How Hard Is It To Get A Dentist Appointment With No N H S Dentist ?

[marsh man]

The last few days I have had what I would consider a bad toothache , eating anything cold or drinking something hot nigh on bring tears to your eyes , so this morning I rang my old dentist and all I got was sorry we haven't got any emergency places and I recon it would be the same with with all the local N H S dentist's , or is it ?

So have any of you managed to get an appointment with not being on that dentist books ? and apart from going private what would be the next move ?        THANKS     MM

 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Endeavour to get on to an NHS Dentists books soon as.

[TOPGUN749]

I am an NHS patient at a Bupa practice, not seen a dentist for 13 months and unlikely to,they tell me my dentist has left the practice and they haven’t yet got a replacement. Truth be known they won’t get one,they would rather force me to sign up for private treatment with check ups at £80 or more and simple fillings at £100+.

The whole NHS is heading the same way,if you can’t afford it tough,as in America.

[London Best]

I have just returned twenty minutes ago from my dentist. It occurred to me that they had not sent me a reminder for a check up at all this year. Apparently, they have not sent reminders for some time now,  

The receptionist checked the records and said it was April 22 the last time I was there, but only for the hygienist, which doesn’t count as seeing a dentist. The last time I saw a ‘proper dentist was Nov21. She said if I had left it until Nov to enquire I would be off their books.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Oh yes, you have to stay current or they will replace you with someone who actually wants a check-up, turns up and PAYS!    

[London Best]

9 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Oh yes, you have to stay current or they will replace you with someone who actually wants a check-up, turns up and PAYS!    

I have been with the same practice since 1971 and have never missed an appointment.

PAYS! Go and wash your mouth out, immediately!

[TIGHTCHOKE]

I always attend and pay!

[ditchman]

go the the emergency dentist at the hostpital

[7daysinaweek]

1 hour ago, marsh man said:

The last few days I have had what I would consider a bad toothache , eating anything cold or drinking something hot nigh on bring tears to your eyes , so this morning I rang my old dentist and all I got was sorry we haven't got any emergency places and I recon it would be the same with with all the local N H S dentist's , or is it ?

So have any of you managed to get an appointment with not being on that dentist books ? and apart from going private what would be the next move ?        THANKS     MM

 

Hi MM

Sorry to hear you predicament.

If you have been removed from your old dentists books and they not taking on any new NHS patients (which many do not appear to be) you may be very lucky and be able to register with a new dentist for an acute visit in the first instance and be seen as a NHS patient. You may or may not be charged.

If you cannot get registered and seen promptly,most counties in England have a emergency dental service for times such as these. Ring NHS 111 and they can advise of the nearest emergency dental services to you. I would surmise a trip to the emergency dentist will end up in a cost to yourself. There are some exemptions from paying emergency dental services such as low income benefits, some students, maternity and some older adults on low income.

Your gp won't touch it if it is dental as dental is a specialism and not trained or commissioned to assess or treat dental.

Hope you get sorted.

[marsh man]

41 minutes ago, 7daysinaweek said:

Hi MM

Sorry to hear you predicament.

If you have been removed from your old dentists books and they not taking on any new NHS patients (which many do not appear to be) you may be very lucky and be able to register with a new dentist for an acute visit in the first instance and be seen as a NHS patient. You may or may not be charged.

If you cannot get registered and seen promptly,most counties in England have a emergency dental service for times such as these. Ring NHS 111 and they can advise of the nearest emergency dental services to you. I would surmise a trip to the emergency dentist will end up in a cost to yourself. There are some exemptions from paying emergency dental services such as low income benefits, some students, maternity and some older adults on low income.

Your gp won't touch it if it is dental as dental is a specialism and not trained or commissioned to assess or treat dental.

Hope you get sorted.

Many THANKS for your sound advice and at the moment after having the bad pain for four days I am managing with two pain killers a day , If it get any worse I will certainly ring N H S 111.

1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Oh yes, you have to stay current or they will replace you with someone who actually wants a check-up, turns up and PAYS!    

