NHS dentistry is broken — how did YOU actually get registered? Genuine tips needed

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Vamperstein-Bex@reddit

new practice opened so registered online then a while later they phoned me up for an appointment!

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CilanEAmber@reddit

My dentist I'd been with since I was 15 got rid of every NHS

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I rang every practice within about 30min drive of me and asked to be put on a list. I actually found one that took me on straight away, but also had two call-backs within the next 6 months from other practices. I live in an urban area but had more luck with the practices in the less urban areas further out rather than the ones closer to the city. I rang probably 6 places but the list I was going to ring was longer. Ultimately, get on the wait lists today, the wait won’t be shorter if you wait and you’re not loosing anything by putting your name down.

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ProduceEmbarrassed97@reddit

It's insanely broken.

I broke a tooth over Christmas (it's actually a but more complicated than that, but I'll not go into detail) and it needed removing. The break wasn't causing me any pain, so I just ignored it; partly because I hate dentists, but mostly because I could be doing with the hassle of ringing around trying to find somewhere.

Anyway, it started causing me problems (as it was always going to), and I wind up in a lot of pain (think huge dull ache all day, punctuated with being hit in the jaw with a brick chisel whenever I ate or drank anything too hot, or too cold, or ate or drank anything). We make the decision to go private to get it sorted as quickly as possible.

Because I was paying basically a mortgage payment for extraction I was seen in less than 48hrs. I went from having no dentist on the Wednesday afternoon, to having the tooth taken out on Friday lunchtime (AND, they had the audacity to try to upsell me on maybe saving the tooth with a root canal and a rebuild of the tooth, which came with a price tag twice what I was already paying!). With the only NHS option I'd found, they gave me a 4month wait list.

Dentistry in Britain isn't just broken, it needs burning to the ground and rebuilding.

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Crafty_Reflection410@reddit

It’s it upselling. They legally have to provide you with all the options.

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ProduceEmbarrassed97@reddit

And they did provide me with all the options. And when I said, no to the root canal option and just said take it out, they offered me the root canal 3 more times.

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Flaky-Walrus7244@reddit

I regularly get flyers in the mail from dentists who are looking for new NHS patients. I've posted at least 3 of them on my local sub (Edinburgh)

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MarieCry@reddit

Not flyers but my dentist always has a sign out front adversiting they are takinng on new patients, don't think it's come down since they moved premises 10 years ago or so (Glasgow). Seems to be more of an issue down south. My old boss struggling to register a while back though, not sure whether it was a postcode issue or something or if she was just not trying very hard but she went private instead.

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Iforgotmypassword126@reddit

Mine has this sign too! In Manchester. I went in and asked can I add my partner and they said he’d need to come in and do it himself. I said, yes of course, but do you have spaces. They said yes. He literally walked in to collect us from the apt and asked the desk and they said, no there’s no NHS spaces.

I still have no idea why they have the sign outside.

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MarieCry@reddit

That's just mean! 😭

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Iforgotmypassword126@reddit

Right, so I saw another commenter post this link https://www.dentistradar.co.uk/

Saying all places with NHS places available are on here.

I sent it to him…. He was just able to book an appointment and register

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mrggy@reddit

I similarly didn't have an issue in Glasgow. I think I called like 3 places? None of them were taking new NHS patients, but one of the receptionists gave me the name of a place that was. Got booked in with them and had an appointment like a week later. I've been wondering if I got lucky or if things are just a lot worse in England

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cloud__19@reddit

I got an NHS dentist no problem in Edinburgh when I moved back and recently moved to a more convenient surgery. It's not the norm across the UK though, when I lived in England I was on a waiting list for years before I got a spot.

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wintonian1@reddit

I went for an emergency appointment (via 111) and they informed me that they were taking on paitients. It.s also the BUPA NHS plan,. So I'm happy.

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thegreatreset52@reddit

My nhs dentist closed and didnt tell most patients. I only found out because I went over due to checkup due and they had not text. Can't find one anywhere. One miles away that was taking on only excepted people on benefits. Nothing against anyone on benefits but my wage not great, felt this was unfair.

