NHS Dentist - How do I find one?

[Bebsie]

Is it just a matter of ringing around or is there anyway of getting a list of NHS dentists in my area?

[maka]

to be honest dont bother you can get a private dentist for not much more than a NHS one but better care.

[Bebsie]

Thanks Maka - the thing is it's for my kids and they should be free and my dentist is now charging me for them!

[Bargain Rzl]

You can do a search on the NHS homepage: http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/homepage.aspx

[maka]

thats fair enough do they have a problem at the mo or are you just wanting a check up for them

[Toothsmith]

Is free dentistry more important than good dentistry for your kids?

[alison999]

Thanks Maka - the thing is it's for my kids and they should be free and my dentist is now charging me for them!

if its private they will, since the government dont pay them to see children, and its not a charity.

its much more important to see a dentist that you know, like and TRUST. if you are happy with your current dentist thn id stick with him/her. cheaper doesnt equal better.

why not see if your friends or family can recommened a dentist to you?

[Bebsie]

No, they have got fab teeth (ages 13 and 16), I am just worried that if they may need treatment down the line that it will cost a lot.

[Bebsie]

Is free dentistry more important than good dentistry for your kids?

Gosh that is a bit harsh! No it's not BUT the denstis I am with was an NHS dentist so surly NHS dentists are just as good?

[alison999]

Gosh that is a bit harsh! No it's not BUT the denstis I am with was an NHS dentist so surly NHS dentists are just as good?

NHS dentists dont have the time to spend with patients like private dentists do.

NHS dentists are mainly driven by targets and spend more time worrying about UDA pointst hen there patients. It doesnt mean they dont care - but the NHS doesnt fund them to be preventative. There are some very nice and helpful NHS dentist but they are very limited to what they can/can't provide.

Also no ones registered so theyre not obliged to see you in a emergency.

[Toothsmith]

Gosh that is a bit harsh! No it's not BUT the denstis I am with was an NHS dentist so surly NHS dentists are just as good?

Sorry - but the statistics coming from NHS dentistry nowadays is starting to show a huge drop in complex treatments done on the NHS, and a big rise in extractions and denture provision.

An awfu lot of my time on this board is spent answering queries from people whose NHS dentist is telling them that certain things aren't available on the NHS (When they should be), or wanting to refer people on to private specialists when thet dentist should have been perfectly capable of treating that patient - and before April 2006 when the NHS contract changed, they probably would have done.

In this day and age, with a reasonably educated and cooperative parent, and reasonable kids, it should be easily possible to getthem through childhood with few, if any fillings. And if you can getthem through childhood, then they're set up with good teeth for the rest of their life. Even privately, this will then be pretty cheap to look after.

I would say, spend your money where it will do some good, and get your kids in with a decent private dentist who'll spend time on them.

To my way of thinking, good dentistry on kids is far more important than on their parents.

Pay for the prevention, and get an insurance policy that will cover any accidents like falls of bikes & skateboards. That should cover the bases for not much outlay.

[WifeofDJFLP]

Hi

do you have a community dental service? Sice my kids (NHS) dentist retired they've been seen by the community dental service and it's really good, I believe they aren't under the same time constraints as regular NHS dentists. My one bugbear though is very little choice in treatment- eg white fillings instead of amalgam but other than that it's fine.

I will register my children with my own, brand spanking new, posh private dentist but only after I've had the £2177 :eek: worth of treatment required to get me "orally fit" so I can join denplan or something and save some money!

I think that those who have said it's worth spending money on your kids teeth are right though- for reference see American children! :D

HTH

WifeofDJFLP
xxx

[Toothsmith]

Community service is good if they have availability.

They tend to have better funding in more 'deprived' areas rather than the leafy suburbs, and out in the countryside, there probably isn't a convienient service at all.

Worth looking for though.

[Bebsie]

Sorry - but the statistics coming from NHS dentistry nowadays is starting to show a huge drop in complex treatments done on the NHS, and a big rise in extractions and denture provision.

An awfu lot of my time on this board is spent answering queries from people whose NHS dentist is telling them that certain things aren't available on the NHS (When they should be), or wanting to refer people on to private specialists when thet dentist should have been perfectly capable of treating that patient - and before April 2006 when the NHS contract changed, they probably would have done.

In this day and age, with a reasonably educated and cooperative parent, and reasonable kids, it should be easily possible to getthem through childhood with few, if any fillings. And if you can getthem through childhood, then they're set up with good teeth for the rest of their life. Even privately, this will then be pretty cheap to look after.

I would say, spend your money where it will do some good, and get your kids in with a decent private dentist who'll spend time on them.

To my way of thinking, good dentistry on kids is far more important than on their parents.

Pay for the prevention, and get an insurance policy that will cover any accidents like falls of bikes & skateboards. That should cover the bases for not much outlay.

Thanks for the advice. I have decided to stay with their private dentist as I did not know NHS dentists were not as good. They both have fab teeth - not fillings etc. My DD1 has just had her braces off and they were amazed at how well she looked after her teeth. She had these done at the hospital and the care and treatment was second to none - I was most impressed with the service and the way her teeth look. I would hate them to go to a dentist that is not as good so I will stay private and pay. Thanks for your help :-)

[WifeofDJFLP]

Community service is good if they have availability.

They tend to have better funding in more 'deprived' areas rather than the leafy suburbs, and out in the countryside, there probably isn't a convienient service at all.

Worth looking for though.

Hmmm,may be different in Scotland then as we have both a community dental clinic locally and a new dental centre opening this year in the next town 12 miles away- and we live in a reasonably affulent area.

As far as I'm aware there are always slots for children and from time to time they offer registration for other pateint groups- over 65's, those exempt from payment etc.

To be honest though after years of "patching up" on the NHS I was delighted to sit down with my new dentist yesterday and discuss a traetment plan and to be told that it was all do-able and quite uncomplicted (though expensive) I wish I'd done it years ago.

WifeofDJFLP
xxx

[Toothsmith]

Scotland is different. You've still got the old version of the NHS contract in general dentistry too.

There is more money in the community service up there as well, due to dental health being pretty poor in the population in general.

Has a lot to do with Irn Bru!!!!

[alison999]

I have decided to stay with their private dentist as I did not know NHS dentists were not as good.

I think if you went to see a NHS dentist - you would see the difference almost immediately. Patients are often rushed and don't have time, or feel they dont have the time at least, to ask the dentist questions about their treatment. There are some fantastic NHS dentist and they do what they can for their patients I'm sure. BUT working within the NHS is becoming increasingly more difficult. The dentists are given targets and have to earn a certain amount of 'UDA' points, if they dont their pay will be reduced the following year, the NHS is becoming more and more ilke a conveyer belt system (some would say it is already).

In 10 years I doubt there will be many NHS dentists left, if any. And what many people don't realise that it seems to be thats the way the government wants it to be.

[kitty28]

I've been a dental nurse for 5 years now working for NHS Direct, it's really sad to hear of all the bad experiences with NHS dentists. Unfortunately they do not have the funding they need now but it doesn't mean they don't want to do preventative work, especially on children. The more preventative work they do the less fillings etc they need to do!
If you're looking for a dentist in the UK www.nhs.uk can help. Good luck.