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Dental costs are so high

(61 Posts)
Deedaa Wed 02-Aug-23 22:38:39

I recently paid privately for a root canal. I knew it was going to be a difficult tooth so I wanted to give it the best chance. My poor dentist needed two appointments to do it and still wasn't certain that she had been completely successful. She said she could refer me to a specialist who would have more advanced equipment but warned me I would be looking at £1,000+. I said we'd see how her work turned out. She crowned the tooth as an NHS procedure and it's been no problem since. We are very lucky to still have an NHS dentist with no problems getting appointments, and my latest dentist is a lovely girl.

Primrose53 Wed 02-Aug-23 22:21:19

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12366057/The-battle-NHS-dentist-100-people-queue-overnight-27-000-calls-jammed-phone-lines-compete-just-60-NHS-places-Kent-dental-surgery.html#comments

MayBee70 Wed 02-Aug-23 21:13:55

I’m so lucky that my dentist is no longer taking on NHS patients but is still going to continue to provide a NHS-service for current patients. I was really expecting them to tell me that I was going to have to go private because they’ve refurbished the place and put a chandelier in the waiting room. I can’t get my head around the fact that this country isn’t providing NHS dental treatment for people and everyone just accepts it.

Oldbat1 Wed 02-Aug-23 20:55:18

No nhs dentists where we live. I pay s denplan insurance at £30 a month ive always had awful teeth and have required lots of treatment. That covers seeing hygienist every 3months plus seeing our dentist twice a year for check ups including any treatment xrays etc. I had a bridge done last year and only had to pay laboratory fee. Ive also had extractions over last few years. I had an emergency last week bottom front tooth just broke and I had an appointment the same afternoon I rang up. I feel so sorry for folk who are denied treatment and really have to suffer dental pain it must be agony.

sodapop Wed 02-Aug-23 20:53:50

That seems to be the price for crowns and root canal work sorry to say Lilcatmomma at least that's what we pay in France. Dentists are becoming hard to find here as well.

pascal30 Wed 02-Aug-23 20:37:08

It sounds like you might need antibiotics for the pain. Do you have a Dental Hospital anywhere near you that you could go to for the root canal.. if you can't afford the treatment for that it might be best to go for an extraction..

crazyH Wed 02-Aug-23 20:28:38

My Dental Practice went private last month, but I have decided to stay with them. I have a fear of Dentists and this lady is the only one who calms me down and makes me feel at ease. I had a checkup and clean and paid only £60. I don’t have the best teeth and daresay will need costly treatments as time passes. I’ll cross that ‘bridge’ when I come to it. (no pun intended)

Primrose53 Wed 02-Aug-23 20:12:55

Poor you! I had dreadful toothache last week and paid my NHS dentist £70.70 I think that covered examination, antibiotics, large filling and an emergency appt. My son had a tooth taken out privately last year and that cost £300.

It is shocking. Our NHS dentist decided to go private so all 5 of us had to find somewhere else. Our county is one of the worst in the country for lack of dentists and we went nearly a year and by a stroke of luck had a tip off that a surgery had taken on a second dentist from Bulgaria. We rang and immediately got in and word spread and in a few hours all places had gone!

I would try again to find an NHS dentist or see if the dentist will allow you to pay in instalments. good luck.

Shelflife Wed 02-Aug-23 19:34:40

I feel for you! Dental pain is dreadful!! Has your dentist given you a reason for not being able to do the root canal work? I could say find another NHS dentist but I know that is not easy! If the worst comes to the worst an extraction may be the best solution, especially if the tooth is a back one. Good luck , keep us posted.
Hope the pain subsides and you have a reasonable night.

rosie1959 Wed 02-Aug-23 19:19:02

I agree your dentist sounds very expensive I have a private dentist I had a crown and root canal admittedly a couple of years ago and the whole bill was around £300
Where is the offending tooth ?

LilCatMomma83 Wed 02-Aug-23 18:49:21

I am in excruciating pain. I paid £300 and my dentist put a temporary crown on and says I need root canal work which he can't /won't do. Specialist wats £1500, it's too much. What can I do? Any tips gratefully received