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whyfruitflies@reddit

I found a dentist a bit further away, i live in a gentrified area so a bit easier outside of that. But it is just luck, which is so wrong. I've been with this dentist for about 8 years, never changing.

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CentralBlob@reddit

In the meantime, agree to go on the waiting list. It's not good, but in 24 months you'll be pleased you did, and you'll be amazed how quickly it comes.

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Isgortio@reddit

Work in dentistry. I'm not even registered, I just get free stuff, it's great.

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PudWud-92_@reddit

I went private… even then it was a 9 month wait

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Cute_Direction_8500@reddit

I’ve tried in my area to get my child registered with no luck. I joined a private dentist for £18/month and he’s free with me until he’s 6. Private dentist is maybe not as expensive as some think

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MrReadilyUnready@reddit

Go ask your dentist what it costs for a filling or a root canal then come back and tell us how cheap it really is. Also an NHS dental appointment is £27.90, so 13% of what you pay if you go yearly, or 26% if you go biannually.

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Away-Ad4393@reddit

£18 a month covers 1 or 2 appointments here. Anything else you have yo pay for. Fillings are in the hundreds.

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BoopingBurrito@reddit

My plan with a private dentist covers 2 check ups and 2 hygienist visits each year, which gives a good chance of preventing problems completely and also of catching any when they're in their early stages and much cheaper to treat. And even if you do need treatment, its not necessary hundreds of pounds. I paid £60 for a small filling, a larger one would have been £75. Hardly breaking the bank.

Even something bigger like root canal would be about £300. Not cheap, but the sort of thing most folk can find a way to cover in an emergency.

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xylime@reddit

It seems so region dependent, fillings at ours start at £170! Anything more complicated like a root canal is starting at £750. I've looked around in the area and they're all similar in price.

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Valherudragonlords@reddit

Ive had a private dentist for the past 8 years and had cosmetic white fillings and they have never cost more than £70. That is with two different private dentists in expensive cities without insurance.

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Monsoon_Storm@reddit

and crowns are in the thousands.

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MrReadilyUnready@reddit

I've indirectly been with the same dentist my entire life. Was with a specific guy at a fully NHS practice, then he went and opened his own practice and took me on as an NHS patient. All of this happened when I was a child. Then he retired and someone else at his practice took me on. I'm in my 20s now.

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Seething-Angry@reddit

So for us we found one advertising that they were taking NHS… look on the nhs website or local Ads on Social media then visit it in person and sign up

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Playful_Beyond_2218@reddit

Private isn’t always as expensive as you think. I couldn’t find any nhs dentists near me so I had a dental checkup and X-ray for about £100 and everything was fine so now I go for a dental hygienist cleaning for about £60 1-2 times a year. Remember to floss and brush twice a day to keep on top of things. Avoiding sugar really helps too

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Lvivalentine@reddit

I drive an hour back to where I come from, kept the same dentist

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Lvivalentine@reddit

Not that that helps you, sorry

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dr_otto_ort-meyer@reddit

Well, I've lived in my current house for 2 years and I'm still waiting for one of the 5 dentists within walking distance to accept nhs patients.

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mronion82@reddit

I kept an eye on the local Facebook page, if a dentist has spaces someone will helpfully post about it.

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AfternoonPenalty@reddit

Have you tried this: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist/
I keep an eye on it weekly and so far, the closest dentist to me taking people on is about 10 miles away.
Sorry if you have tried it already - saves calling everyone though.

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GlamGemini@reddit

Do you just ring round? Or is there some sort of central NHS list to join?

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Suitable-Fun-1087@reddit

The info on the NHS sites is very rarely up to date

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Klutzy_Security_9206@reddit

I recommend you sign up to the Dentist Radar service as they email you with live NHS dentists who are accepting new patients near you.

