Dentists

[MattSantos]

Up to 9 months for a private appointment where i live. 9 months for something that could easily become an emergency in 24 hours. If it does, i have absolutely 0 idea as to what i'd do.

As a service, why is dentistry so bad? Even in the private sector! I understand that Covid would have created a backlog, but it was ###### before as well.

Is it simply that there are too few dentists plying their trade? 

 

[LeytherRob]

13 minutes ago, MattSantos said:

Up to 9 months for a private appointment where i live. 9 months for something that could easily become an emergency in 24 hours. If it does, i have absolutely 0 idea as to what i'd do.

As a service, why is dentistry so bad? Even in the private sector! I understand that Covid would have created a backlog, but it was ###### before as well.

Is it simply that there are too few dentists plying their trade? 

 

Pretty much, although as with GP's there is a quota of emergency spots available each day for those who need it most. If you need urgent care you can ring NHS 111 and they will do an emergency referral, I had to do it a few years back when a wisdom tooth broke.

[JohnM]

Our health centre provides an emergency dental service, but only on a Friday.

We have excellent NHS service from MyDentist (Dentists & Orthodontists Across The UK | mydentist)  but our "local" branch is 17 miles away and I have heard but I can't confirm that it is closed to new NHS patients. Not sure.

Otherwise its call 111.

[Damien]

Backlog from Covid isn't it? I know at my dentist it was something crazy like a year to get just a check up (still not had it yet). Emergencies they will fit you in sooner and I'm sure they have slots reserved for that.

[HawkMan]

1 hour ago, MattSantos said:

Up to 9 months for a private appointment where i live. 9 months for something that could easily become an emergency in 24 hours. If it does, i have absolutely 0 idea as to what i'd do.

As a service, why is dentistry so bad? Even in the private sector! I understand that Covid would have created a backlog, but it was ###### before as well.

Is it simply that there are too few dentists plying their trade? 

 

Don't go private! My dentist retired last year, so I had to get a new one who does NHS work. I simply tried as many as was necessary and eventually found one about 5 miles away who had space for new patients and bingo,you just have to keep searching.

Edited August 21, 2023 by HawkMan

[graveyard johnny]

my dentist was  took over by a private firm who are actually called "mydentist" total rip off and stopped going now - most of the receptionists have left - the hygienist could hardly speak English - another inditement of modern Britain 

Quote

 

 

[gingerjon]

4 hours ago, Damien said:

Backlog from Covid isn't it? 

Hard to see how. Dentist locally here was back seeing patients for check ups in late 2020 (I think) and hasn't closed since - albeit with masses of PPE/rules/social distancing for a chunk of that time.

We're also lucky the despite losing half the staff because of Brexit - or, rather, the atmosphere around Brexit and funding for health which makes working on an EU passport in the EU that much easier and worthwhile, but the people impossible to replace once they have gone - they have kept open an NHS list and are pretty good at seeing people regularly on it.

[ivans82]

It`s the same at most doctors ring up.....you are 17th in the queue , by the time you get through sorry no appointments ring back tomorrow .   Ring back at dead on 0800hrs......you are 20th in the queue , you finally get through , sorry no appointments , ring back tomorrow..........and repeat .

[Trojan]

We've been living in Lincs for three years.  An NHS dentist is not to be had, so we time some of our visits back to Leeds to coincide with dental appointments at our NHS dentist

[Griff]

On 21/08/2023 at 17:33, gingerjon said:

Hard to see how. Dentist locally here was back seeing patients for check ups in late 2020 (I think) and hasn't closed since - albeit with masses of PPE/rules/social distancing for a chunk of that time.

It's the nature of the job. All that drilling and spraying is ideal for spreading viruses. Yes - they opened after a couple of months, but they needed more cleaning time between jobs, so there were less slots for actual patients. They were much more affected than GPs.

[gingerjon]

8 hours ago, Griff said:

It's the nature of the job. All that drilling and spraying is ideal for spreading viruses. Yes - they opened after a couple of months, but they needed more cleaning time between jobs, so there were less slots for actual patients. They were much more affected than GPs.

