Can’t afford a dentist? What can I do?

[Snowtimex7]

Not for my but DP. he needs- what we now know as a root canal on a top tooth you can see if he smiles. He’s 32. We paid for an emergency dentist to get a scan to find out what’s going on. He’s in so much pain and taking painkillers every 2-4 hours for the past 3 days. The tooth is going a dark colour.

problem- we don’t qualify for NHS. Even if there was one near us (there isn’t) we earn over the threshold but all of our money goes on keeping us alive.

we’ve contacted three dentists. Prices we are looking at is £600 (partly done) £1145 for the full treatment. Nothing seems to be cheaper. Even locked at an additional place miles away by my parents. Out of budget.

He has a heart condition, they stress he has to take his dental health seriously due to the infection but yet he doesn’t qualify for free dental? Trying to get hold of his consultant but she’s away.

can’t take out credit cards bad rating- no one is in the position to lend us £1k+

he’s in a lot of pain and I’m just not sure what to do?

Ask a dentist to remove the tooth?

That sounds tough OP. Are you anywhere near a dental school?

Honestly that’s a cheap quote relatively speaking. We were quoted £2000 for completed job and opted for a £150 extraction instead.

If it’s so important to have the root canal can you get snd afford an interest free credit card eg £100 a month for 12 months?

This is risky though since there’s no guarantee the root canal will work and you could be left struggling to pay for something you’re no longer benefiting from

No help op but I'm fuming for you.
What a disgrace it is that people can't access affordable dental care.

I hope you find a solution

It's his front tooth

It’s quite at the front and his job requires him to meet high end clients so I don’t think his mental health would be great doing so. Also they wanted minimum £400 due to infection and it can cause issues with movement so it’s not much of a better option

What do you mean you don’t qualify for NHS? It’s not means tested. We have an income of over £100k and we have an NHS dentist.

oh wow that’s a good deal compared to those.
my local one wanted a lot more for extraction though which is odd.

we’ve looked. Our credit isn’t great so interest free isn’t possible. Not many cards offering over £500 and another high outgoing for no guarantee

just feels like a lose lose situation

i am nhs exempt due to maternity, and I can’t find any dentist that would take me in thirty mile radius. He is not as our household income threshold is over £15,000 a year as stated on the nhs website

Try 111. They may be able to find you an emergency NHS dentist who can do at least the first stage so he is out of pain then gives you time to save for the second.

They told us to use salt water and don’t over medicate 🤷🏻‍♀️ directed us to a private emergency which we paid £50 for his diagnosis

You still get NHS though, you just pay NHS prices rather than private prices. The exemption makes it completely free. Route canal in NHS prices is £73. You definitely qualify for that.

I thought maximum nhs dental fees were around £300 for band 3 treatment, root canal is band 2 which is less than £100 for people who have to pay. Is the issue that you can only get a private dentist?

NHS dentistry isn't means tested, it's just luck if you can find one taking patients on.

Nhs website says it is means tested? Either way I’ve called around 25 dentists and none are taking new patients that aren’t private so I’m not sure
£73 would be the dream right now!

OP where in the country are you?
I work for a large corporate, may be able to pull in a favour for you (NHS)

We have called many and can’t get in. I’ve been on waiting lists for months as I’m maternity and have not got anywhere.

it’s truly a nightmare

Nottingham. We have family by Brighton also if that is any use?

I'm using the app here, will try to login via desktop and send you a message, will pop my work email on, send me an email and I'll get on to the practices closer to you (I'm way up north)
Will do my best to help, I'm a manager, 35 years in Dentistry and this is literally all that's wrong with the current system, I'll do my best

Is there a dental school at City or Queens?

Thank you so much

it’s honestly madness. Just feel like we are going round in circles. Not fair for people to be in so much pain with no help x

Don’t qualify for NHS dentist? I wasn’t aware it was means tested. We are high earners and have an NHS dentist.

There must be a dentist, NHS, private or hospital that can see you.

@Snowtimex7 would your DH consider getting a cheap flight to Turkey or Lithuania and then he could get the root canal done for a fraction of the cost? Even with staying 1 night in a hotel it would still work out cheaper than any dentist in the UK...

Can you look for an NHS dentist further afield?

@Snowtimex7 also you could try NHS dentists in Scotland and Northern Ireland...