Dentist Radar website

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Through__Glass@reddit

Thank you for the link, I have 37 dentists in a 15 mile radius

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maxxedout1@reddit

Second this, managed to get on an NHS dentist with the alerts they emailed me. Great service!

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Goopy-GilsCarbo@reddit

When I was about to move to England in 2018 my family dentist (in rural West of Scotland) told me I'd "never find an NHS dentist in England so feel free to stay registered here". I did and within a couple of years his prophecy came true and people were saying there were no dentists taking on NHS patients anywhere.

My teeth are good so my dentist in Scotland says once a year is fine for a check-up. I fly up and back with Easyjet taking just an overnight bag and stay with my parents which is approx £25 each way if there's a deal on. The dentist does the check-up and a quick hand scale is all I need. Last week it was £17.30 or something for the NHS fees. Total cost = £67.30 and I got to see my family too.

In contrast my partner chose to register with a private dentist here in Bristol. It's well over £100 each visit now.

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Vertigo_uk123@reddit

Get on as many waiting lists as possible. They say 2 years but it’s often quicker. Mine said 3 years. I got in within 4 months.

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Whithorsematt@reddit

I went privately and after a year they added me to their NHS register.

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anabsentfriend@reddit

My last dentist bumped me off the list and made everyone private. I asked my neighbours who they use and rang up. They added me to their NHS list. I guess I was just lucky to ring at that moment, they're not currently taking on any more NHS patients.

It is a couple of towns over but it's somewhere I go regularly so the distance doesn't bother me. Also there's usually a two month wait for a check up. I haven't needed to have any work done yet or anything urgent

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srm79@reddit

I spent 7 years on the waiting list, then 6 months later had to move to another part of the UK and start again 🤦🏻‍♂️

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sandio90@reddit

I stayed with my old dentist, about 25 miles away. About an hour drive each way, twice a year visits.

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itsableeder@reddit

I did that for years, and then was deregistered during COVID because I missed one of my annual appointments while they were closed. Haven't been able to register with a new dentist since and my teeth and in serious decline.

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itsraininghere@reddit

That’s so bonkers and unfair. Judging from the rest of the comments here, you need to register at literally any practice that’s accepting new NHS patients, nationwide

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blaisesummer@reddit

Yep same. Same dentist as my childhood one, I never left. I travel 2+ hours (that’s one way) to get to it, so a 4 (5 if I use the train) hour round trip.

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kvothe9595@reddit

I stayed with my old dentist....292 miles away haha

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itsraininghere@reddit

Same! And when I registered 8 years I just rang up. I was a single patient though which is obviously easier. My check ups take 3 mins. He’s always so happy 😂

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Upset-Woodpecker-662@reddit

I keep calling around every 6 months. Finally found an NHS dentist in a town 1 hour away.

5 months ago I had to fork out £900 for treatment for all 4 of us. We haven't seen a dentist since 2019.

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Cultural_Tank_6947@reddit

I gave up. My employer gives a pretty decent health/dental/opticians insurance plan as default, so I just do that.

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just-browsing-reddit@reddit

I didn’t, none available in my area. Went with the local private one. I’m not a wealthy person. They are very good though so it’s not all bad 🤷🏼

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Medical-Ocelot@reddit

I paid for a non-NHS checkup (not outrageous, like £70 though YMMV) and somehow ended up as an NHS patient when they booked me in the following year. While you might not be this lucky, paying for a few checkups while you're on the waiting list might be an option as long as you don't need treatment right now.

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PrincessPK475@reddit

Accepting fate we are all going back to bad teeth 🤷‍♀️

Brushing twice a day, mouthwash and floss as much as I can bear and then use the emergency facilities when and if I think it's going to kill me.

(seriously what else are they expecting to happen as a result of the state of it!?!)

/Jk. I'm saving to go once every 5-10 years privately and will start selling off unrequired organs if it gets bad enough in between. I've given up trying to get registered, it fell to bottom of the pile of things to worry about somewhere between choosing between energy bills or food and fuel prices or food. My teeth are going to have to deal.

