Why is it so hard to get a dental appt?

brook2jack

3v3 wrote: »

Then bite their hand off! If they are registering new patients in January a couple of weeks wait isn't going to hurt (and if it does, tell the NHS phoneline you are in pain ).

At least this way to get to re-register at a practise you are familiar with.

Best of luck

Just to reiterate there is no registration in England and Wales anymore. A dentist only has an obligation to see you on the nhs during a course of treatment. Most practices will try to see regular patients but some pcts insist on managing lists so new patients who haven't seen a dentist recently are given priority.

If you have problems outside a course of treatment ultimately it is the pcts/Lhbs responsibility to provide emergency cover. Unfortunately most pcts/Lhbs define emergencies as selling,bleeding or trauma and often toothache no matter how severe is not classified as an emergency.

That being said the easiest way to avoid needing emergency treatment is to attend regularly to nip problems in the bud. In my days of doing the emergency clinics 75% of attendees did not undergo regular check ups and treatment.

Nhs practices tend to be booked up weeks in advance and at this time of year private practices will prioritise toothache appointments for regular patients.

Any clinics open for emergency treatment will only do a temporary filling so op will still need to find a regular dentist even if they access a clinic via nhs direct or pct (google phone no).

Op asked why couldn't they see someone this time of year and got their answer.

Happy Christmas all on the countdown to tooth breaking stuffing and filling pulling out thorntons toffee day.