Police forced to intervene and send people home as hundreds queue for appointments at new practice in St Pauls, Bristol

Yes I have private treatment and during Covid appointments took longer and the Dentist charged the same but it was more worth while to see say 8 patients a day privately than 8 on the NHS.

undines

It is well known that poor oral health and hygiene affect health generally and can lead to cancer and heart problems. That would cost the NHS a lot more - except you'll be lucky to get appointments for those conditions, too. These days it's hard not to wonder if something is going on - i.e. that those in power do not want us to live long lives. We pay privately, myself my husband and my autistic 26 year old son. Yes, it's expensive, but we can always get seen, and it's SO important. I prioritise it over holidays - many people will spend on their cruise but not their teeth.

People seem to be reluctant to prioritise dental care and only give it a thought when in pain.
Dentists check on oral health generally and look at the state of gums and tissues inside the mouth. Cancerous cells can be detected quickly. Your teeth are important.

Not all of us did. So many people in this country many of whom have of not contributed anything. Where is the money supposed to come from?

Ah,like 'they come over here and take our dentists'

That'll be right.
I suppose they wreck the roads, the hospitals, transport ,schools while they are at it.

kittylester

Nannan2

The dentists should be made to take on a certain percentage of NHS patients wether they like it or not- and in meantime and we have to pay for private treatment then it should be refunded back to those of us who are eligible for free NHS treatment by the government.

Do we live in a totalitarian state? Dentists are self employed.

But they wouldnt be if they were NHS dentists?

Nannynancy Basic dentistry should be a right.

I so agree.

missdeke

I was listening to a dentist explaining the industry side of the problem on the radio yeasterday. Apparently the dentists have contracts for a certain number of NHS patients whom they get paid to treat. The government are refusing to increase the number of patients on the contract even if the contract comes up for renewal, therefore the dentists are filling empty places with private places and can only take on a new NHS patient if a current NHS patient leaves. If they treat patients on the NHS over their contracted numbers then they don't get paid.

If that is true, you have to wonder what is happening.

My Dad is 83 years old and has had to resort to pulling his own rotten teeth out, at home with pliers.

It makes me really angry.

Caknib, I can try and answer your previous question. Inflammation is not good for our health. If you have gum disease then the bacteria is entering your blood stream, I think it’s more or less been proven that poor oral health is linked to heart disease. Gum disease can be treated by a periodontist (gum specialist) but I don’t think that’s available on the NHS. There could be a chance at a Dental teaching hospital, but I guess they are already overwhelmed. We need preventative basic Healthcare for all on the NHS. It’s shocking the situation we are in.

Don't know how you missed it Bluebell, it was on every TV news! But it's a dentist, in St Pauls, one of the poorer Bristol districts, though all sorts of areas round the UK have similar issues. We're in a fairly prosperous area, and I hear of lots of people who struggle to get GP appts, operation waiting lists are a joke here too, and I've spoken to a few folk in recent months who haven't seen a dentist for years, as their NHS one stopped or went private.

I see people blaming the nasty Tories --- well, sadly, I can assure people with short memories that there is no shortage of incompetence and corruption in most politicos, ANY badge. Labour will doubtless get into power, but don't expect miracles, I see they're already doing U-turns on proposed policies, copying the present lot who could have started a new dance craze with their about turns?!

And yet we would vote for the party which offers lower taxes. My heart sinks when I hear these promises; leads to excuses for ever diminishing provision of public services.

fancythat, it is true.

Dentists tender for a certain number of UDAs (units of dental activity) which they have to stick to or they are penalised either by not being paid if they go over or have clawed back if they 'underperform'.

Dentists buy all their own equipment, supplies, pay for their premises and pay their staff.

They are not trained by the NHS - they go to university, have the normal student debt which they have to repay

This contracted was imposed by the last Labour Government.

13 years ago there was no problem accessing NHS dental care. Never forget that if the Tories had had the will to rectify any public services issues, including dentistry, they have had ample time to put it right. Instead we’ve ended up in a position where it will take another 13 years to get it back to where it was in 2010. How sad is that for us all, but particularly for the most disadvantaged.