I have had , or did have the same dentist ever since I came out of the R N and that was in 1976 , I had never missed an appointment in all that time and when I was seeing a hygenist inbetween my dentist I was going four times a year and never owed them a penny , I was still on there books when the virus kicked in and all routine appointments were cancelled , this went on for a good two years and every now and again they sent me a email to say they are only taken in emergency's , then at long last they said they were back taking appointments , this must have been around last Summer , I went to the dentist last Christmas with a toothache that was the result of a loose tooth , I asked them if I could see the dentist and after I gave them my name and date of birth they said I no longer had a dentist , no reason or nothing and that was it after nearly 50 years , as I said earlier , I had never in all that time missed an appointment and a couple of times I did go , I sat in the waiting room a while before they told me my dentist wasn't very well and can I make another appointment .

Touch wood I had sometimes gone several years without seeing a doctor , I don't expect them to say as you haven't been for a while you are no longer on our books , just don't seem right   

[ditchman]

35 minutes ago, marsh man said:

Many THANKS for your sound advice and at the moment after having the bad pain for four days I am managing with two pain killers a day , If it get any worse I will certainly ring N H S 111.

I have had , or did have the same dentist ever since I came out of the R N and that was in 1976 , I had never missed an appointment in all that time and when I was seeing a hygenist inbetween my dentist I was going four times a year and never owed them a penny , I was still on there books when the virus kicked in and all routine appointments were cancelled , this went on for a good two years and every now and again they sent me a email to say they are only taken in emergency's , then at long last they said they were back taking appointments , this must have been around last Summer , I went to the dentist last Christmas with a toothache that was the result of a loose tooth , I asked them if I could see the dentist and after I gave them my name and date of birth they said I no longer had a dentist , no reason or nothing and that was it after nearly 50 years , as I said earlier , I had never in all that time missed an appointment and a couple of times I did go , I sat in the waiting room a while before they told me my dentist wasn't very well and can I make another appointment .

Touch wood I had sometimes gone several years without seeing a doctor , I don't expect them to say as you haven't been for a while you are no longer on our books , just don't seem right   

what painkillers are you taking ?

[enfieldspares]

I had a CHINESE dentist once upon a time. I was in terrible agony from a broken filling and asked if I could see him that same afternoon.

"Yes. Of course," he said, "Two Thirty?"

"Thank you. Thank you very much," I replied, "Now what time do you want me to come?"

[Fargo]

I have all dental work done in Budapest by an English dentist who set up over there treating private patients. 
Much cheaper  than here and nice short break. 
Emergency and knowing how bad dental pain can be I’d pay a private one here or I’d get on a hand luggage flight to any major central or east European city and get seen the next day

[ditchman]

27 minutes ago, enfieldspares said:

I had a CHINESE dentist once upon a time. I was in terrible agony from a broken filling and asked if I could see him that same afternoon.

"Yes. Of course," he said, "Two Thirty?"

"Thank you. Thank you very much," I replied, "Now what time do you want me to come?"

you just couldnt resist it could you ?

i was on the bin wagon in china town...and at the back of the resteraunt i saw One-hung lo...and said "where's yer bin"..?.....he said "Oi bin Hong-kong".....i said naaawww "where's yer wheelie  bin"  ??...he said ...."yeeaahh oi welli bin to Hong-kong"..........

[TIGHTCHOKE]

GORDON                                      BENNETT!                     

[Bigbob]

I also have been with the same demist for year never missed a appointment then covid now there saying they only can do emergency appointments , but if we cant get a appointment we can always go to the dental hospital in Edinburgh 

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, if young people are having to wait 18 months is there any hope for adults who cannot find a NHS dentist yet my local is very busy with private patients 🤔, I think all dentist trained by the NHS should do less private and help more people who cannot afford treatment, as a side note reference Fargo's post, on my last trip abroad and likely that way now I had an X ray in a local dentist, cost £10 🤔

[marsh man]

3 hours ago, ditchman said:

what painkillers are you taking ?

Zapain 30mg 500mg , two in the morning and then I can normally manage the rest of the day .

looking on the website today for N H S dentist in Norfolk , there wasn't a single dentist taking on any new patients over the age of 17 and only the odd one taking on youngsters under 17 . 

