Finding an NHS dentist when I’m pregnant

[rrrrrreatt]

I’m in my first trimester and people keep telling me how important it is to go to the dentist because pregnancy wrecks your teeth.

The problem is I don’t have an NHS dentist anymore - I couldn’t find a dentist nearby when we moved so I stayed registered with my old one (1+ hr away). They switched to being private only a few months ago so I left but I can’t find a local dentist taking NHS patients. The list published by the NHS shows loads are accepting adult NHS patients but when I ring up, none of them are.

Am I missing something? Is there a special way for pregnant women to access an NHS dentist? Or do you just wait until your teeth are wrecked then go through the emergency NHS dentist system?

It’s almost impossible. You just have to keep trying different dentists. Ask if they have a waiting list. The same happened where I am. They went private and then fifty percent of the town had no dentist.

I never did. I just paid privately.

It is important to keep an eye on your teeth though. I needed fairly extensive dental work after both of my pregnancies.

Ok this makes me feel better. I thought maybe I was just being stupid and there was a form or process I’d missed.

I’ve joined one waiting list, nowhere else had one open so I’ll just keep ringing round and hope something changes.

I’ve just stayed with my private dentist both times. I was tied into a monthly plan anyway for part of the pregnancies but just carried on with it as they are a very good dental practice and there are no local NHS options. In my first pregnancy, I needed the first filling of my life and I did pay £200 for this. In my second, I’ve just needed a deeper clean with the hygienist which is included in my plan. I do think the advantage of private dental care in pregnancy is that they are better at preventative measures, so regular hygienist appointments with better equipment, which can go a long way to preventing or reducing the risk of pregnancy-dental issues! But I appreciate it’s a luxury not everyone can afford sadly.

No chance round here for either of my pregnancies so had to stay private.

Just an FYI, pregnancy is not guaranteed to wreck your teeth. It is true you can have more issues in pregnancy for a few reasons. But it doesn’t mean you are guaranteed it to happen. Like many other symptoms and side effects of pregnancy, what happens to one person doesn’t necessarily happen to another.

I’ve heard of pregnant women having their appointments cancelled, apparently because of their funding and NHS practices losing out. I don’t know whether that’s true, but I wouldn’t be surprised in the current climate. I remember my midwife telling me I’d get free appointments. I laughed, and so did she. Said it all.

Pregnant women are no different than any other exempt patient when it comes to NHS dentistry. So whether you are a pregnant woman, an under 16 child, a 60 year old man on universal credit everyone is exactly the same. If a practice has run out of funding, then they have run out of funding and will not be able to see anyone on the NHS and get paid for it. So if a practice is cancelling appointments due to lack of funding it’s not specifically aimed at pregnant women.

Actually local to me dentists were only accepting NHS patients who were eligible for free dentistry so I could join my kids but not myself

A GP can refer you to a (NHS) dental hospital in certain circumstances, but you probably have to have major dental problems.

Thanks everyone, I’ll look for a reasonably priced private dentist for now and just pray I don’t need any significant work.

I’ve managed to get to 37 without any fillings so hopefully that means my teeth are strong enough to withstand pregnancy!!