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handysmith@reddit

Widen your search unfortunately. What's your "reasonable distance"? 10 miles, 20? Keep going. Half hour travel is nothing compared to tooth pain. I live and work 25 miles apart so half an hour away from work or home or any point on my commute opened up a big wedge of the country.

Luckily dentists don't do the area contacts GPs do.

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InviteAromatic6124@reddit

When I lived in Scarborough I went to Bridlington for my dentist appointments as there were no NHS dentists in Scarborough taking in new patients in 2016. It's an almost 40 minute drive but it was the best option I had available.

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Majick_L@reddit

My mum works at a good NHS dentist and they often have slots available and advertise it, so I’ve been registered a while there and keep up with my regular check ups. According to my Mum, 99% of people that you see moaning about not being able to get in at a dentist is due to them ignoring reminders or not attending checkups, so they end up getting struck off. She deals with patients everyday that come in with sob stories or saying they haven’t been sent any reminders etc, but they always turn out to be lying or they’ve had multiple reminders sent. They allow 3 years before striking someone off. Once you’re in, you’ve got to keep attending regularly!

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BeanOnAJourney@reddit

It was a while back now but I went on the waiting list and they told me if i' willing ti travel further afield the wait won't be as long, so I told them I was willing to travel up to 50 miles. I was given a place with a dentist about 30 miles away less than year after joining the list. Unfortunately they went private four years later so it was a bit of a wasted endeavour.

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musicfortea@reddit

I made friends with a dentist, saw him at local gigs, struck up a conversation, bought some beers, mentioned having tooth pain. He signed me up the next day as a friend. I got incredibly lucky.

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General_Xue@reddit

I kept phoning the same dentist every couple of weeks. Eventually they added me to their waiting list and it wasn't that long a wait until I got a place. Maybe I was lucky, but also maybe that's the strategy.

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hookbeak@reddit

24 months is short. Mine has a 6 YEAR waiting list.

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Creative_Rise@reddit

My trick is I gave up and now pay private. Luckily my teeth are pretty unproblematic so I just pay 20 quid a month on a plan which gives me 2x check ups/hygienists per year. Anything above that starts to get very expensive very fast.

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BirdieStitching@reddit

I didn't, my old dentist left, and in desperation I had to go private and I'm still paying off the treatment I had last year before I can go get a check up. My son has been on a waiting list for over a year. It's so hard to find a dentist in our area and any time one does open up to NHS people flock from a near city and fill them up

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MoleWhackSupreme@reddit

I don’t. I go private because I’ve got good teeth so they cost me very little.

If I had bad teeth I’d probably be bollocksed

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nmg93@reddit

I waited a year to get my first appointment !

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Swansboy@reddit

Not sure where you are but you need to register on Dental portal now. If you have not been seen since 2023 in Wales on NHS, thought you can go private just by phones private one.

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FloofyRaptor@reddit

If you live near a uni campus check to see if they have an on campus dentist office, all the final year students will transfer out over the summer. They can't have an NHS contract and only take students.

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LemondoughnutPXC@reddit

I got really lucky with mine. I called the dentist across my road up asking if they had any space and they told me they weren’t routinely taking patients, but would fill appointment spaces if they had them. The receptionist told me the only appointment available in the near future was the very next day - I jumped on that immediately, work be damned haha

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hamsterchump@reddit

No special tricks unfortunately but I got one for my OH and I about 4 or 5 years ago by ringing around. I spent several hours on the phone over a few days ringing every dentist we could feasibly travel to (in Cornwall too where most people will tell you it's impossible).

In the end I got one we're really happy with that's about 25 mins away and accessible by bus (we didn't have a car at the time but do now). I would have considered travelling to the next county (at least as far as Plymouth) on the train for one though.

I joined every list I was told about and after we'd signed up I did get a couple of others ring me a few months later (less time than they said the list was long) and offer us places.

Good luck OP, it's such a relief when you get one.

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Proud_Ad_8915@reddit

Waited years until the local dentist sent out texts that they had spaces on their list and rang up.

