11-year-old has not seen Dentist for over 12 months!

I've been going to private dentists since I was 21 and was surprised to find recently that having a filling was really not much more expensive with my dentist compared to his NHS patients. It's a big practice and very efficiently run.

the disabling professions by ivan illich forgot to mention dentists in it, but i dont imagine he saw it coming. ITs a national disgrace for one of the richest countries in the world

Quite off topic but I don't like seeing older people flashing a dazzling white smile, it looks ridiculous and very unnatural . Plenty of older celebrities are guilty of buying themselves perfect, ice white gnashers. In reality, teeth aren't that white & certainly not after life has happened to them!

NotSpaghetti
Some people are just deathly afraid of dentists, I suspect the Queen is one of them, as I cannot believe she would take on such a highly visible role without wanting to look her best.

Her problem (whether naturally dark yet healthy, or whether she has teeth with old fillings) is so easily fixable. She’d smile much more broadly and happily even if it’s just a cosmetic treatment. Come on, she’s the Queen!! But maybe she’s afraid just like an 11 yr old could be.

Look at the work Kate has had - she looks confident and glorious every time she smiles. 😃
USA Gundy

Gundy - I think you're not UK based (can't remember where you are) but over here we aren't so bothered about the colour of teeth if they are strong and healthy - though I admit whitening is creeping in.
My 99 year old mother-in-law has not-very-white teeth but they are in good condition- so that's good enough for her. My son, living in America, with fantastic strong and no-filling teeth is whitening them for his wedding! 🙄

Anything America does we will surely follow here eventually!

All I can think of is how bad the Queen’s teeth are (dark front teeth!) 🙄 If she can’t afford to go to the dentist, how can anybody afford to go?

We once took our NHS dental services for granted .

Oh for those days ...

It isn't the same anymore .

Just emphasise the importance of regular brushing and flossing and pray for no mishaps .

It's the need for orthodontic intervention which concerns me - something you can't fix with the best oral hygiene .

I'm wondeting if we are returning to pre NHS edentulous months in the future .

It's a scary thought .

It is a scandal and no-one seems to care. Teeth problems can affect general health and cause infections in the brain. During the pandemic my NHS dentist stopped seeing people and then it became impossible to get an appointment. I managed to get an infected molar removed by emergency dentist service but remember waiting for over an hour to speak to emergency dental receptionist and pleading over the phone for antibiotics as I was in great pain. GP not interested as not part of their remit. Now I am seeing a private dentist as no NHS service in East Sussex or Kent. I still shudder at what I went through. I am on a small pension plus state pension. No-one should suffer with their teeth. Politicians don't care as they have their private health care. What a country we are.

There was a suggestion some time ago that seeing a dentist once a year was perfectly adequate. As a child I recall people going to the dentist only if they had a problem; my own parents cared for their teeth well, and both had good strong teeth - my Mother's were so perfect that she was asked more than once if they were false. They very rarely saw a dentist. I was under the care of an orthodontist until the age of thirteen to straighten my wonky front teeth; I was then put on the register of a local dentist and had a mouthful of fillings within the year - all totally unecessary I suspect, and I was far from alone in suffering this abuse of treatment.

My GD has not seen a dentist since 2016. Due to mental health issues her mother stopped taking her. There are no NHS dentists within 20 miles taking on new patients even children , she is 11.

My son 40's has not seen his dentist for 20 years. He has perfect teeths. I see my dentist and hygienist privately twice a year, costly, no problems.

Community dental services are referral only. They treat people that cannot be treated in General Dental Practice

Grantanow you are very fortunate. My husband has always seen the dentist regularly but has great teeth.
I have been, likewise regularly, since an infant and have a mouth full of fillings. I had fluoride mouthwash even in the 1960s as my dad's closest friend was a dental surgeon and I had poor enamel. It was a prescription then.
My teeth need constant attention to stay serviceable!

Some children are just like me, unfortunately.

As a child I rarely saw the dentist as my mother loathed going. I can't say I've been badly dis-benefited by that. I have no fillings and had one wisdom tooth removed in my 20s.

