don't need to be the one you usually attend.

I lost a veneer . My nhs dentist couldn’t see me for a week ( a long time with half a missing front tooth ) so I had a one off private appointment . It wasn’t a problem at all .

i often go private in between NHS especially for descaling, however they normally say you have to see a dentist first.

I agree with everyone else-you need a hygienist appointment. That should be able to be booked privately with no issue.

You can get any dental treatment from a private dentist tomorrow.

Mine is booking in for February at the moment! Tried to go private at my DP’s dentist but they needed me to have a new patient check up first, so would have doubled the cost.

@Prattypatel

You can get any dental treatment from a private dentist tomorrow.

I’m not sure that’s necessarily true. My private dentist is still pretty busy.

And I agree - its weird that apparently hygienist appointments don’t come under NHS care as it’s not essential and yet according to my hygienist I’m in danger of losing teeth due to needing a better dental regime and regular cleans etc

Yes book a private appointment. No reason your regular NHS dentist needs to know.

Absolutely you can go to a private dentist. I was surprised mine didn’t cost anymore for a checkup than the nhs guy was charging me!

Phone around, that definitely needs sorting. Your usual dentist may only be doing emergency work but certainly that isn’t the case everywhere, mine (private) keeps sending text messages suggesting I book a checkup.

Yes you can have a private dentist and an NHS one, I do this. You need to get some treatment as gum disease can be problematic if not dealt with.

Ring around. I had this last year when a tooth broke, and I eventually rang a big dental practice on a local university campus and they saw me the next day and they were great. NHS prices too.

A private hygienist appointment sounds like what you need.

You can also buy the little metal scrapey tools they use. I have a set because my teeth and gums don't like an electric toothbrush and this set really helps keep everything clean.

I'd go private.

There is no guarantee this government won't implement another lockdown-- your Jan appointment may be cancelled anyway.

Go private

I'm in the same situation, have lost 3 teeth since Covid started & have an abcess again, the third in a year. It took a week from the first twinge to get the surgery to answer the phone & then another week to get an appointment. I'm now on amoxicillin for 14 days. The pain at times is horrific, I'm taking the full dose of Ibuprofen, co-codamol plus my normal pain medication for my Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, arthritis & neuropathy, gabapentin & dihydracodeine every day, the pain is worse at night, I didn't get to sleep until 10.00am Friday morning, I'm still awake now. I desperately need a lot of treatment,I have complained to the dentist, the CQC & NHS England, my lovely dentist sold the Practice in 2018 & the new owner is frankly a joke, they are still using Covid as an excuse to not do routine treatment, but there aren't any other NHS dentists taking new patients in the area & I can't afford to go private.