I had a letter yesterday from my dentist to advice she can no longer provide nhs care. I really dont want to change as I have been with her for a number of years and doubt I would find another nhs dentist that would take on new patients and if they are not receiving enough from the nhs then they too will end up in this position.. Has anybody else found themselves in this position. It looks like we are having to go private and will add to our financial budget.
Dentist: I had a letter yesterday from... - Lung Conditions C...
Dentist
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Izb1
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Hi, haven’t been able go NHS dentist for many years, don’t think any in my locality. Good luck with finding one. Jean x
I am staying with the dentist I have Jean and will pay x
I was in this position 15-20 years ago but elected to go private and pay the monthly subscriptions. My dentist was a younger man, now surely in his forties. I swear he is the best dentist in London. It was last year I trusted him to do an extraction with a follow up dental implant over a course of six months or so. 100% success. Fully worth the Dosh. And 4 hygienist appointments a year,all free.(Part of the Portman Care dental ownership.)
I have decided to stay with my dentist, she is ok and local. I will pay the £10 per month for my 6 months check and to stay on the books. I dont think there will be any nhs dentists in the future and I have to pay private for implants anyway x
So each check up costs you £60?And everything else you have to pay on top?
Yes , I paid £28 ish on nhs so its more than doubled but by paying monthly it doesnt seem so bad x
Hi. How much is your monthly subscription please? An implant takes an hour though, not 6 months 🤨
Did you have to pay extra for the implant? Or anything else ever?
Thank you.
I can't be sure of the time expanse, but I was referring to when I was first told of the need of the extraction, the extraction itself and after care, then three stages of the implant, beginning with the base. And ending with the implant hammered into position! I think I pay about £45 a month under a Denplan scheme. But I'm well pleased with the professionalism, the staff and the modern equipment. And of course my dentist is excellent.
I had Denplan private dental insurance many years ago and it was quite cheap. It covered everything except prescriptions and lab costs for crowns etc. it was brilliant and being private was much better than nhs. Your teeth have to be in good condition before you can join. Worth looking into
Thanks Yoga2011, I looked at Denplan and its more expensive than what my dentist will be charging so will stay with her x
My full story!!
I was with Denplan for many years, even continuing to pay all through lockdown with no routine treatment available. I contacted them at the time and was basically told “that’s insurance for you, can’t miss a payment”. I thought I wanted to stay on same dental practice books, so continued payments
Then I had a nasty accident involving my front teeth, after crashing headlong into scaffolding and breaking the roots of my teeth. It coincided with a change of dentist at my practice, and I wasn’t happy with their advice or suggested treatment, “They’re just bruised, give it time”
While using denplan there in the past, I had a favourite dentist, who had done a lot of work on my front teeth previously, before he left. I learned he’d moved and set up his own practice, miles away from my home. I was desperate for help I could trust, so joined his practice as a private patient, decided not to use insurance again, I felt I’d lost a lot of money over the years.
So I hesitantly tried private for maybe a temporary change. Over the two plus years I’ve been doing this, with some major work involved, I’ve paid less overall than I was paying monthly plus extras on insurance. So it’s win/win for me! Obviously the payments are not so regular, and there are highs and lows, but none of the restrictions imposed by insurance companies or the NHS.
I have a front tooth which needs filling but there are no NHS dentists in my area. Plenty of private ones though! There used to be a hub where you could go on the waitng list to be allocated one but they have closed that too now.
The only way I was told was to get a doctor to refer you! I presume this would be limited and doubt whether I would qualify.
I rang up my local dentist to enquire about going private. They demand £49 up front then £126 per filling! Yikes. Can't really afford that so will have to wait until it hurts then I can get an emergency appointment on the NHS.
Crazy system.
Yes Bev its expensive going private but think we will all end up having to. I have heard that even the dental hospital has a massive waiting list. I cant abide toothache so would end up paying it. Think I will start my own toothache fund and put so much away each month and hopefully it will ease the stress of a big bill x
Have u tried ringing 111
Could you claim anything back if you did have to go private, the nhs would after all have had to pay the nhs dentist which could go towards your cost. I must enquire about this it may be a loop hole they havent yet closed. I hope you havent got toothache x
If you're on a low income and find it difficult to pay the charge, you can apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme. You can submit a claim for a refund at the same time as you apply to the Low Income Scheme. Refund claims must be submitted within 3 months of the date on which you paid.