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GodOfThunder888@reddit

In my area, calling up dentist all resulted in the same answer: you need to be added to the NHS waiting list. So there wasn't really a point to calling all of them regularly. I put myself on the list, waited 3 years and finally got a dentist.

Funny enough, when I moved, I was registered with a new NHS dentist within 6 months and I could add my son. Now I'm trying to get my partner in too

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hamsterchump@reddit

That's a common misconception, lots seem to to be under the impression that they can't keep their own lists and will state definitively that you must join the central list only. I don't know if that is a real rule but I can tell you on actually phoning everywhere I found that the majority were keeping their own lists and recruiting solely from them.

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fergie_89@reddit

Registered with private who also did NHS.

Didn't go until an NHS slot opened up.

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ReflexArch@reddit

I drive 35 minutes away for my NHS dentist appointment. Ugh.

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viking_tech@reddit

My office has a “subsidised” dentist which basically means top end private prices - 5£

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InternalBumblebee7@reddit

My workplace was offering private health as a perk, so I asked if they'd change it to private dentistry and they did.

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WordsUnthought@reddit

Got lucky 7 or 8 years ago. Just enquired, filled out the paperwork, got registered.

It's a lottery.

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Toothfairy29@reddit

There is only enough dentistry commissioned to service about a third of the population. It isn’t designed to be accessible.

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notactuallyizzy@reddit

I found it suspiciously easy to register to an NHS dentist when I moved areas.

However, twice in three months they've cancelled my NHS appointment the day of, or the night before.

I'm not convinced I'm actually going to ever be able to go to an NHS appointment at this dentist.

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QuickWalk4862@reddit

My dad was removed from his because he hadn’t been for a while so I asked mine about getting him on the register, they said they are usually given spaces for NHS patients if they ring at the end of the month. He tried and he got in. Maybe try that, it was the same with my sis and she also got registered. It’s shocking how you can’t even get into seeing a dentist nowadays. Good luck 🤞

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Useful_Echidna_8602@reddit

I couldn’t register anywhere but when I went in with an emergency after calling 111 the practice I was sent to allowed me to register there

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Doug__Quaid@reddit

I went private and they have good finance options

I also just let most of my teeth go to shit

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gunbo3000@reddit

Its a complete lottery I think. I'm at a private dentist, my wife wasnt registered and was very hesitant to because of dentist fears so I essentially registered her for her in the end when she needed a kick up the arse.

I signed her up as private as they weren't accepting NHS and there was a wait list (standard) and asked to put her on the list. Despite the fact that I'd already registered her AND paid the fee, they rang up 2 days later and said an NHS spot had freed up and would she like it, and refunded the difference for the fee I'd paid.

Which just seems like wild pure luck. I've asked if I can go to NHS as well since then but every time there isnt space and there isnt even a wait list anymore I just have to ask and if there is a spot at that exact time they will add me (fat chance)

The only things I can think that would impact it:

1) she was within a year of giving birth at the time so was eligible for free dental care on NHS. But like I say, we'd already agreed to pay when this wasnt an option, and honestly I hadnt even put up a fight.

2) we registered my daughter at the same time who got an NHS place as a child.

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InternationalCap6019@reddit

Sheer luck. My previous dentist went all private, so I called another one and was one of the last NHS patients they took on.

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Beginning_Bet_4383@reddit

I have a private dentist. It's not that much more expensive than the NHS - it's worth doing some shopping around

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Naturalgreenhair@reddit

Mine was pure fluke. My son’s health visitor asked about the dentist for him, and I said we haven’t been able to get registered anywhere. She then phoned me back the next day to let me know where was accepting patients, and I was able to get me, my partner and my son registered. And it’s my local one!! We were on the waiting list there already but for whatever reason has not been made aware directly, so it might just be a case of regularly phoning local dentists to see.

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Geepandjagger@reddit

The neighbouring town is less well off and has more options. Fortunately it's only a 20 minute drive. Our town is completely private now

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No-Pianist4111@reddit

For those in SE London, there are tons of NHS dentists readily accepting patients in Borough, Bermondsey and that general are.

