NHS dentist can’t find any near me

GTR_King

I am looking for NHS dentist in and around Ipswich area!

I am 36 autistic male

I currently go to private mydentist EveryTime I go the dentist always berates me about how I am flossing my teeth keeps telling me what to do and what I shouldn’t eat or drink! How to brush my teeth etc Always bugging me to have professional hygienist clean at £90 one or twice a year feels like I am being interrogated I absolutely hate it!

Last time she kept mentioning to her self whilst looking at my teeth about fillings I might need next time I come! When i asked her she said talk about it next time you come why say it then as make my Autism worse as keep thinking gotta spend loads of ££ I don’t have

All I am looking for is Dentist that is good with autistic adults will do my checkups tell me politely & clearly if any work needs doing! Not feel like I am in a interrogation room and that’s affordable

jackieblack

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist/results?location=Ipswich&latitude=52.0570680148068&longitude=1.1528323199714283

Exodi

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6679429/nhs-dentist-can-t-find-any-near-me

I think you need to recognise that your condition is causing your negative experience, not the dentist/hygienist.

For example, you complain about the dentist telling you flossing or brushing techniques or which foods are good and bad for your teeth… it is a dentists job to promote oral health. Opposite to you, I find it very helpful when I visit the dentist and they let me know that I need to focus more on brushing my back teeth or something.

Conversely, if I paid £90 for a professional hygienist clean, I would be disappointed if they provided no insight or feedback on how to improve my oral health going forward.

It shouldn't bug you, you shouldn't hate it and it's not an interrogation. They're there to help you.

You also mention about the dentist mentioning about potential fillings - really I think they can't win here. If they didn't let you know about likely upcoming treatments, inevitably people would then complain when suddenly told they need a filling "well I had an appointment only a month ago, and they didn't notice anything was wrong?".

If it causes you distress, maybe tell the dentist at the start of the session that you don't want any feedback on your oral health?

twopenny

I have some sympathy here as I had a doctor like that and it drove me mad. Would go on about diet before addressing what I had come for despite my good diet and healthy weight 😬

I changed.

Telling you what might happen (or not) some time in the future can make you anxious. But remember it's your choice.

That's some price for a hygienist. Ask why she thinks you need that and explain you can't afford that. Perhaps find out if you can do something about it yourself.

dnpark38

My wife has a health condition and I go to a support group for that also I have a health condition and go to a support group for that . Both are extremely helpful as we chat about things and learn through others experiences. Is there a support group for adults with autistic condition that you could join?

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098997#Comment_82098997

Actually, hygienist services are usually private even with an NHS dentist… £90 a session (45 mins?) isn't wildly extortionate.

dnpark38

My NHS dentist did mine via a Hygienist on the NHS.

soolin

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82099057#Comment_82099057

My local NHS dentist has a hygienist and she charges £65 for 30 minutes which seems about standard here.

Exodi

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82099115#Comment_82099115

My last ones were £85 in Mar-26 and Sep-25, around 30 minutes. To be honest, I expect it's probably ~£90 if I were to book an appointment now.

OP's price isn't out of the ordinary in my opinion, though I am based in the SE, so it might be that influences things?

strawb_shortcake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6679429/nhs-dentist-can-t-find-any-near-me

My NHS dentist is very much like yours, however they are giving advice to try and prevent future work being done.

I did see one dental therapist for a check up, she told me I needed 4 fillings and that my Husband needed 2. When we went back for our fillings I needed one and my Husband none. Sounded like she'd referred lots of patients for treatments they didn't need much to the annoyance of the dentist.

To get an NHS dentist that's known to be good with people with autism in Ipswich is probably a tall order.

If you really need a different dentist to meet your needs then I think you'd need to seek local recommendations and be prepared to remain private - but I think you may find that any dentist will probably be very similar to the current one.

strawb_shortcake

MMy Hygienist is £69, my friend said hers recently went from £80 to £120!