hi guys I’m new here , I’m due to go on the waiting list for heart bypass and mitral valve repair . But I need to get an appointment for a dental check up but it’s a long time since I’ve seen one and can’t get an appointment anywhere
Does anyone know what happens now , or will I have to go private
Hello & Welcome 
Have you explained to all the dentists you have contacted why it is so important you have his check up ?
If you are still are not getting any luck I have found this which might be worth giving a go
If after contacting several dental surgeries you still cannot find a dentist accepting NHS patients, call NHS England's Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 2233. NHS England commissions dental services in England and is required to meet the needs of their local population for both urgent and routine dental care.
If you have been asked to have a dental check up this usually means it will not be to long before they will be giving you a date for your operation so you do need to get a checkup After trying that number if you still do not get anywhere it might be you have to go private
Keep trying and explain the importance and urgency to them and I hope you manage to get someone to give you an appointment
Let us know how you get on x
Yes I did emphasis the importance but none of them could do anything other than send me paperwork to sign up with them but be put on a 2 year waiting list , one even said they can’t bump me up the queue I did the 111 number and the contact centre but to no avail . Looks like I’ll have to go private as I do need this operation
Once I’ve seen the dentist what do you think will be the waiting time as I’m self employed and still at work do you think they would give me notice
Hello
Sorry you have had no luck and looks like you may have to have to go private
Once I had the letter to say get a dental check up it was within 2 months I had the op
These Dental check ups only have a short shelf life so when you are asked to get one done I would say 3 months max but then again it depends it could be sooner than 2 months a bit of a guessing game really
I suppose you could always phone the Secretary on your letters and say you have been asked to have a dental check up and even though you appreciate they cannot give you a date at the moment have they any idea what you might be looking at , worth a go
Good Luck x
hi got the dentist sorted out clean bill of health there so now I have my pre-op booked for the 26 th oct in a couple of weeks so may not be long now to the operation getting a bit anxious now about it
Hello
Good news you have passed with a healthy set of teeth we have to keep hold of all positives
The waiting when we get so near really is the worst and I do feel for you I remember it so well but now looking back I think you know I wished I had not got myself anxious but that is my nature
I am honestly a wreck and I mean that but I went through with it and can say it was nothing like my imagination built it up to be and if I can do it anyone can and you can to
It would be so mice to have this all done in time for Christmas and a great excuse to have everyone waiting on you while you recover watching your favourite films and putting your feet up another positive to think about
Keep me updated you have got this x
Thanks for your kind words , most of the worry is the financial side with me being the main bread winner and self employed
My wife does work but only part time as she has disabilities that stop her working full time if anything she is a lot worse than I am with her heart but because of her other conditions they won’t do anything unless it’s totally life threatening
Hello
I am sorry to hear that you really do not need that pressure on top of everything else
I would make some enquirers to see if there is any support you can get x
Why not tell the hospital about your difficulty and see if they can do anything? Most hospitals have dental departments.
Hi and what every has said is correct the other option depending on where you are in the country is a dental hospital, I know there is one in Birmingham. Your cardiologist would have to do a referral but as you are now waiting for the bypass I’m sure that would be easy enough.Good luck
so the only other solution is to pay to see a dentist. Might be worth considering as the surgical team will not do the op until you have had the all clear from a dentist. There is a strong link between dental problems and heart disease. Unfortunately you will also have to pay for all dental treatment necessary - and again the surgical team will not do the surgery until all dental treatment done.Its a real problem finding an NHS dentist at the moment. Leaving aside the causes - this leaves you with few options - my family and I were forced to pay for dental treatment some years ago as there were no NHS dentists in my area and although there are now a few we have never moved as the dentist we have is so good (if pricey).
As for waiting times....well thats the piece of string question really! Phone the hospital waiting list manager and ask approximately how long you will have to wait - they can usually tell you. As you are self employed you will need to have some idea anyway to make preps for both the op and recovery afterwards.
Do let us know how you get on with the search for a dentist - and eventually your op.
Quite often after paying for a private consultation they will add you to their NHS list, at least in our area.
Hi thanks everyone for your advise , I’ve already spoken to my consultants secretary and she is going to see what she can do at her end plus I’m going to contact a dentist next week and book one privately and see what happens
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