How many of us have NHS dentistry?

[pacinofan]

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?

I do and it has been a godsend today as I have been in agony all weekend and got sorted quickly and cheaply

no NHS dentist round here (that's taking people)

I pray ours doesn't go to private it is a mixture atm

No. Can't afford to go private either.

I do and the practice is actively looking for more NHS patients.

I do for the kids but private for me.
Have to savvveeeeeeeee to go and through the summer the money I had for taking the kids out was spend having a f*ing filling
But pleased to have a dentist at all even if I do have to start saving months in advance.

I do (mixed practice). DH has been a private patient there for years and is hugely miffed that I was taken on as an NHS patient and therefore my dentistry bills are 1/3 of what he pays . I was preg when I joined, so I think that affected it.

I do. 5 minutes walk from my house.

We do, me, DH and DS. Live in south west London and are lucky that there seems to be a choice of NHS dentists round here. I just swopped to a new one as old dentist was mostly private and didn't pay NHS people much attention - just a quick look and out. New one alot better.

Yes, have been going to the same practice in Camden Town for years. I am having some implants done soon so will do that privately (obviously!). We have a wonderful NHS special needs dentist for DS.

I dont.... there are officially NO NHS dentists taking on NHS patients around here at all (NOT 1)

My dentist changed to being private so no longer NHS...

Im no with denplan...

My sister can afford denplan and has no dentist as a result. Only kids can get (a VERY Few) NHS places around here.

No dentist is taking on any new NHS adults at all... tho many are turning private

not me - I happily pay to have my dentist look in my mouth

Well, I called NHS Direct to enquire where my NHS dentist are in my area (we live in the North West). Queued for 10 minutes, gave up and made some enquiries myself. None in my area whatsoever BUT a new practice has opened (not local but near enough) and they may have NHS places on Friday. If they don't dh and myself will register as private patients, dd1 can be seen on NHS, well at least at present anyway.

Thankfully, my teeth are in pretty good shape so hoping won't have expensive dental bills coming our way. DH had to have implants done about 2 years ago - can't bear to admit how much it all came to but I laughingly call him the man with the most expensive gob in the world! Not surprisingly the dentist drove a top of the range Porsche and seemed to be forever going on fabulously expensive holidays (did a top job though)!

after many years (opps) I have plucked up the courage to find a dentist. It took a phonecall to the PALS service and then several phonecalls to find a NHS practice.

The nearest (and only one) was in a village 10miles from home, although taking nhs couldn't offer approintments until May for me and DD1.

My kids do, I don't have anything.
3 dentist went private on me and 1 shut, one of the private ones kept kids on though.

Yes, got in an NHS practice and DH in a different one. We had to register at the right time, when they had spaces, but none of this queuing around the block (thank goodness). Just keep fingers crossed that they won't go private, like others in the area. DD too small but by the time I go for my next appointment, she might have a tooth or two. I was expecting her to be able to register automatically with either practice, but maybe this isn't the case?!

i couldn't register dd2(5mths) but will ask when I go as to when I have to.

Thanks, am going in April so will ask but if you find out before, I would be glad to hear what your dentist says.

My dentist is a gem, but left the practice recently. I had decided to stay with the practice when it went private simply because I like and trust her as far as my teeth are concerned. However, last check-up cost £33!! I was in the chair for less than five minutes! I'd never be able to afford a filling there.
Happily, for us, I have contacted her at her new NHS surgery and she is happy to take us on as NHS patients and I am delighted about it. Only problem is distance - will have to travel around 15 miles to see her, but I'm happy to do that and very grateful to have an NHS dentist that I trust. Bad childhood experience makes the whole finding a new dentist thing difficult for me.

We have an NHS dentist - one of those large glossy practices that bring in overseas dentists. They do seem rather oversubscribed - I wouldn't recommend getting toothache that needs to be dealt with as an emergency.

We have one. Birmingham seems to have quite a few.

Racers, I had an appointment just after having DS, so I asked then, & they said any child would automatically qualify for a place with them as I was alreay registered. The North-West does seem to be particularly badly off.

Thanks Chocolateshoes.