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Original poster

How many of us have NHS dentistry?

97 replies

pacinofan · 27/02/2006 15:35

After being without a dentist for 9 months, our family was hugely relieved when we managed to register with an NHS dentist approx. 9 miles away. We have only visited twice, and now the practice is to turn private. I resent the principle of having to go private, I think we pay enough through taxation to at least fund basic check-ups. So yet again, we are without dental care unless we are prepared to sign up to a Denplan scheme (we are not).

It got me wondering though, how many of us actually have an NHS dentist?

OP posts:
Mistymoo · 27/02/2006 15:38

I fortunately do - managed to stay on the list from being a child. This is only because I have never moved away from the area. I know that there are NHS dentists in our area but only if you are prepared to wait on the list to register, and this can take some time.

prettybird · 27/02/2006 15:38

I do - and dh went there last year and was taken on too. This is in the centre of Glasgow.

Dh had so much owrk needing done that the dentist had to write a report for the Health Board in case they wanted a second opinion. I think the value of the work came to something like £1,300 - but dh only had to pay the NHS maximum of c.£300.

spursmum · 27/02/2006 15:39

I have one and AFAIK they have no plans to turn private.
And ds has a SN dentist who deals only with children that have been refered by a health proffesional.

Milliways · 27/02/2006 15:39

We do (Reading)

JackieNo · 27/02/2006 15:39

I've just given up trying to find an NHS dentist and gone with a private one. Luckily as long as one of the parents is on their list as a private patient, they'll take children on as NHS patients, because I'd really resent going private for the childrenAngry.

hovely · 27/02/2006 15:40

yes, we just managed to slip in before our practice adopted a policy of no new NHS patients. Have not heard of plans to turn the practice all-private, but would not be at all surprised. I think it is disgraceful, but I don't really know what are the issues that is causing this to happen. Funding, presumably, but in what way - can someone enlighten me?

magnolia1 · 27/02/2006 15:42

We are lucky and have 3 nhs dentists in our area. Have never had to go on a list. Would not go privvate though so they better stay nhs Smile

muma3 · 27/02/2006 15:42

i have a nhs dentist and they are still taking people on under nhs also there are a few new dentists that have set up practices near me and they take on nhs patients

magnolia1 · 27/02/2006 15:44

I have heard that they are bringing in a new scheme that means you only pay a certain amount within a 3 month period fr example if you have to go for a check up but then need to go back they can't charge you again in a 3 month period. This is nhs patients and I think dentists know they will make less money so more are going private.

serenity · 27/02/2006 15:45

NHS here. Managed to get into my practise as an emergency when I was pg with DS2. Dh isn't registered there as they are currently full, he goes to the local NHS dental hospital to be mauled by students instead Wink

Furball · 27/02/2006 15:46

Pity David Cameron didn't answer my question. It might of thrown abit more light onto what the hell is going to happen with the future of dentistry at least under somebody elses say. Fortunately I and ds do have for the moment a NHS dentist. Dh's has just gone private.

My question was -

I am concerned about the lack of NHS dentists especially for children. What can be done about it before it gets into an even worse situation?

It's crap, the dentists are thinking for themselves (which you can't blaim them, really as who wouldn't) So the NHS are paying for the training and letting flee into the real world.

prettybird · 27/02/2006 15:53

Did have to move when my previous dentist went private. But it eneded up being better, as my current dentist is only a 10 minute walk from where I work (and not far from home either) whereas my old one was on the other side of the city (recommened by my parents). They are good with kids too - ds is happy to go for check-ups.

Frizbetheexpansionset · 27/02/2006 15:54

We do, there is a practice of 4/5 of them just down the road from us.

LadyTophamHatt · 27/02/2006 15:55

Was private until we moved here, now NHS.

crazydazy · 27/02/2006 15:55

Ooooh don't get me started on this. I cannot get a dentist on the NHS, have tried every dentist in the area and they won't take on any new patients. Left my old dentist as had a horrific experience with a junior dentist and subsequently had a massive argument with the tart of a receptionist afterwards, think I was struck off Blush

Have since tried to find another dentist as have recently cracked my front tooth which is now going a horrible grey colour and nobody will take me on.

Was told it would cost me £35.00 just for the dentist to look at what needed doing Shock

chocolateshoes · 27/02/2006 16:05

Me & DH are the only 2 people we know with NHS dentist!!!!! Unfortunately she only works Friday 10-1, and not in school hols!!!!!!

Blondeinlondon · 27/02/2006 16:22

Me, DH and DS have NHS
I think it is less of a problem in London

WigWamBam · 27/02/2006 16:25

I do - but it's the only NHS dentist in the area that I was able to find, so heaven knows what will happen if they decide to go private.

cod · 27/02/2006 16:25

me
have bootiful teeth

MaloryTowers · 27/02/2006 16:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

spacecadet · 27/02/2006 16:32

ive had to change dentists twice as they went private however managed to register with a barand new dentist in the area(nhs) 5 years ago who have now stopped taking nhs patients, i live in fear of the day i get a letter saying they are going private

heymammy · 27/02/2006 18:24

I do thank goodness. Got lots of free (expensive) work done a couple of years ago when I was pg!

I live in Glasgow and there seems to be no problem here in getting an NHS dentist, in fact, the Yellow Pages are full of them and I just rang and they took me on straight away.

Definately don't envy your situation down south.

chicagomum · 27/02/2006 18:41

I have to say that as an nhs dentist I, firstly see the other side of the coin and now fully well the reasons behind dentists going private (and I can assure you we aren't all money grabbing 's as some seem to think) and secondly get a little despondent reading in the media and thus overhearing/reading what the general public claim is happening to the nhs system.

ThePrisoner · 27/02/2006 18:45

I go to a private practice, but it took me several years to pluck up the courage to go at all (very bad childhood experiences with dentist - he was subsequently jailed). They have recently informed me that they will no longer treat our children on the NHS, and we will have to pay.

gigglinggoblin · 27/02/2006 18:46

we now have an nhs dentist, he is new to the area and i found out about him because the surgery had to advertise in the paper for patients. they had been through their waiting list and most phone numbers they had were no longer any use, they said they assumed most people in our area had given up looking (i certainly had). their phone system crashed the day after the paper came out because so many people round here dont have a dentist (and north west has the worst teeth in the country i am told)