Find out more from the NHS Business Services Authority about claiming a refund for NHS dental costs.
No not yet but might have soon! I just hope its not too late to save the tooth then.
Fingers crossed for you Bev x
And for you too my friend. I hope it doesn't dent your bank account too much.
Its bad enough with the energy costs and everything else going up, lets hope things improve this year x
When I spoke about private dentistry being cheaper than dental insurance, I meant taken over the year. There are some stiff payments but there are lots of free months without any. Btw my private dentist charged £82 for a filling that needed replacing…..perhaps it’s more if the drilling included? Also new patient exams always more.
I love the nhs but needs must. Hard to do without front teeth. I had to refuse the most expensive suggestion, implants, but I’ve now got a super little plate fitted.
Hopefully you will get the chance to elect a government which supports the NHS. As long as folk vote for the current shower we will lose the best thing ever bestowed on a nation -free universal health care.It makes me weep.
Good question. Bet the answer isn’t rocket science if you ask the nhs!
How do you get an emergency appointment with an NHS dentist? My GP surgery said to me they have nothing to do with dentists. And when you are suffering strong pain, then you need IMMEDIATE help!
With my nhs dentist I had to ring up at 8am to get an emergency appointment, i dont know how they will run now they have gone private. I suppose you could try the dental hospital if in pain but I really dont know how that works or ask your local nhs dentists how they work x
sadly my dentist shut its doors I had been with them for 32 years I have not been able to find another NHS I had to go private as I was having trouble with my 2 front teeth. I am now £2199 in debt as I did not have the money to pay up front. I worry I will fall behind with my payments but was in so much pain. I did try 111 but they could not help me.
yes our dentist no longer does NHS.nhAfter many years on prednisolone and risidronate am finding hiccups with brittle teeth and thinning thinning jaw bones.Was charged £160 for a filling and deposit for cleaning which is rolled over to next appointment....
i have no choice but to pay as the practice says their NHS nhdentist left and they cannot find another.
Its seem to be an issue across the country. My dentist went private but I have been lucky enough to register with another practice who takes on nhs patients. Not sure where you are based, in Scotland dental department within in hospital are taking on patients who are are not or cannot get registered with a dentist. If your tooth decay is caused by medical treatment your go might be able to refer you to the hospital dental department.
thank you for that info am in the west Midlands.will make inquiries.
Found this on the internet:-If you're on a low income and find it difficult to pay the charge, you can apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme. You can submit a claim for a refund at the same time as you apply to the Low Income Scheme. Refund claims must be submitted within 3 months of the date on which you paid.
Find out more from the NHS Business Services Authority about claiming a refund for NHS dental costs
thank you for the info much appreciated.
I wonder if you can claim the money back if you are on ESA and can only find a private dentist, especially when you are in strong pain and don't have time to keep surging?
Try appyling they can only say no but I think thats what this has been set up for. Have a look at the nhs web site x
The fees are really expensive and think there will be alot of people suffering x
Not surprised we are slowly turning into usa
Yes it does seem that way which is a big worry x
Hi yes as from the 1st February I will have to do a denplan payment scheme or as I have decided on my dentist own plan of paying 1 off fee for a yearly check up and both required to pay for any treatment it's a win for them and not us the patients unfortunately
I must admit the letter I had from my dentist explained in full that they just cant carry on as they are doing without going bust. Doesnt help us the patients but makes me mad that we cant claim the fee that the nhs would have paid to the dentist x
What a load of tosh. Have you ever seen an impoverished dentist? As a student I used to live with 6 of them and they all retired in their fifties having made a mint.
Yes, that happened to me. I moved to another private dentist much closer to me, who is excellent.
The NHS dental contracts are very poorly designed for good dental care in England and Wales at the moment. They penalise dentists who exceed treatment targets even if the health of people's teeth in the catchment area is very poor.
Seems like a silly system that surely could have been changed to something that would suit all x
Some politicians are trying to privatise the health service, and this is playing into their hands.
Sadly i think this has been on the cards for a number of years and think the whole of the nhs will go the same x
Only if people vote for the Tories; It's not too late, but it soon will be.
My dentist closed down after Covid owing me treatment I had paid for before the pandemic! I go private now.
