People in the UK. do you have an NHS dentist?

mine went private last year. Its now very, very expensive when you have a family of 5 to visit the dentist. are we being ripped off?

People in the UK. do you have an NHS dentist?
Yes I do have an NHS dentist but I have to travel back to where I lived before. When I moved to a new area there were no NHS dentists taking patients on so I've stayed with the old one.


If you check out this website it might help you locate an NHS dentist close to you.
Reply:Yes I do (I also have a family of 5). Always have and never had a problem finding or joining one. I live in the North-East, you?
Reply:I do, and yes we are, but I pay a monthly plan which is always worth itwhen one has a toothache or needs expensive dental treatment.
Reply:No mine went private 13 years ago, but I still go to him as I trust him.





I think we are being ripped off but it is not my dentist fault.
Reply:Yes.





But if you...





Stop the family from consuming any white sugar or processed products/cakes/sweets containing large amounts of sugar





Eat more crisp, fresh, raw (preferably organic) vegetable...





Avoid 'acidic' sugary drinks - including manufactured juices (especially from concentrates), pop, colas, diluted cordials etc...





Brush teeth regularly with medium bristle brush for minimum 2 minutes thoroughly but gently -- after each meal and before bed





Use a NON flouride toothpaste -- or use simple bicarb and sea-salt mix (tastes naff at first but you get used to it) and dip your moist brush...





Drink plenty of clean, fresh mineral water (2 to 3 liters a day each)





And soon you will have very little need for dentists...if ever again!





Try it...it works
Reply:I have, but since I moved house it is a 280 mile round trip, which makes even a check up cost about £60 when I add the petrol.....Dentists have never really been part of the NHS...its a myth....they always were in effect self employed, and had a contract with the NHS to treat patients, so there was always the possibility that they would stop treating NHS patients...you can get reasonable dental insurance...I think I pay about £7 a month and that gives me £20 a year for check ups and about 80% back on the cost of treatment up to a maximum amount.....so you can make it cheaper if you wish.
Reply:no our chap went private as well but he is not greedy like some can be. There are dental plans which can help spread the cost





www.hsa.co.uk are one such company and Tesco is also offering a plan. I think there is another called DenPlan but am not sure.





As you are now already having to pay private rates perhaps its worth phoning around to find dentists with space on their lists and what prices they are charging - if you can get a better rate and still get a good dentist then you are free to move.
Reply:i live in northern ireland the denist i go to went private but he keeps on treating his old customers as nhs denist good on him
Reply:I have the same problem. If I don't find a dentist soon I'm sure my teeth will drop out
Reply:It took me and my family 6 years to find a NHS dentist after we moved house. The link below will give you a list of dentists in your area and then it's just a case of calling each one to see if they're taking on new patients.





If you need a denist for an emergency you can ring HNS direct (08454647) and they will find you someone in the local area for an apointment.





Good Luck.
Reply:myself and 4 kids are with an nhs dentist in brighton, who in case he is reading this is absolutely brilliant, we have been very lucky. keep a look out for dentists accepting new patients as ours open their books every so often and put up a notice. u can get a list of dentists in the area from yr local PCT and i just rang round all of them good luck.
Reply:Myself, husband and 4 boys all have a NHS dentist. He does operated a private service too, and I must say I have had to use it a couple of times. As being NHS you have to wait longer for an appointment, and sometimes you can't always wait. Also not all work is covered on the NHS, so you have to pay private. For private treatment you do pay much more, as I have had to on a couple of occasions. I have a feeling my dentist will be going private only very soon too. What can you do. You have to visit the dentist.
Reply:yeah there is a few
Reply:Yes i have a NHS dentist but it took me ages to get one, its a nightmare getting a NHS dentist nowadays.
Reply:I live in Pompey (Hants) and its the same thing, can't get a dentist anywhere. So I went private in order to get my 9yr old daughter in on NHS, they literally told me thats the only way they will accept her. What a cheek. I am a single parent and on partime income and its really a luxury to be able to get my teeth fixed (which due to lack of funds I haven't gotten further that hygienist and first visit 75 quid later)...Thats all to get my little one into a dentist...


Now whilst visiting my daughter in Canada (she paid ticket) I have had the whole Xmas with friggin toothache and its really ruined my trip, its a complete shambles this privatisation thing they've done with the dentists... it is a rip off and nothing is worse than a toothache to make you even more mad. When I get back I am definitely going to do something about it...another thing I've noticed with them is that they like to refer you to other dental colleagues who also want consultation fees from you.. its a right stitch up and they are making a mint out of it.
Reply:Private!





£3500 for my brace :|





Go NHS, save money.