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Original poster

Need NHS Dentist!

12 replies

turties · 03/05/2022 22:10

Hi,

My teeth are in bad condition. I need many fillings and they rot really easily for some reason and it's really getting me down. My dentist says that I clean perfectly and I don't need to see a hygienist etc. but I have needed fillings all my life.
I have been to the private dentist, but I can't afford the treatment that I need. It comes to almost £900 and I have a new baby. I can barely live at the moment Sad
My problem is that I can't get onto a waiting list for an NHS dentist and I need this as I'd have exemption due to giving birth less than a year ago.
I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions? It's getting me down and my teeth are suffering

OP posts:
choosername1234 · 03/05/2022 22:54

Is there a dental training university near you? I've seen that suggested on similar posts before. Students do the work while being closely supervised I believe

Threetulips · 03/05/2022 22:57

Have you tried ringing dentist more ‘out in the sticks’ where you can drive to? Most people won’t travel but as it’s only once a year it’s not that big a deal.

You need to get emailing

womaninatightspot · 03/05/2022 23:01

I'd go further afield too, When I lived in Edinburgh I used to train it up to Broughty Ferry (About an hour and a half away but right next to the staion ) for an NHS dentist. Ridiculous that I had tbh but such is life.

PinkButtercups · 04/05/2022 07:44

Dental check ups are 6 months not one year. Rarely they're one year unless you have really really good healthy teeth.

I work in dentistry and at the moment it's really hard to get an NHS dentist.

Look for your local NHS walk in clinic. Say you have pain. They will check your teeth and do treatment. It's all UDA's for them. It's one way around trying to get NHS dental treatment. And it'll be free where you've just had a baby. Just make sure it's an NHS walk in centre.

CheeseBoard2022 · 04/05/2022 07:51

You can go to any NHS dentist. Look outside your area. That's what I had to do.

LidlCinnamonBun · 04/05/2022 07:59

The wait list for an NHS dentist is usually 2/3 years.

Matchingcollarandcuffs · 04/05/2022 08:01

I was told if you rang 111 they can direct you to NHS dentists with capacity, whether this works in reality is another thing . .

I really feel for you

KnitPurlKnitPurl · 04/05/2022 08:15

I am trying to find a new NHS dentist too - ours has been awful during the pandemic and haven't offered appointments at all. It's been 2 years since any of us saw a dentist.

choosername1234 · 04/05/2022 11:30

PinkButtercups · 04/05/2022 07:44

Dental check ups are 6 months not one year. Rarely they're one year unless you have really really good healthy teeth.

I work in dentistry and at the moment it's really hard to get an NHS dentist.

Look for your local NHS walk in clinic. Say you have pain. They will check your teeth and do treatment. It's all UDA's for them. It's one way around trying to get NHS dental treatment. And it'll be free where you've just had a baby. Just make sure it's an NHS walk in centre.

This is odd, having worked in walk in centres a lot this is something I would never do and none of my colleagues would either. Drs & advanced nurse practitioners are not trained, assessed, qualified or possibly even covered to offer anything more than the most basic antibiotics & painkillers for dental problems.

PinkButtercups · 05/05/2022 23:59

@choosername1234 huh? You worked in a dental walk in centre yet no dentist was basically capable enough of extracting teeth, root canals and fillings etc? Well I'd be contacting the GDC and wondering if they should have their licence.

What you said is really odd. All our walk in centres have qualified dentists (obviously) who can carry out basic dental treatments.

choosername1234 · 06/05/2022 05:57

PinkButtercups · 05/05/2022 23:59

@choosername1234 huh? You worked in a dental walk in centre yet no dentist was basically capable enough of extracting teeth, root canals and fillings etc? Well I'd be contacting the GDC and wondering if they should have their licence.

What you said is really odd. All our walk in centres have qualified dentists (obviously) who can carry out basic dental treatments.

Sorry, I totally missed that you were talking about specific dental walk in centres (never even knew these existed). I, obviously, work in a "normal" walk in centre and we get a bit fed up of 111 etc sending us dental patients we are unable to treat as they need.
Dental walk in centres sound amazing

PinkButtercups · 06/05/2022 07:59

@choosername1234 oh right. Up and down the UK they have NHS walk in dental clinics.

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