Finding dental cover

BaronSmoggie

Well-known member
Partly my own fault in that I didn't follow up, but I am not registered with a dentist here. I've been trying for 2 years to get registered in order to start my Denplan cover once again. I am fortunate in that I can go private which I feel I should in order to alleviate NHS pressures.

However, this weeked I have suffered like hell with an impacted wisdom tooth and I have been trying to get an emergency appointment with any of the private dental practices down here and none of them can help me for weeks due to appointments and too few staff.

As a last resort, I called NHS Direct. I am now waiting for a callback today in order to be seen as soon as possible. I didn't really want to make the call as there are people out there who may need it more than I do. However, I was left with no other options so I am incredibly thankful the service was there to help me. I'm pretty lucky in that I don't get ill very often, and I've only need to use the NHS twice in the last 10 years (now and a car accident in 2012), but both times, they've never made me feel like it was a waste of time to them. The private places were very keen on having my bank details before discussing any treatment options.

Anyhoo, my 1200mg Ibuprofen induced state has made me a little emotional about the NHS, so this may get deleted later when I 'man up'. ;)
 
Where are you based? I recently moved to a new dentist in south London and only waited 3 days for an appt
 
I recently went to a mydentist for a 'consultation' which set me back £39

Suffered with gum disease and bad breath for donkeys but ive got a loose tooth now as a result .. the price of my treatment ... £1200!

When would you like to start Mr C? ... errr when you can do it on the NHS for less than half that!

5 scale and polishes at £80 a pop was included in the £1200 ... why do i need 5 goes at it?
 
Lost a crown the day after the first lockdown started. Front tooth so it looked terrible. Emergency dentist told me it wasn't an emergency and I would have to put up with it.
Went to home bargains and for £3.49 bought a tootsiepeg repair kit. Put it in myself with the temporary cement.
Went to my dentist last week. Told her what I did over 2 years ago. She said it's very solid and inline with the others and just to leave it but go back if it comes out.
Cost me £23 to hear that though😲
 
Lost a crown the day after the first lockdown started. Front tooth so it looked terrible. Emergency dentist told me it wasn't an emergency and I would have to put up with it.
Went to home bargains and for £3.49 bought a tootsiepeg repair kit. Put it in myself with the temporary cement.
Went to my dentist last week. Told her what I did over 2 years ago. She said it's very solid and inline with the others and just to leave it but go back if it comes out.
Cost me £23 to hear that though😲
Do you do root canal fillings ?
If yes, can I make an appointment?
Thanks 👍
 
I recently went to a mydentist for a 'consultation' which set me back £39

Suffered with gum disease and bad breath for donkeys but ive got a loose tooth now as a result .. the price of my treatment ... £1200!

When would you like to start Mr C? ... errr when you can do it on the NHS for less than half that!

5 scale and polishes at £80 a pop was included in the £1200 ... why do i need 5 goes at it?
Jesus!!

I called a private practice today as part of mydentist too. They wanted 75 quid just to tell me what I already knew in that I had a knackered tooth. They said we may need x-rays which are 10 pounds each. Ten quid each, its a scan on a computer, you don't print the sodding things.

Its the absolute worst of US healthcare making its way here.

EDIT: Hoping for the NHS dental consultant to call me in the morning, its still knacking and the nurse told me no more ibuprofen today as I've already exceeded the daily safe dose.
 
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Why I live there is a drop in NHS dentistry service for emergency type stuff. I heard it was free for those on certain benefits. Those on decent incomes will have to pay but its cheaper than Private and its quicker.

My private dentist keeps sending me reminders to visit. I have not ben since lock down and the dentist I used in the practive retired. A NHS dentist friend retired in 2020. In lock down he had very little to do, but was paid a NHS salary. There is a lot of CPD to do in dentistry that you need to do to keep your licence and he said it was not worth it if you don't work full time. The work also puts a lot of strains on your body which affect you in your 50s.
 
I have to admit getting a dentist was all new to me after 23 years of free work in the forces.

It's been nothing but a hassle. Frankly told as I'd not been on a NHS roster for so long I'll probably never get on it. I asked at roughly 10 dentists and most laughed when I asked to be placed on a 'waiting list'. I mean I've never used it. So already saved them a fortune.

I left a few months before covid so had all the extra hassle with that. I'm now with a private dentist. I hadn't been for 2 years (covid and no issues) yet called in last month for check up or they would probably bin me from the practice. £52 for check up and xrays. £65 for scale and polish.

Also suggested I have a deep filling that needs changing (£150). I basically said I'd wait until it falls out. Then he said its that deep it may need root canal and capping at £650.

You can see why at those figures people don't go. I may join up again just for a free root canal😂
 
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