I know a few people surprised to hear this because they assume access is dire in all areas (and it truly is in many).

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RowRow1990@reddit

I just got lucky.

I saw what looked like a proper sketch post on fb about a dentist taking on nhs patients, followed it up and it turned out go be legit.

However, I've been with them only a year, they've moved to a different practice, my dentist has gone private only and so I'm being put with someone else, who will inevitably also go private only.

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Hunter037@reddit

Some private dentists will take children on as NHS patients, if the parents pay privately. Obviously that doesn't help the adults, but it could make family dentists bills cheaper for some.

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Lessarocks@reddit

I got lucky with 111. I had unbearable toothache and called them. They got me an emergency appointment for the following day. The dentist they sent me to registered me there and then. They’re not the best dental practise I’ve had and theyre a bit out of my area but beggars can’t be choosers

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AshamedTranslator892@reddit

Bob Mortimer had the right idea. Just need some Fuji 9.

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JoelPetey@reddit

I just bit the bullet and went private in the end. I'll have to finance any serious work I need doing.

After many years of not going at all, I found an NHS clinic near me, but it was such a con. Their NHS service entails a dental therapist who does check ups, x-rays and small fillings, but anything beyond that needs referring to their full dentist, who conveniently only works privately.

The clinic was so grubby and people kept walking in and out of the room while I was getting my one and only filling so I never went back.

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This-Draft797@reddit

So I kept a log of every dentist I called and got rejected from, I then raided an official complaint with the NHS stating they must provide me with NHS dental care, in the end a local dentist called bk as they were forced to take me. Turns out almost all the fees back of “we have no nhs spots available” was a lie - they wanted me to pay private or save NHS spots for kids

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LFC90cat@reddit

got lucky, then my dentist went private, got lucky again as work paid, changed jobs, luck ran out now paying private

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-mmmusic-@reddit

my parents did it for me when i was 8, and i plan to stay with the same dentist even if i move away

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justdont7133@reddit

A couple of practices near me post on their Facebook page when they have last minute appointments available for new NHS patients. They have waiting lists longer than your arm but it's fastest finger first when the Facebook post goes on

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dreadnought1057@reddit

I had the foresight to register with my dentist 15 years ago.

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Away-Ad4393@reddit

Me too and now they have gone private, my nearest NHS dentist is 35 miles away and they don’t have any spaces.

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FloofBallofAnxiety@reddit

I was registed with an NHS dentist for many years...

The majority in the area I live in ditched NHS care and all their NHS patients along with it.

So not all of us were people avoiding the dentist. I went religiously until I was priced out.

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dreadnought1057@reddit

I registered with a dentist near my wok but far from my home, then I moved work so I was far from my dentist, then I moved house closer to my dentist. It all worked out like magic.

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FloofBallofAnxiety@reddit

You got very lucky!

I recently managed to register in the next town over from me, thanks to a coworker who tipped me off about the opening as a friend of hers works there.

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Excellent-Abies-259@reddit

Emergency stash of cocadamol ready at all times

And the emergency dental number. Call at either 8am or 5pm.

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nrd2501@reddit

Been with the same dentist since I was 11 when my mum registered me and am still with them now at the ripe old age of 32

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YetAnotherInterneter@reddit

Go on this website:

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist/

Enter your postcode.

Go through each dentist one-by-one until you find one that is accepting new patients. It is a lot trial-and-error. Many dentists say they are accepting new patients on their websites, but when you contact them they say they actually aren’t.

You just have to keep trying I’m afraid. I eventually found a dentist that was at least 30 entries in the list. It’s a 2 hour journey away from me, but at least I’m now registered so I have a dentist to go to if I need it.

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therealsnowwhyte@reddit

I contacted 8 dentists within travelling distance. Only one was accepting NHS patients and they had an 18 month waiting list. Eventually got registered with them, had an appointment then a few weeks later received a letter saying they were going private and I was back to square one. I’m not currently registered with an NHS dentist. I try to visit one when I’m travelling abroad.

