200 mile trip to see dentist.

[Capt Lightning]

It seems that finding a National Health dentist in the UK is well nigh impossible.
Today the news carried and article about a lady who took a 200 mile round trip for a dental appointment. It struck me that with the cost of travel (a whole day) and you still have to pay towards treatment, it would have been better to pay for private treatment.

It seems that the NHS contracts do not cover the full cost to the dentist, so most have to subsidise with income from private patients. More and more are simply not treating NHS patients and only provide private dentistry. We have always used private dentistry as we had no alternative, so it's not a new problem. We are lucky to have found a very good dental practice. OK, it costs, but we get first class treatment, the services of a hygienist, X-rays as needed etc.. with no messing around.

Perhaps paying NHS dentists the full cost of treatments would help. Meanwhile, according to the news article, some people are resorting to DIY dentistry or facing waits of months.

 

[Been There]

It seems that finding a National Health dentist in the UK is well nigh impossible.
Today the news carried and article about a lady who took a 200 mile round trip for a dental appointment. It struck me that with the cost of travel (a whole day) and you still have to pay towards treatment, it would have been better to pay for private treatment.

It seems that the NHS contracts do not cover the full cost to the dentist, so most have to subsidise with income from private patients. More and more are simply not treating NHS patients and only provide private dentistry. We have always used private dentistry as we had no alternative, so it's not a new problem. We are lucky to have found a very good dental practice. OK, it costs, but we get first class treatment, the services of a hygienist, X-rays as needed etc.. with no messing around.

Perhaps paying NHS dentists the full cost of treatments would help. Meanwhile, according to the news article, some people are resorting to DIY dentistry or facing waits of months.

How do you do DIY dentistry? I have great dental insurance through the Military, but I prefer my own guy, which I get some reimbursement, but I still pay a fair share of the bill. However, like you, because I get treated very well, I am ok with paying. I get all kinds of goodies before I leave the office. They give me a new toothbrush, a small roll of floss, a small tube of Colgate toothpaste and a small bottle of mouthwash.

This is one thing I really take care if. My teeth get special attention 3 times a day.

 

[hollydolly]

well the lack of NHS dentists has been an ongoing thing fro several years now.. and the same with people doing their own D-I-Y dental treatment.

Americans.. and only Americans, strangely.. always have the idea that Brits have terrible teeth..which is no more true than us saying the same about them... but in truth this lack of NHS dental care might create a nation with terrible teeth now...

I'm fortunate ..I have both a Private dentist and an NHS dentist..(different practices)... and both of them have long waiting lists.. in fact last year I had a toothache.. and my Private dentist couldn't see me for 3 weeks. whereas the NHS dentist was able to see me on the Monday following the Friday that I called..