Finding an NHS Dentist
Discussion
I gave up.
Im registered but they were quoting 3 months for an appointment and wouldn't take my toddler on as a new patient.
Went private and never looked back. £25 a month so not cheap for me as a near minimum wage earner but the service is fantastic. £25 a month gets me 2 x hygiene visits and 2 x check-ups, free emergency treatment and 10% off any work I need done. Proper appointments too, I felt extremely rushed and limited with NHS, seems as if it ain't a filling or root canal then the next option is extraction.
Should've said there are cheaper monthly plans in my city but this is centre of town, direct bus route, no problem with appointments etc. Could probably save £7-10 a month but can't be arsed with the hassle.
Im registered but they were quoting 3 months for an appointment and wouldn't take my toddler on as a new patient.
Went private and never looked back. £25 a month so not cheap for me as a near minimum wage earner but the service is fantastic. £25 a month gets me 2 x hygiene visits and 2 x check-ups, free emergency treatment and 10% off any work I need done. Proper appointments too, I felt extremely rushed and limited with NHS, seems as if it ain't a filling or root canal then the next option is extraction.
Should've said there are cheaper monthly plans in my city but this is centre of town, direct bus route, no problem with appointments etc. Could probably save £7-10 a month but can't be arsed with the hassle.
Edited by NaePasaran on Tuesday 13th December 17:21
I had a very good NHS dentist who was prepared to deal with issues like fillings and root canals on the same day or within a week but he retired. The ‘replacement’ only works part time and (urgent or otherwise) appointment is likely to be 7 weeks later when calling and then if you subsequently need a filling it’ll be another 5+ weeks before they’ll get you back for it. I’m also led to believe root canals are selective and unlikely to be offered under NHS treatment plans if you have other back teeth and can therefore eat normally. So extraction will be the default as it’s easier for them.
I called a private dentist and queried their operating standards. If I want an appointment how long would I have to wait and if on such appointment I needed say a filling how long would it take before I would be called back for it? Let’s just say the receptionist became quite bolshy and left me with the impression I’d be in the same position as the NHS offer above.
To the OP if your considering private do your due diligence and ask the questions to ascertain what the level of service will be. Getting taken on as a new patient by an NHS practice, winning the lottery has better odds.
I called a private dentist and queried their operating standards. If I want an appointment how long would I have to wait and if on such appointment I needed say a filling how long would it take before I would be called back for it? Let’s just say the receptionist became quite bolshy and left me with the impression I’d be in the same position as the NHS offer above.
To the OP if your considering private do your due diligence and ask the questions to ascertain what the level of service will be. Getting taken on as a new patient by an NHS practice, winning the lottery has better odds.
Armitage.Shanks said:
I had a very good NHS dentist who was prepared to deal with issues like fillings and root canals on the same day or within a week but he retired. The ‘replacement’ only works part time and (urgent or otherwise) appointment is likely to be 7 weeks later when calling and then if you subsequently need a filling it’ll be another 5+ weeks before they’ll get you back for it. I’m also led to believe root canals are selective and unlikely to be offered under NHS treatment plans if you have other back teeth and can therefore eat normally. So extraction will be the default as it’s easier for them.
I called a private dentist and queried their operating standards. If I want an appointment how long would I have to wait and if on such appointment I needed say a filling how long would it take before I would be called back for it? Let’s just say the receptionist became quite bolshy and left me with the impression I’d be in the same position as the NHS offer above.
To the OP if your considering private do your due diligence and ask the questions to ascertain what the level of service will be. Getting taken on as a new patient by an NHS practice, winning the lottery has better odds.
Well I've been ringing around the dentists to see if they are taking new patience on and the snotbags on reception don't fill me with confidence.I called a private dentist and queried their operating standards. If I want an appointment how long would I have to wait and if on such appointment I needed say a filling how long would it take before I would be called back for it? Let’s just say the receptionist became quite bolshy and left me with the impression I’d be in the same position as the NHS offer above.
To the OP if your considering private do your due diligence and ask the questions to ascertain what the level of service will be. Getting taken on as a new patient by an NHS practice, winning the lottery has better odds.
Me - "Are you taking on NHS patients?"....
Dentist - "No were currently full and not at the moment"...
Me - "do you have a waiting list"....
