My DMP diary - 2026 (year 1)

1stTimer

I opted for a DMP and it was the best thing I did, the initial stages waiting for defaults to come was the hardest.My 6 years will be up in Sept and nothing in my life will change as I’ve learnt to now budget and save but I will be happy to have the defaults gone.

Honestly it did more for me than just enable me to breathe financially it gave me chance to change my ways and really look into the way I was spending.
Good luck with it, I am sure you will not regret it :-)

ArtyJ931

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81932105#Comment_81932105

thank you - that is so encouraging to hear!

ArtyJ931

A big thing I forgot is that on Friday I had my routine dentist check up (thankfully I am an NHS patient with the same dentist for 25 years) and unfortunately need a small and a big bit of dental work. One a simple filling replacement and the other more complicated multi step just shy of a crown. It will cost £1200. I have been putting off both for a couple of years because I don't have it so I guess I will put it off a bit longer and hope I don't end up losing a tooth, which is a possibility for the bigger piece of work.

If I stop paying my debts this month then I could potentially afford to have the dental work in a couple of months… I can't seem to take that final step… fear I guess. Of both the DMP and the dental work!

This is the first thing I've needed at the dentist since 2014 so I do trust that it is needed.

joedenise

If you're an NHS dental patient why is the big bit of dental work £1200? Band 3 treatment, which includes crowns is £326.70 so that's all it should cost. I would certainly discuss again with your dentist as why it can't be done under the NHS Band 3.

ArtyJ931

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81932960#Comment_81932960

Oh! I will raise that with the dentist. I haven't agreed to anything yet. So this is the total quote:

Appointment 1 -

Core build up lower molar £150

Posterior composite (white) filling £230

Appointment 2

Crown preparation and impressions £325

Appointment 3

All ceramic crown fit lower molar £530

impressions for laboratory work

Appointment 4

Mouthguard fit £130

Total £1365

Are they ripping me off? An inlay/onlay on a molar, a replacement filling and a mouthguard?

joedenise

That sounds like private dental prices not NHS. If you're an NHS patient then they should be charging you NHS prices. Not sure you can have things like white fillings on the NHS unless it's a front tooth.

Certainly seems worth a talk with your dentist.

As to whether the private prices are a rip off I've got no idea as I have only ever had a NHS dentist and never needed more than Band 2 treatment!

ArtyJ931

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81932998#Comment_81932998

I asked specifically about the NHS option and the dentist said that onlays/inlays are not available on the nhs but I now see that they are. I'm feeling disappointed. The small filling is white at the moment and it's on the tooth between your canine and first molar so it is obvious. The dentist said it looks 'clinically sound' but has a shadow underneath from the xrays so needs removing, cleaning and replacing. I'm now feeling suspicious which is such a shame :(

And I grind my teeth at night which is why my existing large filling has cracked and needs replacing. Not sure if you can get mouthguards on the nhs plan.

ArtyJ931

It is a private plan because they said it wasn't available on the nhs. I feel really stupid now.

vampirotoothus

Hi, don't feel stupid, you haven't paid them yet, or had the work done have you? Now you have a chance to work out how to get it done on the NHS. Good Luck V x

joedenise

Don't feel stupid. You just need a plan to see how to pay for it. Will the dentist let you pay in instalments for example? It's a lot of money to find when you're next expecting it.