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R41n80wR04d@reddit

I'm with a private dental practice that matches NHS prices

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Why_you_so_wrong_@reddit

I don’t believe that for a second. Firstly, the price you pay for an NHS treatment isn’t what the dentist receives, the NHS tops it up. Secondly, the NHS pays buttons and most clinics simply wouldn’t be profitable. I know for a fact you aren’t getting the best standards of care at those prices.

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R41n80wR04d@reddit

Yeah I don't understand how they make money but I'm not lying. Had a couple of fillings over the years for NHS prices.

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Slojo1993@reddit

Just join all the wait lists you can, unfortunately there’s nothing else you can do

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Justme-scotland@reddit

I waited until I saw a practice semi local to me and applied to them. It worked and I got into that practice.

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DiDiPLF@reddit

My dentist is part of the MyDentist chain, they have loads of surgeries in Lancashire. The one I registered with a few years ago didn't renew the NHS contract so I was moved to another branch that did on request which isn't as convenient. Try ringing the big chains and asking if any of their branches are taking on NHS adults (some just do NHS kids). I got in originally by calling in when I was passing so try do that when you are out and about and come across one.

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steak_bake_surprise@reddit

Probably easier to fly to Turkey twice a year

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TweakUnwanted@reddit

I don't bother. Cheap flight to Spain for a few days and visit dentists there. Root canal and filling €150. Extraction €40.

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ponchoqueen@reddit

just come back from my hometown to have a dentist appointment, 4.5h train journey away minimum

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AhhGingerKids2@reddit

Got really lucky with seeing a social media advert the minute it was posted from a new dentists and called straight away. Was stuck with private dentist for 4 years before that while constantly searching for NHS.

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CreativeAdeptness477@reddit

Been with the same practice for about 15 years and stayed on when they went subscription only. Have no intention of moving on. Gotta plan ahead, I hear it's rough out there

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mida0137@reddit

I had the same problem. I could not find anything close by to me. Not even if I were to take a train 30 minutes away. Not even in my parent’s location and surrounding towns.

What I ended up doing was checking NHS dentists in London and emailing/ringing them to check for availabilities. I’m now registered there. Expensive train journeys but it’s much cheaper compared to how much it would have cost me to get private treatment. (I had a lot of dental problems.)

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FloofBallofAnxiety@reddit

Considering the cost of trains in the UK as well, it just goes to show how astronomical private dental care is, that the train journey is a cheaper option.

I'm glad you found someone.

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Ambitious-Win-9408@reddit

Waited on a list for 4 years, chased up every 4-6 months for nothing. Moved, registered on a waiting list for another dentist, nothing. Paid privately in the end for basic work, found I needed 5 extractions and 3 implants. Cheaper to go abroad to have surgical work done and maintenance work done privately later as required, because if I sit around waiting for the NHS dentists I'll end up dead 😂

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feckarse-drinkgirls@reddit

Got extremely lucky that one 1/2 a mile from me was accepting new patients

Covid happened and we were lost from our old one

Scattering emails around is probably your best bet

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keblin86@reddit

I was with one and he decided to go private only. He said I could go on a cheaper pay as you go plan when I see fit. So now I go a lot less...haven't been since he changed this rule. I probably should go but I am not paying those prices.

So because he changed to private, he gets less money from me as I go less. However I guess that don't matter to him when he will be getting lots from all the private customers.

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vivana33@reddit

Been with my one for years and go a few times a year

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DECKTHEBALLZ@reddit

The private ones have payment plans or schemes where you pay monthly for x amount of treatment. We moved from the countryside (3+ year wait) to a city and were very surprised when the second dentist we phoned were taking new NHS patients and we only had to wait a month for sign up appointments. You might have to broaden your search area in the last house we had to keep our old dentist which was a 2+ hour drive away it is only once a year if nothing is wrong.

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1whoisconcerned@reddit

I am with a clinic that does nhs.

