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Original poster

does anyone not ever go to the dentist?

37 replies

RobynLou · 04/06/2010 23:57

I don't have a phobia, just no money
I went when I had my free maternity card thing.
I've read threads about taking Lo's along with you to the dentist to get them used to it, but what do you do if you don't go?
it seems like everyone else in the world goes religiously every 6 months, please tell me thats not true?

OP posts:
belledechocolatefluffybunny · 05/06/2010 00:06

Do you not qualify for NHS treatment?

BitterAndTwistedChoreDodger · 05/06/2010 00:08

Not been since I was about 14.

Not been able to register DC either

Original poster
RobynLou · 05/06/2010 00:11

you still have to pay, unless you're unemployed, don't you?
not the full private whack, but still more than we have.
we both work, just have no money to spare.
(and no we don't have a car, we rent, we have a tiny telly with no sky, buy value food etc etc etc.)

OP posts:
Original poster
RobynLou · 05/06/2010 00:13

I looked at how much it was when I went when I was pg, and at that nhs dentist they charged £15 just for a checkup. that was 3 years ago.
I assume that's the case everywhere?

OP posts:
belledechocolatefluffybunny · 05/06/2010 00:15

I pay, it costs £9.50 a month for 2 check ups and 2 hygienst visits a year, I also gget 20% off any treatment.

If you are on a low income then you don't necessarily have to pay, it depends. If you are on the highest tax credit amount then normally you don't pay anything IIRC.

pingviner · 05/06/2010 00:18

I go about every few years,
and my dentist just laughs
and says theres never anything wrong with you

never had fillings or toothache in my life
and apart from a slight overbite (genetic, never caused a problem, not even schoolyard teasing)

why? not sure - genes? good early brushing habits, no fizzy drinks or chew sweets?
but I will be taking DS more regularly to get used to things

gaelicsheep · 05/06/2010 00:20

I don't go religiously every 6 months - it's a rip off and unnecessary IMO. I do aim to go once a year, but in reality it has been much less frequent due to fear of dentists and fear of dentist's bills. They wanted to see DS every 3 months and although it's free I refuse to take him that often on principle - 6 months for him is fine.

The thing that really peed me off last time I went is that I paid £30 or whatever for the check up which lasted all of 2 minutes. I was then told to go to the hygienist for a scale and polish to ensure no return of the gum infection I'd had in the past. Another £35! Why couldn't the dentist have just done it?

Before I went a few months back I hadn't been for nearly 3 years , the last time being free after I had DS. Oh, and my father's a retired dentist (double ).

belledechocolatefluffybunny · 05/06/2010 00:21

www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Dentalcosts.aspx Here you go.

Original poster
RobynLou · 05/06/2010 00:23

We're not quite on the highest credit amount - dh earns £20k and I earn around £8k, we live in greater london so that gets eaten up v quickly.
£10 a month each is way beyond us at the moment - we're on the most ridiculously strict budget.
It doesn't worry me too much until I realise we do without things others consider to be essential
I have a 1st class ba and an ma, never thought life would turn out like this.

OP posts:
belledechocolatefluffybunny · 05/06/2010 00:25

You need to move Robyn. 28k is alot to live on in most places, if you can't afford dental care then there's something wrong. (dental care should be free for everyone IMO)

Original poster
RobynLou · 05/06/2010 00:27

pingviner - I'm the same in that I've never had a filling or any other dental treatment, was taken every 6 months as a child and never needed a thing done, have never had toothache etc.

feel a bit better that I'm not completely alone in not going every 6m.

OP posts:
Original poster
RobynLou · 05/06/2010 00:34

belle, I know, nearly £900 goes out the door in rent alone on our poxy little flat, then there's the insane council taxes that go up and up, the childcare which is so so expensive, even once dd's 3, just getting to work on the tube costs a small fortune..... don't ever move to london!

we live as far out of london as possible but have to be able to get their for both our jobs, which couldn't transfer anywhere else.

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LollyWillows · 05/06/2010 00:36

Robyn, we went last week - but the last time was eight years ago, when I was pg. DD had (to my intense shame) never been before - luckily the dentist didn't raise an eyebrow.

I am always broke - work PT & get by on tax credits & HB, but was pleasantly suprised to find it only cost £16.50 for a check up, x-rays and a scale & polish - just meant being a bit stricter with the shopping budget that week. And now the red wine stains have gone and I have lovely white teeth - like this:

belledechocolatefluffybunny · 05/06/2010 00:37
Sad
Original poster
RobynLou · 05/06/2010 00:42

^ £900 a month......

I feel horribly trapped here, and sad for my dd, we rely on the grandparents to give her lovely treats that we can't afford, I buy anything I can that looks new in charity shops when I see it and keep it for her birthday/christmas.

I'm pregnant again and have just found out that my work won't have many hours for me in the weeks that qualify me for maternity pay (I'm a casual) so I'm feeling a bit desperate at the mo.

OP posts:
bodenbore · 05/06/2010 00:44

I do not think it is unusual to not be able to afford a dentist if you are on 28k a year - do you live in London?

bodenbore · 05/06/2010 00:44

I do not think it is unusual to not be able to afford a dentist if you are on 28k a year - do you live in London?

Original poster
RobynLou · 05/06/2010 00:45

lollywillows

maybe if I register dd somewhere safe in the knowledge it is free, I can figure out exactly how much a checkup would cost and save up our pennies, I just couldn't face the humiliation of having to ask how much things cost and having to not join.

I'll have a mat card again soon, I guess....

OP posts:
Original poster
RobynLou · 05/06/2010 00:46

bodenbore - yes.

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belledechocolatefluffybunny · 05/06/2010 00:48

You should qualify for maternity allowance rather then maternity pay (goes on your NI contributions).
Come and live in Derby, the train takes an hour and a bit to get to London, houses are alot cheaper.

IMoveTheStars · 05/06/2010 00:48

if you're pg the appts should be free!!

Original poster
RobynLou · 05/06/2010 00:54

I just wish DH could get a mat card too....
he's got the added issue of glasses/contacts which he is practically blind without but which we can't stretch to replacing.
I've got a meeting with the princes trust next week though, trying to start up a business which I fantasise will lift us out of this - not poor enough to get much help but not got enough money to pay for anything - hole

OP posts:
Original poster
RobynLou · 05/06/2010 00:55

jareth, I know I'm only just pg.

Thinking about it just got me thinking about our finances in general I suppose, sorry just feeling a bit crap

OP posts:
Original poster
RobynLou · 05/06/2010 00:57

belle my uncle lived in derby.

OP posts:
bodenbore · 05/06/2010 00:57

and i have not been for over a year and a half - even though I have been pregnant and had a baby.

I had such bad morning sickness that I had to cancel my appointments - and with the baby I have not made time.

I am going to book an appointment though as I am sure my teeth have rotted from all the bile....tmi.