Dentists on the NHS - a thing of the past?
By angelicEmu
@angelicEmu (1311)
March 10, 2007 7:09pm CST
In the UK, we pay taxes specifically set aside to pay for our healthcare. But since the mid 1990s, dentists who provide treatment for NHS patients (bear in mind that we've already paid for this treatment, so it's not a freebie) have been getting scarcer and scarcer. Our nearest dentist who was willing to take on NHS patients, is situated two bus journeys away, and my partner who's been in dire need of urgent treatment was turned away by the Dental Hospital despite a doctor's referral, as they didn't classify his problem as "urgent" enough (ie the tooth was at that time still savable). So it seems that prevention is no longer seen as better than cure in this country! Is our government headed down the road of pulling out the adult teeth of all working-class children as soon as they come through, and issuing us all with false teeth? Who else has had a nightmare with dentists in the UK or elsewhere? Rant freely - I'm sure we're not the only ones...
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1 response
@lols189 (4742)
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11 Mar 07
i understand what you mean about the dentists and the NHS as i am in UK too. i had a problem with my dentist about two weeks ago. i was in pure agony with my tooth that was no good and i couldnt eat. i left it for four days but the pain wouldnt shift no matter what pain killers i took. i finally gave in and rang my dentist and they told me they would make me an appointment to get it taken out on 15th of may. i was like your joking me?? my mouth is in agony. they told me to go to my local dental hospital. the next day i was at the drop in centre at the dental hospital at 7.30am. i finally got seen to at 10.30am. i was quite lucky as i told them i never had a dentist so they took my tooth out on the day which they did.as they did tell me beforehand if i have a dentist they wont be able to take my tooth out. well it was all over by 12.20pm and it was a huge relief. i suppose if they had not of taken it out on the day i would of pulled it out myself as the pain was unbearable and i was not prepared to wait two months for my dentist appointment. they need to sort this dentist crisis out as soon as possible as its now becoming a joke as we do pay taxes for our healthcare. i hope your husband got his problem sorted as theres nothing worse than toothache!!!
@angelicEmu (1311)
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11 Mar 07
I'm sorry to hear that you've been having similar problems. As a matter of fact, when my partner went to the dental hospital, he didn't have a dentist, as all our local ones were "full up", but the dental hospital in our area seems to prefer not doing any work. It's a nightmare! Luckily our new dentist seems to be pretty good, and the waiting times for appointments aren't too bad there. I don't think that the politicians care about the dental health of our nation, as they all have private dentists!Thanks for responding!