...should be a choice to add it in surely. Some train of thoughts say not gd for you

Daddima

Shinamae surely it’s up to the child’s parents to look after his teeth? I don’t think I would have been pleased if my mother-in-law ( or mother) had taken it upon herself to try to arrange dental treatment for any of our children.
There is actually a school of thought which believes that regular brushing and flossing is sufficient, and that teeth should only be ‘disturbed’ by dentists if there is pain. Maybe that’s his parent’s opinion.

There is a chronic shortage of dentists in this country and virtually none will take on NHS patients this applies to children as well as adults. Private dentists will only accept children if they are also seeing their parent. So if you cannot afford dentistry either private or even NHS (which of course is not free) for yourself then you probably wont get a dentist for your kids either.
When my youngest daughter moved to a new area she/we spent 18 months searching for a dentist for her and the children then 9,2 and 4 months with no luck! In the end I paid for them all to go to a private dentist.

Even for children, finding an NHS dentist is terribly difficult. In my area the dentist I have seen for the last 39 years and my children and grandchildren all their lives is now private. After a huge struggle lasting six months, my grandchildren have an NHS dentist but my daughters and myself are still looking. I may have to take out a dental plan if by November (date of my next check up) I haven’t found one. I am divorced, disabled and not particularly well off and it makes me angry that this crisis which has been ignored by successive governments is now of epic proportions. A bit like our beleaguered NHS really. As my mum (a former nurse) used to say to me ‘don’t get ill and don’t get old’. Unfortunately I am rather inclined to both at the moment!

I’m disgusted by this news! Why doesn’t the government organise ‘school’ dentists? Would be so much healthier and cheaper for everyone in the long run!
If it could be done in the 60’s! Why not now?
Surely the health of our children is the most important thing this government can do!

Hithere

The father is as responsible as the mother in raising the children -not sure why some posters blame the uterus carrying person while giving a pass to the person with the penis

FFS Hithere, what a load of rubbish you are posting, not to mention complicating things.

Child has not been to the dentist in 12 months, I get the impression Gran asks Mother if she can call her private dentist to see if she can get an appointment, she could not, but she did what I would have done, she tried to find a solution and help out. I do it all the time, luckily my daughter is educated, and knows the difference between trying to help and interference.
Also bringing the Father into this is irrelevant.

Daddima

Shinamae surely it’s up to the child’s parents to look after his teeth? I don’t think I would have been pleased if my mother-in-law ( or mother) had taken it upon herself to try to arrange dental treatment for any of our children.
There is actually a school of thought which believes that regular brushing and flossing is sufficient, and that teeth should only be ‘disturbed’ by dentists if there is pain. Maybe that’s his parent’s opinion.

My DD2 was discovered to have a lack of adult teeth in 2 areas. Now my DGS 9, son of her sister has been discovered to have 3 or 4 baby teeth only rest ok. Fortunately this was discovered early and will be monitored and action taken when he is in his teens - braces, possible implants. DD2's son has not been able to register - no dentists in area taking any new patients even children. He is now 5! I am really disgusted about this as he could have inherited this problem and not sure what to do. He is on a waiting list now.

Oh Hithere that’s totally irrelevant the mother has secured a dental appointment the child has no known problems the dad is working All is well
If someone posted about a baby seagull falling out it’s nest you’d say well it’s the male seagulls fault as much as the mothers You are just so stuck

Hithere

The father is as responsible as the mother in raising the children -not sure why some posters blame the uterus carrying person while giving a pass to the person with the penis

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Poppyred

Google “community dental services” - they will see children up to the age of 18 in full time education and anyone with special needs.

Community dentists have a strict criteria for eligibility.... not even all SEN children would be eligible.....I work with vulnerable families....not even children on Child protection plans have any entitlement to an NHS dentist these days....although a provision is made for all children in care..... the facts are that many children will start school having never seen a dentist

The father is as responsible as the mother in raising the children -not sure why some posters blame the uterus carrying person while giving a pass to the person with the penis

Hithere

So that means he cannot parent his own child?

😂😂😂you are unbelievable!