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Need a new dentist - what to do?


MJI

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As of last month I do not have a dentist.

 

No idea on how to choose a new one.

 

They all want a lot of money to check you over before joining.

 

Then there are the children.

 

So much hassle!

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This might help. Looking at this site it appears that NHS England check up charges would be £18.50 at most, though more complex treatment will cost more if required. Unfortunately it does seem that the English dental charges are more than I have to pay here in Wales (£13 for a check up). Nnot surprising as there seems to be a more collectivist approach taken in Wales, with healthcare and education costing the individual less thanks to the Welsh government policies.

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While a lot (most?) Dentists have dropped NHS work for adults, many retain NHS treatments for children.

 

The best option is to join a Dental treatment plan, such as Denplan, where a fixed monthly fee will provide the cost of most of your Dental care and more importantly twice yearly checks and regular Hygienist appointments.

 

 

.

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While a lot (most?) Dentists have dropped NHS work for adults, many retain NHS treatments for children.

 

The best option is to join a Dental treatment plan, such as Denplan, where a fixed monthly fee will provide the cost of most of your Dental care and more importantly twice yearly checks and regular Hygienist appointments.

 

 

.

 

We've found Denplan very good - and I think our Denplan dental surgery does do children on the NHS (nowhere near you though)

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OK will look at Denplan, looks like least worse option. I will need numbing gel and white fillings and I am willing to pay for them.

 

I am very wary of unnecessary work

 

Last time we changed, the dentist we left was a butcher and the fillings they did had to be redone by the last one (crumbled away, unlike the childhood ones).

 

Anyway it does look lilr my choice is NHS again and metal fillings and painfull jabs, or Denplan at more than I was paying for 5 of us.

 

I called one place, they were supposed to send us a leaflet but nothing arrived, they also have lots of expensive dental kit which is nice.

 

I am almost tempted to wait until one of us is in pain,but that is not a good idea.

 

It would help if I knew where other people went as well, but nothing about.

 

What is annoying is that everyone of these places wants to charge £50 to £100 to do an introductary examination as well.

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Worst thing that ever happened was the removal of "free" at point of use Dental Treatment on the NHS. :(

 

People just avoid checkups and treatment now and wait until it is really bad.

 

They got privatisation all wrong, preventive treatments should have been free, then pay the penalty for failure to get regular checkups.

 

But the nation's teeth are in a better state than they ever have been ... allegedly.

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Worst thing that ever happened was the removal of "free" at point of use Dental Treatment on the NHS. :(

 

People just avoid checkups and treatment now and wait until it is really bad.

 

They got privatisation all wrong, preventive treatments should have been free, then pay the penalty for failure to get regular checkups.

 

But the nation's teeth are in a better state than they ever have been ... allegedly.

 

 

That is what my old dentist said and why he did children for free

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OK will look at Denplan, looks like least worse option. I will need numbing gel and white fillings and I am willing to pay for them.

 

I am very wary of unnecessary work

 

Last time we changed, the dentist we left was a butcher and the fillings they did had to be redone by the last one (crumbled away, unlike the childhood ones).

 

Anyway it does look lilr my choice is NHS again and metal fillings and painfull jabs, or Denplan at more than I was paying for 5 of us.

 

I called one place, they were supposed to send us a leaflet but nothing arrived, they also have lots of expensive dental kit which is nice.

 

I am almost tempted to wait until one of us is in pain,but that is not a good idea.

 

It would help if I knew where other people went as well, but nothing about.

 

What is annoying is that everyone of these places wants to charge £50 to £100 to do an introductary examination as well.

 

I repeat - http://www.nhs.uk/Se...tionSearch/1839

 

As a member of the NHS, you are entitled to dental treatment at NHS charges - no more, no less!

 

The local health group is obliged to allocate you an NHS dentist, who can only charge you the prices laid down by the NHS, which must be displayed on the premises.

 

I have never understood why people are prepared to tolerate extortionate 'introductory inspection' charges in order to be admitted to an NHS dentist's list.

 

We pay for the right to be on an NHS dentist's list via our National Insurance contributions, without paying a further fee for the 'priviledge'.

 

What would be our reaction if our local NHS doctor, or pharmacist, demanded a one-off fee before agreeing to give us an appointment, or to consider making up our NHS prescription?

 

These one-off fees are simply a way of making extra money, at a time when we are vulnerable, from providing a service for which dentists have already contracted to provide, and for which they have agreed to accept a national scale of fees.

 

Regards,

John Isherwood.

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I have been in the fortunate position of having had three very good dentists in my life, all NHS, and the last two have been clients of mine.in return. I have also been blessed with teeth that, so far, have not given serious trouble. Both of the more recent dentists have said that, sometimes, doing minor small fillings at 6 monthly check-ups is counter productive in the long run. I usually attend for a check about once a year.

 

If you haven't already, I would suggest you ask your local friends/neighbours to recommend a practice. When asked, we've had no hesitation in recommending our dentist, and will mention one or two we've heard of to avoid.. I/we have heard some horror stories about other practices - doing unnecessary work being one of the complaints. When, our current dentist retires, in about 5 years or so, I would ask for and follow his recommendation as to a new dentist. That is what I did the last time it was necessary and I would suggest you do that if you can still contact your old dentist and it fits your situation.

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I have been in the fortunate position of having had three very good dentists in my life, all NHS, and the last two have been clients of mine.in return. I have also been blessed with teeth that, so far, have not given serious trouble. Both of the more recent dentists have said that, sometimes, doing minor small fillings at 6 monthly check-ups is counter productive in the long run. I usually attend for a check about once a year.

