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Original poster

free dental care during pregnancy......did ANYONE manage to get it?

51 replies

moschops · 08/02/2005 10:06

i have been making enquiries locally to see if i can get registered anywhere for my free dental treatment.......no luck at all. the MIL asked her dentist who is also a good friend and he said i haven't got a hope in hell of getting anyone to take me on as an NHS patient. He is willing to fit me in as a private patient even though his books are 'full'.

i am absolutely FUMING.........if the dentists can find time in their appointment books to see me as a private patient why can't they use that time to see me as an NHS patient. i really object to paying for a service which i am entitled to for free.

has anyone out there managed to get registered with a dentist for their free treatment?
i am so annoyed about this that for the first time ever i am motivated to write to my local MP and rant at him about it!!!!

OP posts:
Frizbe · 08/02/2005 19:54

Yep managed to use it twice! and I'd only just signed up with them due to moving here as well! (I'd tried before, but they didn't have enough room, so I was very lucky they expanded!)

misdee · 08/02/2005 19:56

i have nhs dentist. have been with them since i was a kid tho.

charleypops · 08/02/2005 20:08

Lockets, I'm in Surrey? Where's your lovely dentist?

I've had a nightmare with this too Moschops, in fact I had to post a thread on here a few weeks about my experience (long story - a dodgy dentist who took me on as an NHS client then tried to charge me £580 with no prior discussion). Sorry, can't advise, I'm looking for one myself. Whitecross (a chain) do certain things on the NHS, but not many, it's worth asking? They'll give you an NHS check up at least.

lockets · 08/02/2005 20:08

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JiminyCricket · 08/02/2005 20:08

well, i have been registered with a private dentist who treated me free first pregnancy no probs, now my practice has been taken over by new people and i've been told the dentists have been asked by the owners 'to cut down on that sort of thing' HOWEVER new dentist did agree to see me this time on my maternity exemption (presume he'll have to see it through now?) So it seems it is getting harder for me. NB I didn't mention it when I made my appt, think it made it harder for him to say no.

lockets · 08/02/2005 20:10

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charleypops · 08/02/2005 20:14

thanks Lockets - which practise is he at please (can't find him on yell.com).

(sorry to hijack Moschops )

lockets · 08/02/2005 20:19

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Cristina7 · 08/02/2005 20:35

How bizarre, I had a different experience to yours, Moschops. I moved to Wimbledon when I was pregnant and when I rang local practices they were all full. I phoned back to the NHS number that had given me the names & addresses and they advised I try again specifying I would be NHS due to pregnancy. I did so and LOTS were willing to take me on. I chose the one closest to home and it's been very good these past 6 years, I've been taking my son there too and I also go as a private patient when not pg.

BTW it's worth writing to your MP too. We have a useless one, but maybe yours is better.

winnie · 08/02/2005 20:57

Moschops, I empathise I really do. I was a private dental patient because there where no nhs dentists registering when I moved here and when I became pregnant (and needed treatment because of pregnancy related gum problems) the dentist refused to treat me as a nhs patient and so I looked for a hhs dentist. The dentist then refused to treat my dd. Looked everywhere for a nhs dentist and the nearest were fifteen miles + away (which is very difficult on public transport route that takes forever with new small baby + suffering pnd!)... The closest nhs dentists registering 4 yrs later are still 15+ miles away.
I too felt (and feel) very cross about this. Private dentists in our area are hugely expensive.

Moschops, is there a dental access centre near you? They may be able to give you a one off check up although they are supposed to be for emergencys only.

