Sore tooth

TheCatWoman said:

The dentist might have a load of up to date kit, but won't be able to use it for NHS work, how does this even make sense?

It is all down to the NHS bean counters - they want all the treatments done using things they can quantify within their budget so if the dentist has a newer bit of kit that may do the job better but cost more, then it is outside the price range and is denied.

It reflects the way health care is going across the world - everything is priced and controlled and eventually only those with insurance can access it or end up paying a fortune.

Big pharma will have strong influences on politicians meaning the laws are pushed in their favour and it will be just like the USA where they make so much money that they can buy anyone who has influence.

I'm surprised the NHS has been able to survive this long to be honest. I do see lots of attempts to make private insurance required for things and I expect this will expand over time to reduce the bills for the NHS.

Does it or is it more like vets were they bump up the costs?

The NHS needs to sort out how it treats dentists, I've been told that not only do dentists end up making a loss on some treatments, but that they're told what tools they're allowed to use when performing NHS work. The dentist might have a load of up to date kit, but won't be able to use it for NHS work, how does this even make sense?

I got delisted by Amlwch Dental Practice because they couldn't cope with my allergies. I will try the other one,but I'm not going to hold my breath as they seem to change thier minds about who they will take very quickly. Also having found a dentist who I actually trust, even though she's expensive, I'm a bit reluctant to move. One of the things I've found is that a lot of practices say they do NHS work, but limit what they do and will only do some things privately.

Thanks so much for looking for me, I just get rubbish when I try and do this kind of search.

That's a relief, I'm glad it's sorted and a lot less then feared, though it does all add up!

I see that you've since posted that you've avoided the root canal - phew!

TheCatWoman said:

There's no NHS dentists left on the island now, so it's not like we have a choice, it's just so wrong.

Here are a couple of dental practices on Anglesey that, according to their websites, do offer NHS treatment.

Perhaps now might be a good time to register with one (ie before you find yourself needing more expensive and urgent treatment)?

Amlwch Dental Practice - offers NHS treatments (including root canal, which costs £60 according to their NHS fees list). 

mydentist, Mona Road, Anglesey - "accepting new patients"

TheCatWoman said:

It's not like there's anywhere cheaper either, they all charge the same, should this be another case for government investigation?

This reflects the cost of the medical care these days unfortunately.

The cost has to cover the staff salaries (surprisingly not extortionate), the cost of the offices / surgeries (actually quite high), the cost of the constant training and certification of staff, the machines (really expensive) and materials they use (also steep) plus the insurance to protect the staff from all the litigation that goes on these days (very high).

This is why it costs so much but it isn't greed on the part of the dentists.

I doubt the NHS will consider extending more cover to dentistry as they would then have to shoulder this huge expense too.

Just back and luckily there's nothing more wrong than a sensitive nerve, so she put some flouride solution on it to protect it a bit, and the bill was only £65

I'm lucky that this dentist is one of the few on the island that dosn't make you sign up a "plan" before agreeing to treat you, the plans seem to involve a monthly payment, for a check up every year and a couple of hygenist appointments and `10% off any other treatments you need. I don't see how any of this insures you in anyway from unexpected costs.

There's an emergency dentist, once a week on a sunday morning, you have to queue for hours in the hope of getting seen. I don't think NHS care is going to be an option for the forseeable future

It’s a dire situation and every so often the government comes out with a statement about what they are doing to fix it, yet it continues to deteriorate, at least that is what I hear of in N Ireland and England. 

Several NHS Dental Surgeries on Anglesey appear when I search online.

The Welsh government says you can access NHS dental services through this new portal  https://dhcw.nhs.wales/product-directory/our-digital-services/dental-access-portal/ which was rolled out last year. It says it is getting positive feedback from users. It’s not for emergency NHS care, it’s for routine NHS care.

https://www.gov.wales/accessing-nhs-dental-services

It would be a shame to lose a tooth that could be retained with a filling, so an option might be a cheaper temporary filling until you can get allocated to an NHS dentist.

Edit. The portal asks you to receive an access code in a smartphone. Perhaps you could get help with this from the Advice and Help place you went to recently with another issue. It’s not ideal but if it saves you hundreds of pounds it could be worth it. The portal states that alternatively you can contact your Health Board to tell them you are unable to use the portal. 

It's a rubbish situation the country has gotten itself in. Clinics should be made to take x-number of NHS patients, so they can't all declare they are going private, and it shares the load across every practice. They can charge whatever they like currently. I mean what happens if you can't afford that? You have to suffer till it falls out or do it yourself? It's truely terrible that being pain free is behind such an expensive pay-wall.

Some how I don't think the government would care too much.

I don't know whether it's helpful but my dentist allows to pay in installments. I know that doesn't reduce the cost but at least helps to make it manageable. Could be worth asking about?

Dentistry work is not fun, sorry you are having to deal with that.