I cannot get an appointment with them since two years ago.

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Ambitious_Grape9908@reddit

I was added to a waiting list for one in 2011 - I'm still waiting to hear back from them...hahaha.

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Suspicious-Kiwi-8465@reddit

I've accidentally become double-registered after years of searching.

My first dentist is the one I actually tried registering for. It was a stroke of good luck - my friend had been looking for a new dentist and managed to find somewhere with a 5 month wait for new appointments purely through word of mouth.

The second dentist is who I saw for an emergency appt. Had to go in on a weekend so it was the emergency dentist or nothing. I received a call not long after asking if I wanted to register with them and I said no. Since then I've received regular reminders that I need to book my checkup with them. I rang them up to notify them, they said they sorted it, it carried on.

They're either ends of the city, bonus.

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Ancient-Awareness115@reddit

Fluke I called as needed to see someone urgently, I said either nhs or i would pay. Ended up as an nhs patient somehow

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Flaky-Delivery-8460@reddit

There's lots of NHS dentists in London so if you are anywhere near worth a Friday appointment once a year and making a long weekend of it.

Ours is 3 hours away, but we went there before so it suits us.

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StalactiteSkin@reddit

Some places will take family members of existing patients, so if you've got family registered anywhere that can be an option, even if it's a long way away.

Otherwise, just joining a waiting list. I got registered quite quickly after I did, but obviously depends on your area.

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mumwifealcoholic@reddit

I got on every waiting list in my area. I finally got an NHS dentist after 5 years.

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thorn312@reddit

I spent two years looking for NHS availability, I gave up and had to register privately. RIP my bank account.

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Adventurous-Idea1473@reddit

i added myself to a list on their webiste and then they emailed me when they had NHS spaces so i registered. it was that easy

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Abwettar@reddit

I signed up to as many waiting lists as I could and eventually I got offered a place at one, took about 6 months I think

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Jimbobthon@reddit

Was a little bit of luck. I was with my NHS Dentist for years, then i moved. But i kept my spot at the Dentist for years after moving (had to keep travelling back for it). Luckily, my Mrs got me in a nearer one and i deregistered from the old one (who have now gone private)

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Wart_Time_L32@reddit

I rang a couple local ones and then got an appointment, I was expecting a long wait but it honestly wasn't bad at all.

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SpiritedGuest6281@reddit

I have to travel 50 minutes to mine. none were taking patients nearer. Surprised they registered me tbh.

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Single-Position-4194@reddit

In some parts of the country there is a trial scheme caklled Stabilisation,. where if yoiu need something done dentally an NHS dentist will take you on for just that limited set of treatmkents but not for any others. I was lucky ebough to get on it last month.

It's not available everywhere unfortunately.=, but you could phone 111 and see if you have any luck.

I agree that NHS dentistery is in a bad way overall..

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Poseidons-Pond@reddit

I'm not wealthy by any means but I don't use nhs dentists. I've seen too much terrible work.

I know nhs dentists are also private dentists, but they use different materials and everything is significantly better paying for it.

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browniepoints99@reddit

I found mine was taking on new clients on Facebook and called up as soon as I saw the post.

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azlan121@reddit

I went to one of my local dentists and asked to sign up as an NHS patient, there were 3 or 4 clinics within walking distance of my flat that were accepting patients

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Old_Quit_851@reddit

Get on loads of waiting lists and cross your fingers…

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Odd_Scar836@reddit

By luck. A new dentist happened to open and we jumped on it getting in before it got filled up with patients in exactly same boat

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Great-Enthusiasm-720@reddit

By pure luck! I happened to spot a leaflet in my GP advertising a new dentist opening up whilst I doing the 8am lime up for a GP appointment.

I had been in my new area 5 years without a dentist for 5 years.

Prior to that I was using 111 for emergency treatment only.

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Sea-Still5427@reddit

Had to stay with my old dentist from before I moved six years ago. It's a 170-mile round trip each time, but I'm grateful to have one at all.

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