NHS Dentist - Will they accept me?

[Liskey]

Hi

I've been with a private dentist for a while as I hadn't changed when he went private. Dentist has now left the practice and been seeing another dentist there. I was pregnant last year and needed a filling which couldn't be done because of this - went back there this week and was told I need £700 worth of treatment!

I've now found an NHS dentist in my area - do I need to tell them what the other dentist has said - will they accept me if I need a lot of work doing? 5 fillings and an extraction apparently - my enamel is wearing away for some reason I'm quite worried about this especially as I've realised that i should get dental treatment free at the moment anyway....

If you have an NHS dentist they will accept you no matter how much work you might need. They do see all sorts of teeth remember. Tell the dentist what your other dentist has said but you might get a different opinion anyway. Unlike Drs they never contact your old dentist and get your notes. They tend to refuse treatment if you make appointments and not turn up.

You should have a free NHS services card applied for via your midwife.

Max cost for a course of treatment with NHS is about £200 I think.

Hope this helps, am about to post a dental question myself now.

Cheers for that feel a bit more reassured now. I went into shock when he said i needed £700 worth of work!

I haven't been accepted by them yet - but there are apparently 6 dentists locally accepting new NHS patients so I should be?
I had x-rays at my old dentists done on Monday - is it worthwhile trying to get a copy of them to take?

Could be worth taking them but they might just re-x-ray you anyway in their way, for their own records. Just tell them what you've been told and they MIGHT contact your old dentist.

Don't worry that they won't take you because you were private before. I switched from private to NHS quiet easily (if there was space)and even though I have been a regular dentist visitor (worse luck) and I have changed dentists for various reasons, they have NEVER EVER asked who my dentist was before! This surprises me, but it seems to be the way they operate.

Even my parent's dog's vet wanted to know which vet practice he'd been in before IYSWIM?

If you have a choice (v. unusual)then you could ask for a more experienced dentist or one good with nervous patients of one experienced with you particular problem.

Good Luck

Thanks for that - its made me laugh about the vets.

I'm a nervous dentist visitor though I do go regularly (which is why I was shocked when they said I needed so much work) and that all my teeth were in trouble. I think at this practice there's just the one dentist though my FIL has seen her and thinks she's good. Now just to work on my nerves before tomorrow.

All the best for tomorrow. X