Is there no way of getting this back x
Yes sadly we will all have this problem eventually because the government are cutting the amount they pay dentists for NHS treatment and they all are going private. Years ago people used to have all their teeth out and have false teeth and no more cost involved then. Hope your keeping well. Brian
Gosh we seem to be going backwards. I am not doing too badly thank you Brian, hope you are ok x
Yes thanks. Almost got rid of the headcold
They are dreadful and leave you weak, rest up and take care x
I am glad I am feeling better. Because I have no time to rest up. We are moving to a bigger home next week so it packing up Time. But I won't be moving again. Brian
This has happened to us as well been a year now and no luck in getting NHS one.
It seems like the nhs dentists are a thing of the past x
The only possible reason for this is that your dentist wants to make more money. Greedy rotten avaricious society in which the poor are being left behind.behind.Good luck.
Hi Izb.1,
I was with a dentist for over 37 years. I was then diagnosed with osteoporosis and the medication said to get your teeth checked first. I rung the dentists and was told as I had not had a check up during Covid, I was no longer on their register.
After many inquiries, I had to go on Denplan to secure a dentist. I have a very long history of dental problems and was very cross with my old dentists, as they said they had been operating normally during Covid! What surprised me, was there were a lot of private dentists that also had huge waiting lists - it was hard even to go private. As yet, it has cost me £18 a month, plus a special bone x-ray - £90, done at the local hospital. I also dread something going wrong and a huge bill!
Disgraceful of your dentist to behave like this. If they operated throughout covid then they should have sent you a reminder for your check up to enable you to make an appointment. I have always had a text from my dentist for this. I hope you find another dentist that will take you on x
This happened to us many years ago so we stayed with our dental practice until we retired and decided to cut down on money outgoings. We have some practices that take NHS however they are all being taken over by management groups so don’t know how long they’ll be NHS too. Beware our first NHS was not a good one - mainly temporary staff from abroad and didn’t do the jobs correctly. I think this was a franchise practice. Hope you find one x
I will stay with my dentist and pay the costs, she is quite good and local. Like you say you dont know what you are getting x
Hi Izb1I too got told a week ago that my dentist is no longer treating NHS services. I said " so basically, everyone on universal credit and others that don't pay for treatment are getting faised out"....he shrugged his shoulders and said 🤷 "basically yes"
I feel so angry 😡.....I know how you feel Izb1😔
Its a very sad state of affairs and feel that alot of people will suffer from this. I found this on the internet :-If you're on a low income and find it difficult to pay the charge, you can apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme. You can submit a claim for a refund at the same time as you apply to the Low Income Scheme. Refund claims must be submitted within 3 months of the date on which you paid.
Find out more from the NHS Business Services Authority about claiming a refund for NHS dental costs
The NHS has been systematically destroyed, for those doubters wait till you need something they class as non urgent
Hi we have for many years had problems with NHS dentists - We found one miles away and was good, but she left. After years I think we still have one, My Dentist - but I bet when we ring they will be private. there is a huge different between private care and NHS care I have found through the years,
My dentist cancelled again so when i ring i get no answer just told they were sorry to cancel my appointment and please phone to get only an advert or two and request to phone back. again So i just get a hint not to bother , have been with them for 50 years going every 6 months . £52 each visit just to look nd now £50 to have them scrapedas well . £100 a year for 50 years. It is criminal the way the nhs has been allowed to deteriorate. I was proud of it . I worked for it for 37 years, and slaved for 7 years to qualify. That involved 3 exams -- each written and practical , and 2 viva too.
It hurts now to see how it has been run down . I have a thing growing in my ear and i am on a wait list of a whole year ! This after waiting for 4 months already for a first response to doctors request.
And i am just one of many ..
Have a look round other hospitals and ask how long their waiting lists are and phone a couple of private ones to see if they are taking nhs patients, thats what I did to get my hip done, I would be still waiting this time next year. Its terrible that you have a growth in your ear and its not being treated x
Can you enrol in NHS hospitals yourself? They always told me you need a referral from your GP.
Yes you do need a referral from the gp but you need to know if their waiting list isnt longer than the one you are already on, but you do have the right to choose your own hospital x
What is so annoying is the surgeon at the private hospitals is usually the same one as the local NHS hospital
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