Dentist - "No"..
Me - "so how will I know when you are accepting patients"
Second dentist...
ME - "Are you taking on new NHS patients?"
Dentist - "Not at the moment"
Me - "do you have a waiting list"
Dentist "no we don't"
me - How do I know when you have allocation...
Dentist - "oh we really don't know, please phone back in a few weeks, the NHS might have a list (WTF?)
1. If you have such an issue taking calls just bloody put it on the website
2. Update the NHS portal
One of the local places does pricing for routine consultation at 39 quid, NHS Band 1 is 24 quid, Fillings 99-150 (Time based).
Sounds appealing so will call them (again) tomorrow with a posher unrecognisable voice lol
Anyway...I've got the option of denplan at work but never felt this is controllable on price.
We have also given up on the NHS dentists, after not being seen for almost 3 years. Now our NHS dentist practice has no NHS dentists (gone back to Eastern Europe) and is doing private work only.
So looked around and went with a local private only dentist. At least we have had a good check up now and a little bit of remedial work.
It was a very pleasant experience compared to the NHS dentist I must admit.
My wife and I have taken out medical insurance with Vitality, which comes with dental and optical cover (limits apply). So far got my new £500 glasses for "free" and am in the process of claiming back the dental costs.
So looked around and went with a local private only dentist. At least we have had a good check up now and a little bit of remedial work.
It was a very pleasant experience compared to the NHS dentist I must admit.
My wife and I have taken out medical insurance with Vitality, which comes with dental and optical cover (limits apply). So far got my new £500 glasses for "free" and am in the process of claiming back the dental costs.
Edited by alfabeat on Wednesday 14th December 06:50
I'd not been to the dentist for about ten years and started with tooth ache in August, just before going on holiday.
Wife and kids are with an NHS dentist and we know the receptionist from the kids rugby.
Rang on the Monday expecting nothing but shirt shrift. Seen next day for a quick look and x-rays. Reassured mainly and went on holiday. Sorted with a filling on return and then put on the books for regular NHS treatment.
Feel incredibly lucky to have got sorted but you shouldn't have to be struggling like you describe.
Wife and kids are with an NHS dentist and we know the receptionist from the kids rugby.
Rang on the Monday expecting nothing but shirt shrift. Seen next day for a quick look and x-rays. Reassured mainly and went on holiday. Sorted with a filling on return and then put on the books for regular NHS treatment.
Feel incredibly lucky to have got sorted but you shouldn't have to be struggling like you describe.
No such thing as an NHS dentist, They are all self employed and are contracted to local NHS PCT's. The real issue was the lack of support during covid, the PCT's and BDA basically s**t on them from a great height leaving them to struggle. My wife left the dental field due to uncertainty over her future, now works for a big pharmaceutical training company, the dentists I know are all considering knocking it on the head, considering they get paid an agreed % per appointment its a big loss to them.
Timely post.
I was chatting to the receptionist while my wife was having work done and we were discussing the future privatisation of the practice. That’s the last NHS dentist in our town going.
I was surprised to find they have 6000 patients between 2 dentists. No wonder it’s months between treatments.
When the letters go out at the beginning of next year there are various plans but places will be restricted. Once they are full the books are closed. And you can bet it won’t be anywhere near 6000.
So that leaves a large amount of people without accessible dental treatment.
We’ll probably enrol and I think it’s going to be £30-35 a month for us both. Not a significant amount but a cost I could do without.
fourstardan said:
My work cover is with BUPA dental, I have one closer than the "NHS" dentist...
Anyone got views on them?
My experience with them once was very good and whilst they are a BUPA private outfit do NHS treatment but have the obligatory "We are not currently taking on NHS patients" on their website. Anyone got views on them?
I'll probably go BUPA by I'm only really interested in any check-ups and hygenist cleaning along with getting a short notice appointment if I needed one as I've outsourced my dental work abroad. I'll likely go PAYG as the insurance exclusions are somewhat questionable with what counts as 'cosmetic' and 'any previous treatment abroad' excluded. So under NHS you are not always entitled to a root canal only option is extraction, is a RCT and crown work cosmetic? You work abroad and have a filling overseas, it comes out several months later or there's a problem with the tooth, claim disallowed? Then, what's the excess?
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