Thank you kittylester good post from someone who knows the dental profession.

kittylester

*fancythat*, it is true.

Dentists tender for a certain number of UDAs (units of dental activity) which they have to stick to or they are penalised either by not being paid if they go over or have clawed back if they 'underperform'.

Dentists buy all their own equipment, supplies, pay for their premises and pay their staff.

They are not trained by the NHS - they go to university, have the normal student debt which they have to repay

This contracted was imposed by the last Labour Government.

5 years ago when my son wanted to train as a dentist, he would have had his fees paid after the first 3 years. He decided to give it a miss because those 5 years of training would give him a start but anything he wanted to specialise in would cost him a fortune and he would have had to study whilst working.
A friend of ours recently retired from NHS Dentistry and he said he had thought about working longer but he was so fed up with arguing about the fees, he just couldn't face it any more. He also said that there was a push for dentists to specialise rather than to offer more general treatment which he was particularly concerned about.
We need properly funded dental surgeries in every area and I would not mind paying extra tax provided it went to that. The trouble is, within a few years (or less) the money would have been squandered, the services would be cut and whatever was left would be used to fund some pie in the sky idea which would then be parked a few years down the line. I have no confidence in Government whatsoever, no matter which party is in power.

caknib

undines,genuine question,how does poor oral health have a knock on effect? Concerned about family members.

This article explains how.

www.dentalhealth.org/news/startling-new-research-finds-poor-oral-health-can-make-you-more-likely-to-develop-liver-cancer

My husbands ex-wife worked in the heart unit and she said there was a direct correlation between poor hygiene and dentistry with the heart. There are many articles about it on Dr Google.

Thanks for the information on dental health. Worrying.

Here dental checks are free for everyone ,it means problems can be caught early and fixed ,in my part of Scotland there are certainly enough dentists who do NHS work .Maybe its a different work ethic here that people are happy to do the lower profit jobs and fewer private ones.Or maybe its because incomes are lower.Eye checks are also free meaning issues can be dealt with faster .If it can happen here it should be possible in England...IF the people really want it!

You’re right *paddyann54. Last year there were 55.6 dentists per 100,000 of the population providing NHS care in Scotland and 46 in Wales, compared to 39.9 in England. We could all learn some lessons from the Scottish Dental Contract by the looks of it.

icanhandthemback

My husbands ex-wife worked in the heart unit and she said there was a direct correlation between poor hygiene and dentistry with the heart. There are many articles about it on Dr Google.

Yes, I've heard that.

Dental hygiene and health is very important.

We need to look after our dental hygiene too, not drinking fizzy drinks, using inter-dental toothbrushes as well as normal ones. Brush your tongue (gently).

Basic dental care as a right is all very fine but often a check-up leads to a big bill which is unaffordable/unpalatable to many.
Whether NHS or private, fees for service, in the chair or in a workshop for crowns and dentures, have to be met.

Why has this country come to this? What a mess!!!!!

I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that many things in life are becoming luxeries; ie teeth, hair feet. It all comes down to money.

paddyann54

Here dental checks are free for everyone ,it means problems can be caught early and fixed ,in my part of Scotland there are certainly enough dentists who do NHS work .Maybe its a different work ethic here that people are happy to do the lower profit jobs and fewer private ones.Or maybe its because incomes are lower.Eye checks are also free meaning issues can be dealt with faster .If it can happen here it should be possible in England...IF the people really want it!

In my area of Scotland people are unable to register with an NHS dentist. One dentist is insisting they swap to a private treatment plan or go elsewhere (nowhere to go). Not taking new NHS patients for the foreseeable or have a waiting list (with no timescale).
I've waited 3+ months for a referral to oncology.
I waited 18 months for an audiology appointment that prior to Covid was walk in (in England l believe it would be faster as the NHS refer to private audiologists).
My health service authority is appalling, so appalling the GPs recommend we use an alternative one when we are allowed (in England you have the freedom to choose).
Interesting the Health Minister has finally resigned.