 

 That is what I did the last time it was necessary and I would suggest you do that if you can still contact your old dentist and it fits your situation.

 

Had good ones when young, first one here terrible, my lst one excellent.

 

May be difficult to contact my old dentist as I don't know any mediums

 

Only 62 or 63 as well!

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...Both of the more recent dentists have said that, sometimes, doing minor small fillings at 6 monthly check-ups is counter productive in the long run...

 Oh the change when I found my present dentist nearing 20 years ago. Previously non-stop intervention, regular trouble. Now careful monitoring at six monthly check ups and almost all the work is repairing the results of the previous over-enthusiastic treatment, and everything is so much better.

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 Oh the change when I found my present dentist nearing 20 years ago. Previously non-stop intervention, regular trouble. Now careful monitoring at six monthly check ups and almost all the work is repairing the results of the previous over-enthusiastic treatment, and everything is so much better.

 

 

My recent fillings had been mainly repairing crumbling amalgam ones, and a fix for toothache due to a larger cavity from the failed fillings.

 

Been relying on a good clean every 6 months.

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I repeat - http://www.nhs.uk/Se...tionSearch/1839

 

As a member of the NHS, you are entitled to dental treatment at NHS charges - no more, no less!

 

The local health group is obliged to allocate you an NHS dentist, who can only charge you the prices laid down by the NHS, which must be displayed on the premises.

 

I have never understood why people are prepared to tolerate extortionate 'introductory inspection' charges in order to be admitted to an NHS dentist's list.

 

We pay for the right to be on an NHS dentist's list via our National Insurance contributions, without paying a further fee for the 'priviledge'.

 

What would be our reaction if our local NHS doctor, or pharmacist, demanded a one-off fee before agreeing to give us an appointment, or to consider making up our NHS prescription?

 

These one-off fees are simply a way of making extra money, at a time when we are vulnerable, from providing a service for which dentists have already contracted to provide, and for which they have agreed to accept a national scale of fees.

 

Regards,

John Isherwood.

I agree with what you are saying  but the reality is that there is very little NHS dental treatment, the closest I can get on the link provided is 25-30 miles away. Here in town we have 2 dentists who only take a small number of NHS and everyone else is private.

I end up paying 50/50 as I have been there so long (24 years) so a checkup and clean (if I need it) is £44 check up only is £30.

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I agree with what you are saying  but the reality is that there is very little NHS dental treatment, the closest I can get on the link provided is 25-30 miles away. Here in town we have 2 dentists who only take a small number of NHS and everyone else is private.

I end up paying 50/50 as I have been there so long (24 years) so a checkup and clean (if I need it) is £44 check up only is £30.

 

In those circumstances, I'd be in touch with my local health group insisting (vociferously, and in the local press if necessary), that they improve local provision.

 

Dental care within reasonable travelling distance isn't a priviledge - it's a right!!!

 

For some reason, when there is a threat to local doctor or hospital provision, there is (rightly) an outcry - whereas inadequate dental care provision is accepted.

 

Why?? Is is because we don't really like going to the dentist, and we associate physical and financial pain with the experience?

 

I really don't know, but it is something that those who cannot get NHS dental care should be making a very loud noise about.

 

Apparent acceptance of the situation only encourages those in power to further reduce resources.

 

JMHO.

 

Having said all that, we live in rural Cornwall and, when we moved here in 2012, we had no problem signing-on for NHS dental treatment within walking distance of home.

 

Regards,

John Isherwood.

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In those circumstances, I'd be in touch with my local health group insisting (vociferously, and in the local press if necessary), that they improve local provision.

 

Dental care within reasonable travelling distance isn't a priviledge - it's a right!!!

 

For some reason, when there is a threat to local doctor or hospital provision, there is (rightly) an outcry - whereas inadequate dental care provision is accepted.

 

Why?? Is is because we don't really like going to the dentist, and we associate physical and financial pain with the experience?

 

I really don't know, but it is something that those who cannot get NHS dental care should be making a very loud noise about.

 

Apparent acceptance of the situation only encourages those in power to further reduce resources.

 

JMHO.

 

Having said all that, we live in rural Cornwall and, when we moved here in 2012, we had no problem signing-on for NHS dental treatment within walking distance of home.

 

Regards,

John Isherwood.

The problem we have here is no local joined up thinking in Healthcare planning. The Town is growing and a few years ago a site adjacent to the Health centre became available and was offered to the Local authority so they could extend the existing facilities. They turned down the offer with the reason that there was no expected expansion in need. The site went for housing and joined the other pre-approved sites in providing the authority with an ever growing customer base. Here we are 6+ years on with a Health centre that has had to be extended within its own boundary (not enough room) to provide barely enough provision.

Not going into politics but if people think that money is the issue, I know 3 GP's and all have retired in their 50's (one at 53).......

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In those circumstances, I'd be in touch with my local health group insisting (vociferously, and in the local press if necessary), that they improve local provision.

So how are they going to improve local provision?

The overwhelming majority of dental practices are privately owned and operated,

Where they provide a NHS service, for those that still do, it's under contract to the NHS.

They are not obliged to provide a service on the NHS.

In many cases the dental practice provides the the NHS service at a loss, which is why most now only provide NHS treatment for a limited number of patients, or only for children.

 

To increase the amount of NHS dental provision, Local Health Authorities would most likely have to resort to setting up and operating their own dental practices.

How are they going to do that and where will the money come from?

 

 

 

.

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