[ditchman]

1 hour ago, marsh man said:

Zapain 30mg 500mg , two in the morning and then I can normally manage the rest of the day .

looking on the website today for N H S dentist in Norfolk , there wasn't a single dentist taking on any new patients over the age of 17 and only the odd one taking on youngsters under 17 . 

i have 10 practices near me....phoned every one of them...............no way would they take me on as NHS....so i said what about private...they said our lists are closed now try in a years time......

now ..bearing inmind i have pulled my last 8 teeth (upper jaw) i have one tooth and a broken stum of a tooth in my upper jaw.....my lower jaw i have the front 4 teeth missing the other ones are in very good condition no damage no fillings.........

soooooo...........after 3 weeks i phone the same 10 dental practices and offer each one a £1500 payment to take me on as NHS ....or Private.........each one of them distainly said not interested....but 3 ofthem said we can do a review of your needs next week on a half hour appointment...cost £168 quid.......

 

come the revolution...these people will be going up against the wall

1. dentists
2. doctors
3. vets
4. traffic wardens
5. all politicians
6. football pundits

[oldypigeonpopper]

9 hours ago, ditchman said:

i have 10 practices near me....phoned every one of them...............no way would they take me on as NHS....so i said what about private...they said our lists are closed now try in a years time......

now ..bearing inmind i have pulled my last 8 teeth (upper jaw) i have one tooth and a broken stum of a tooth in my upper jaw.....my lower jaw i have the front 4 teeth missing the other ones are in very good condition no damage no fillings.........

soooooo...........after 3 weeks i phone the same 10 dental practices and offer each one a £1500 payment to take me on as NHS ....or Private.........each one of them distainly said not interested....but 3 ofthem said we can do a review of your needs next week on a half hour appointment...cost £168 quid.......

 

come the revolution...these people will be going up against the wall

1. dentists
2. doctors
3. vets
4. traffic wardens
5. all politicians
6. football pundits

Hello, can you only think of those 6 Simon ? 

[Nublue 22]

 Not going to happen, pay pay pay today you'll be in like a shot. Good luck I can't get one either. 

[NoBodyImportant]

I hope it’s not anything like Canada.  I have a beach house in North Carolina and the Dentist down there are slammed with Canadians.  They come down to get fillings and emergency care.  I had to get a crown replaced down there and went in for a walk in appointment.  The entire place was packed with Canadians.  They were saying it takes forever to get appointments so when they have an emergency they come south to get it fixed.  So they use it as a reason to spend a week at the beach.  One guy was telling me his options was to drive 8 hours away from the cities to get a quick appointment or cross the border.  

[marsh man]

1 hour ago, Nublue 22 said:

 Not going to happen, pay pay pay today you'll be in like a shot. Good luck I can't get one either. 

Seem like a vicious circle , more and more N H S dentist are leaving to go private as they no doubt earn more money which then make it harder still to get on the waiting list , cannot see the problem sorted any time soon , if anything it could well get worse than it is now , heavens forbid .

[oowee]

2 hours ago, marsh man said:

Seem like a vicious circle , more and more N H S dentist are leaving to go private as they no doubt earn more money which then make it harder still to get on the waiting list , cannot see the problem sorted any time soon , if anything it could well get worse than it is now , heavens forbid .

Market demands we pay them more. Same with doctors, teachers and the like. 12 years of cutting back training and pay, what would we expect? 

My dentist is NHS but you would hardly know given the charges and exclusions. 

[Rewulf]

10 minutes ago, oowee said:

Market demands we pay them more. Same with doctors, teachers and the like. 12 years of cutting back training and pay, what would we expect? 

What is the average salary for a dentist in the UK?

 

If you work as a salaried dentist employed by the NHS, mainly in community dental services, you'll earn around £43,019 to £92,013. In NHS trust hospitals, consultants in dental specialties earn a basic salary of £84,559 to £114,003 depending on the number of years spent in the consultant grade.

 

Junior (in training ) doctors earn between 40 - 50k a year
Consultants earn between 100-150k a year

 

Teachers start at around 30k and move upwards to 40k (my partners daughter however is a 'basic' teacher and earns 46k per year ?)
This comes with 6 weeks paid holiday.

 

Its hardly peanuts is it ?