Lucky to Have an NHS Dentist

[Toothsmith]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7574049.stm

[JMitchell]

Scary stuff. My old NHS dentist retired and I hadn't been in ages anyway.

Trying to find somewhere for me, my wife and my 14 month old at the moment. There's absolutely nothing available through the NHS at the moment so I'm just starting to look at options in terms of going private...

I've read the recommendations in your sig Toothsmith. On the face of it, it seems like I don't have much (any?) choice if I want to go on the NHS - I haven't looked into availability of private treatment as yet.

[tirednewdad]

I nearly laughed when they said that they were happy that there are more dentists providing NHS work that before. If they actually looked at the figures, they would see that the amount of NHS that each dentist does has drastically reduced.

IMO- what ever the goverment is saying in public, they really want to remove NHS dentistry from thier health care budget- just my opinion though

[Toothsmith]

And the real problem is that ALL the parties have the same agenda - so you can't really 'vote for NHS dentistry'.

[frivolous_fay]

I am lucky to have minimal problems with my teeth, despite 15 years without being registered with a dentist.

I have a nice NHS dentist who I was pleased to note, seems to have a policy of prevention rather than cure. I may handcuff myself to her if necessary :D

[Toothsmith]

Excellent - and I hope you'll stay handcuffed if and when she decides the farce of the NHS system is more than she can deal with?

[frivolous_fay]

I dunno, going private is a big leap for a pleb like me!

[nuttywoman]

We`ve recently been allocated a nhs dentist - after losing ours last year - but we have to wait 3months for 1st check up.Its a contracted comp working for local pct.

[VickyA]

I dunno, going private is a big leap for a pleb like me!

I am also a pleb :D and went private a few years ago. I have to say that it's one of the best things that I've done, though it may just be the manner of my current dentist. The whole practice is friendly and you're greeted warmly and politely eg as I walked through the door yesterday (having previously been 6 months ago) I didn't even have to say my name, I was greeted as "Mrs VickyA" by the receptionist. Every other patient was also greeted by their name. Impressive and makes you feel cared for, which didn't happen with my previous dentist.

[LadyInBlack]

Now you're gonna call me a pleb :o but how do you "go" private? I'm with a dentist at the moment who i've had a very bad experience with and am looking to change to another dentist. I'm a big dentist phobe but I know I need some work done so I'm willing to pay private fees as long as I get treated better than my last one! Do I just ring up and ask for a private appointment?
P.S Is going private really worth it and how do I find out about fees?
Many thanks

[VickyA]

Now you're gonna call me a pleb :o but how do you "go" private? I'm with a dentist at the moment who i've had a very bad experience with and am looking to change to another dentist. I'm a big dentist phobe but I know I need some work done so I'm willing to pay private fees as long as I get treated better than my last one! Do I just ring up and ask for a private appointment?
P.S Is going private really worth it and how do I find out about fees?
Many thanks

Personally, I've only had good experiences with my private dentist. I was frustrated with my previous dentist and phoned up this one (that had been recommended to me by a family member) to see whether they had space for me. That was 3 years ago and I haven't looked back!

My dentist only takes private patients and they have a list of charges that you can ask for. They seem to be in line with what my friends pay eg a general check up yesterday was £25.

[belfastgirl23]

It is scary though, was talking to a 28 year old friend of mine who was saying that no one she knows goes to the dentist any more. It came up because she had had raging toothache for weeks, managed to get to see a dentist via her dad who doesn't have his own dentist but knew someone who knew someone. And now likely to lose the tooth because the decay is so advanced. We are creating a nation of people with bad teeth which will have health implications longer term as well.

Should have said, she is working min wage and just couldn't see how she could afford to lay out for dental treatment. And of course denplan etc only take you if you're dentally fit to start with.

edited to say, I did wonder too if the dentists aren't entirely to blame for the extractions etc - I think some patients are now choosing to lose their teeth rather than risk having to pay twice....back to the old days I'm afraid.

[annie_d]

I am fortunate to have been with the same practise since i was 9. I am now 48. In that time i have had 3 dentists. All wonderful. I am absolutely terrified of going, attend every 6 months and cannot praise the dentists i have seen sufficiently. I do recognise that I am lucky, very lucky.

[VickyA]

It is scary though, was talking to a 28 year old friend of mine who was saying that no one she knows goes to the dentist any more.

I'm 29 and one of the few people that I know who goes to a dentist regularly. I'm trying to work on the prevention basis as opposed to going when it's too late (and too costly!!!).

[SuziQ]

My ex has been refused root canal treatment advised by his previous dentist (who left) and has been told to have both teeth removed. I am now scared to go to the same dentiSt as she seems totally different to our previous one,who was all for prevention,hygenist,preserve every tooth you can etc. The HA refused to allow the practice to employ another NHS dentist and we had to move to a different one.I am so lucky to have had fantastic dentists at the previous practice since 1983,and whilst my teeth are over filled (I was a child in the 70's!) due to good hygiene and advice they have stayed very healthy. None of my children have ever needed fillings either,but my ex is really lazy with his teeth,often doesn't brush let alone floss,and is now in regular pain. It must be soul destroying for a professional to more or less be dictated to about how to carry out their practice.

[Toothsmith]

Now you're gonna call me a pleb :o but how do you "go" private? I'm with a dentist at the moment who i've had a very bad experience with and am looking to change to another dentist.

Just find a new dentist - not worrying if they're private or NHS.

Follow the tips in my sig at the bottom - but I can't stress enough about actually VISITING the practice before you make an appointment.

That way you can judge the fees you will be paying against the sort of service and the helpfulness/friendlyness of the staff who work there.

Looking for a dentist when everything feels OK is by far and away the best time to find one - not when you have a raging toothache and a face the size of a football.

[Softstuff]

One of the major differences I noticed here in Australia was the dentistry. You have no choice but to go private, but you do have many choices who with.

I visited a practice, found a dentist I was comfortable with, and went from there. Yes, it costs money, but I've had 2 pain free visits - one for a scale and polish, the other for 2 fillings. I'd *NEVER* had a pain free visit at my NHS dentist, even a scale and polish was a nightmare.

I'd be more inclined if I were still in the UK to look at many other methods of moneysaving (you've not done it all until you've done wee wipes! :rotfl:), and pay for a good private dentist. I wish I'd done that years ago. I reckon the savings that good preventative care gives would be a huge offset too.

[LillyJ]

It's very bizzare how much of a postcode lottery this really is. Round here, every dentist surgery I can think of has signs in advertising for NHS patients. When my OH moved up here, he said he was going to have to go private as you "can't get an NHS dentist". Then he saw all the signs and has registered with one down the road. (we are in Birmingham)

My parents in the South East have managed it but it was a bloomin struggle.