Yes - I remember they had to do a huge amount of shifting space as well like one-way in corridors, seat spacing in waiting rooms etc etc.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

On 22/08/2023 at 12:45, ivans82 said:

It`s the same at most doctors ring up.....you are 17th in the queue , by the time you get through sorry no appointments ring back tomorrow .   Ring back at dead on 0800hrs......you are 20th in the queue , you finally get through , sorry no appointments , ring back tomorrow..........and repeat .

Ours has online booking....pretty sure they all do don't they? You have to log on as they release the new ones each day....ours is 8am

[Adelaide Tiger]

On 22/08/2023 at 21:15, ivans82 said:

It`s the same at most doctors ring up.....you are 17th in the queue , by the time you get through sorry no appointments ring back tomorrow .   Ring back at dead on 0800hrs......you are 20th in the queue , you finally get through , sorry no appointments , ring back tomorrow..........and repeat .

Father-in-law who is 82 arrived from the UK two weeks ago. Last Friday he, me and youngest daughter, tested positive to Covid.  Yesterday although he felt well he still had a cough so the wife rang our Doctors to see if she could make an appointment for him for a check-up.

One hour later he was being seen by a Doctor and was told everything was  OK but was given some anti-biotics.  It cost $40 - about £20 - for the consultation and $11 - £5 - for the anti-biotics  Father-in-law said that he would be happy to pay £20 if he could get an appointment the same day back in Cas.

[graveyard johnny]

another dentist visit and another £70 lighter - he wants to see me again in 3 months - its a tale - will be cancelling my next appointment - too expensive at Mydentist 

Edited March 20 by graveyard johnny

[HawkMan]

18 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

another dentist visit and another £70 lighter - he wants to see me again in 3 months - its a tale - will be cancelling my next appointment - too expensive at Mydentist 

I honestly urge you not to do that. I made a similar decision years ago and regret it. My teeth deteriorated and I eventually went back. In April I'll be having the fourth extraction in 6 months. Any more and I'll be having trouble chewing. Your teeth are invaluable look after them.

[DI Keith Fowler]

1 hour ago, graveyard johnny said:

another dentist visit and another £70 lighter - he wants to see me again in 3 months - its a tale - will be cancelling my next appointment - too expensive at Mydentist 

Ahh you're on the naughty list then.

[graveyard johnny]

1 minute ago, DI Keith Fowler said:

Ahh you're on the naughty list then.

think he just wants another easy £70 - well like I said "its a tale"

[JohnM]

What did you get done for £70? Private or NHS? We're with a My Dentist practice and NHS checkups are about £25.

Edited March 20 by JohnM

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, JohnM said:

What did you get done for £70? Private or NHS? We're with a My Dentist practice and NHS checkups are about £25.

https://www.mydentist.co.uk/patient-information/nhs-treatments-and-costs

If it's part of the same treatment, then you just pay once.

As you know.

[DI Keith Fowler]

2 hours ago, graveyard johnny said:

think he just wants another easy £70 - well like I said "its a tale"

If you're not careful they'll be calling you Johnny Rotten teeth.

[JohnM]

As I don't know. 

I only ever pay for a check up. About £ 25 for the last one, plus I get 2 free samples of toothpaste on the way in and 2 free samples on the way out, plus text and phone call reminders to make sure I turn up for the next appointment.

[Wolford6]

I'm due to have a crown on one of my back teeth. My dentist  did the preparation work and fitted a slab of filling over the stump about six weeks ago.

After delays, I'm due to have the crown fitted next week, by a different dentist. My proper dentist has had brain surgery; he's probably in his late twenties or early thirties. Really nice bloke

 

 

Edited March 24 by Wolford6

[JohnM]

I appreciate that finding an NHS dentist may be very difficult but not impossible. Avoiding all politics.

We live in Lincolnshire.

We have an NHS dentist in Lincolnshire .

That dentist is a MyDentist practice.

A new NHS dentist has just set up in a town just 4 miles from here,too.

There is an alternative.

https://www.dental-world.co.uk/p/restoratives/glass-ionomers/gc/glass-ionomer-fuji-ix-gp-gc-11-pack-a3/31706

Edited March 24 by JohnM