Good luck in your quest.

charleypops · 08/02/2005 21:09

Thanks Lockets!

lockets · 08/02/2005 21:24

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gingerbear · 08/02/2005 21:26

....local health authority have been interviewing Spanish dentists to fill the gaps....

sorry moschops, but this sentence made me smile.

rogan2001 · 08/02/2005 21:36

I live in Lincolnshire.i was with my dentist for 20 years and when pregnant got all my treatment free. After i had my son i was too busy to even think about going to the dentist, and when i finally rang to book an appiontment after not going for about 9 months i was told i had been taken off the books, and they are not taking on NHS patients now. I rang every dentist in my town and noone will take me on unless i go private, which i refuse to do because i don't have to pay anyway cus of my tax credits.

winnie · 08/02/2005 21:50

Pregnant women are exempt because pregnancy can cause more problems than usual, people on benefits and low incomes should be exempt precisely because they can't afford £45+ just for a check up, the idea that people are irresponsible for not going private and keeping up regular check ups is insulting. Dental treatment at private rates is not a priority until one has toothache when the basics in life can only just be covered. This whole subject makes me so cross and the state of nhs dentistry under a labour government makes me crosser still

lockets · 08/02/2005 21:55

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Original poster
moschops · 09/02/2005 10:51

i am low income and getting tax credits atm........as i am self-employed i am not entitled to any of the usual maternity benefits, the free dental treatment is about the only thing i AM entitled to.

if i go private the main benefit is that i can get treatment from the BEST dentist in town as opposed to settling for what i get for free on NHS. as i have fear issues with the dentist anyway, having the best will make a dreadful experience easier to deal with.

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lockets · 09/02/2005 10:56

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winnie · 09/02/2005 13:52

Agree with lockets that private does not automatically=best. I have recently seen a nhs dentist through an access centre as has dd and we could not have wished for better treatment (and I am a very nervous patient).

Original poster
moschops · 09/02/2005 14:03

hmmmmmmm i should rephrase that then......if i go private i can get on the books of the best dentist in town. he's not the best because he is private he is just widely considered to be the best dentist in quite a large area.

i have friends at the other surgeries in town and have heard mixed reports of the treatment and guess it's down to the individual as much as anything.

OP posts:
fredtbad · 09/02/2005 14:10

I was already registered as a private patient for both pg's but my dentist was fine about treating me. I received exactly the same service, just had to fill in a form. NHS Dentistry seems to be in crisis at the mo though doesn't it?

Toothache · 11/02/2005 15:16

I registered with a dentist in my area (falkirk) quite easily although I did have to wait 3 months for my 1st appointment. That was just after ds was born and I got all my treatment free. He even said he'd do a scale and polish since I wasn't having to pay! I have just had the same thing done 3 yrs later after having dd.... and 3 fillings too .

Some areas seem to have much more of a shortfall of NHS dentists than others. It's terrible.

I am 27 (on Tuesday) and have never had to pay for treatment yet. I totally grudge paying!!! Why do we pay National Insurance????

iota · 11/02/2005 17:14

I have been with my local nhs dentist for 10 years and have just received a letter stating that they are withdrawing from the nhs wef May, so I will have to go private.

There is no chance of finding another nhs denist in the area - what the heck is going on these days?

Newbarnsleygirl · 11/02/2005 17:43

I registered with a private dentist when I was pg and I have to say I was certainly made to feel like I should'nt have been there.

When we moved last year I registered at the dentist my dh goes to which is nhs and I have been very lucky as it was the last in our area taking on patients.

They have been great. I needed 4 fillings and because I already had 1 white filling which I paid for whilst I was pg at the old dentist he gave me them all for free!!!

Linnet · 12/02/2005 00:39

I've been with my dentist since I was a teenager and he's great, Dd1 goes to him as well and dd2 will also go to him they will register new babies but nobody else as they are full.
My Dh was with a different dentist and she retired and all of her patients were left with no dentist as all the dentist surgeries in our city are full and not taking any more patients. I've tried to get my Dh into my dentists surgery but they just keep saying no. They don't even have a list he can join which I think is terrible. If someone moves away or is struck off that then would leave a space but they won't even take any names incase this happens. I suppose one way of looking at it is that if someone does leave/is struck off that would then give the dentist a little more time to treat other patients but it's frustrating all the same.

Luckily dh has good teeth and there is an emergency dental clinic at a dr's surgery in town that people can go to if they need treatment and they're not registered. My brother had to use that recently as he's not registered anywhere either. But they are only for emergencies not for check ups.