Dentists what a load of crap!!!

[daisey]

Having just had ds1,I decided Id better make the most of my maternity exemption certificate and go to the dentist for a checkup especially as one of my wisdom teeth is coming through and causing me alot of pain. I thought if I go now get them checked, cleaned and whatever else I can get done for free I should be ok and covered until ds/d2 comes along.I mean this is one of the perks of being pregnant free dental treatment and perscriptions. Well what a load of crap I only rang ever nhs dentist in the yellow pages to find out there are absolutely none in my town taking on patients and the nearest one is 30 miles away! I mean what is the point of the mat exemption certificate the only thing I managed to get is a measly bottle of gaviscon.

Being a dentist is a very sociable job you learn all about people and their families and their fears about dentistry. When I was working most of the dentists grossed over £300 in a day, with private work it was way beyond that. Obviously they had to pay tax and rent at the practice.

Most of the dentists I came across at that time were upper middle class. It was 10 years ago though so I'm sure times have changed. We used to see 50 people a day (mostly kids) in the school holidays. It was bloody hard work and I was paid a pittance even though I was qualified.

Neither DH or me are registered with a dentist amy,ore. Our local dentish has np NHS places. I did pay for a check up and clean just before we moved here (about 2 years ago) but not been since DD was allowed to go for a check up - as I had some queries about her teeth (or lack of) when we first moved in - and the dentist spared us 5 minutes and referred DD to the dental hospital. Which means she has had 6 monthly checks there, which have now stopped.

Really hoping that when we move again (anytime now) we can all find a new dentist, that won't cost us the earth.

I have just chipped a tooth - have not registered with a dentist since moving here (although dd/ds go to the local one but it is private for adults), have just looked on the NHS website and the nearest two I can go to are miles away. If I manage to make an appointment, I will need 2 buses to get there and a friend to look after ds and possibly collect dd from school if the appointment is running late - what a malarky!!

ks thanks for talking a lot of sense and having an excellent grasp of the facts.

The mass exodus of dentists from the NHS is due to progressive underfunding by the government while at the same time costs are increasing way above inflation.

I am fully committed to the NHS but I work in a rented shop in a poor part of town with low rates and rent. I am still youngish and fit and can work at a hard pace . I do not earn a fortune but I nor am i poor. I am actually proud of the fact that I provide decent dentistry to those who don't have a lot of money.

If I had to purchase premises in an area with high property prices there is absolutely no way I could stay in business.The NHS fees would simply not cover costs.

I generally avoid this sort of discussion because there are some astounding misconceptions about dentists which get trotted out again and again by the misinformed.
I don't even tell people at parties what I do for a living. When I was younger I sometimes said I was a stripper but noone would believe me anymore