I have a tooth abscess. My NHS dentist is only offering me private emergency appointments, do I have a right to an NHS emergency appointment?
Posted by everything2go@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 161 comments
For context, I saw the hygienist the week before last. The appointment was incredibly rushed and the mirror/tools they first put in my mouth at the very start of the appointment had polishing compound on them, possibly from the last patient? They also slipped a couple of times jamming the drill into my gum.
I've never had such a tough time with my gums after an appointment, different areas have been sore and inflamed much longer than normal. Unfortunately one of these areas has now swollen significantly into an abscess.
I went into the dentist today to see if I could get an appointment and they said sorry they only have private appointments available later today and that I could try calling at 9am tomorrow but it would be very unlikely I would get an NHS slot and that I would likely have to wait 4 weeks for an NHS appointment. Trying to put pressure on me to pay £95 for a private appointment this afternoon.
I'm struggling to find a definitive list of my rights as an NHS patient online but some AI results are telling me if the dentistry is clinically necessary then they are required to offer me an NHS appointment if they are also offering private ones. However, other results say only if they have NHS capacity.
I'd really appreciate some guidance on this as will be going in first thing tomorrow morning to try and secure an NHS appointment and would like to know my rights and how I can escalate things if they are breaking the rules. They frequently try to bill me as a private patient for dental check ups and work and claim they have errors with their systems. Sadly they are the only NHS dentist near me for miles.
Reasonable-Life354@reddit
Ring 111
VehicleLast419@reddit
yes your entitled to an emergency nhs appointment ....
niteninja1@reddit
lol.
Not all dentists offer NHS treatment.
You have no right to a nhs appointment.
Your dentist isn’t your dentist once your treatment is complete
VehicleLast419@reddit
her dentist said i can give you a private appointment today or a nhs appointment in a few days
niteninja1@reddit
Yes and not all of the appointments a dentist offer have to be nhs appointments.
Some dentists only do 1 day of nhs work a week for example.
VehicleLast419@reddit
Yes but if your with an NHS dentist and they are refusing an NHS appointment thats innapropriate
Old_Bluebird_3937@reddit
You are just banging your head against a brick wall mate! If the 111 advisors don't know what they are doing, God help the general public. Ex NHS dentist here who recently gave up my contract. Life and work is so much more enjoyable now.
Beginning_Hyena_7453@reddit
This is untrue not all dentist offer NHS care if the OPs nhs dentist is fully booked it maybe the only option the practice has is private care. But they should be sign posting the patient to 111 for emergency dental care so they can be seen asap under the nhs at a different practice.
everything2go@reddit (OP)
Thanks again for the advice. Managed to get an NHS appointment. It was the largest abscess the nurse had ever seen. They cut into it to drain it and have prescribed antibiotics. It was pretty grim but glad to have it done.
Queasy-Competition45@reddit
Dentists are given a certain number of credits to use for NHS work
A check up is 1 credit A root canal is 3 credits
Once the credits are gone (which they always do before the financial year end) any further work done for the NHS is UNPAID
Hence many Dentists are switching to private practice.
Until the dental funding model is changed (it won't ever change as it will cost the government more) nothing will change
Emergency_Pea_2232@reddit
Why is nobody covering that you think they actually caused the infection? Tell the practice that and threaten to complain. They may fit you in.
Ok-Equipment-8771@reddit
This!!!!! I' d be telling them that the pain was where the hygienst slipped
memojo1979@reddit
This is what I thought as soon as I read the post. OP should tell them that the pain and swelling is located in the places where the hygienist slipped (or at least where they felt more / sharper pressure at the time, if OP doesn't want to make it sound like they're blaming to begin with) I would probably not mention it to begin with, because no-one likes to feel blamed, and I'd rather keep on the good side of someone I rely on medically, but as soon as I was denied the chance for treatment by whoever I thought caused me pain, I'd definitely be telling them that they caused it in the first place.
Vegetable84@reddit
Yes why did I have to scroll so far for this! Mention that you think the damage was caused by them and I suspect they'll see you faster...
ki5aca@reddit
Have you tried calling 111? They may have advice.
Imaginary-Quiet-7465@reddit
I called 111 for my 8yo daughter earlier this year and all they did was give me a number for a local private dentist.
robjwrd@reddit
111 are pretty useless, they’re purely there to stop people who don’t need to go into A&E.
I’d be interested to know how much admission rates have dropped since its inception.
Nness@reddit
I've called NHS 111 a few times. Last time with a pregnancy related concern and they put through a request to our GP on our behalf, who called the moment they opened the next morning.
In terms of 'what to do next,' found them pretty useful.
VincentVan_Dough@reddit
Maybe it’s my area but so far, 111 and NHS has been fantastic. I fainted and fell backwards and hit my head. The next day, back of head was feeling sore and I wanted to take some paracetamol but wasn’t sure if I should. That was all I called 111 for. Before I knew it, I was told to go straight to the hospital emergency room where I barely waited and was whisked away for a battery of tests, including a head cat scan. They cleared me and let me go home. Next day I got a call from the hospital wanting to schedule an appointment for a specialist and to get me on a 24hr heart monitor in case I was at risk for a heart attack. Whether it was when my older daughter scalded herself making ramen, or when my husband thought he got a peanut stuck in his throat (NHS sent a whole ambulance), my NHS experience has been top tier.
robjwrd@reddit
Well glad you had a good experience with it.
I did see pretty not totally useless 😉
tribtb@reddit
hard disagree, i’ve never had a dentist in all my adult life (i’m only 22 this year) but 111 have been the reason i’ve been able to have 3 teeth removed and all in all only cost me £55.80. maybe it’s different for what area of the uk you’re in, but i’ve only had to wait a maximum of 2 days for an emergency appointment.
sunofdork@reddit
Every time I’ve used it it’s told me to go to A&E
CAElite@reddit
To be fair the one time I used 111 they got me a normally extremely difficult to get in my area GP appointment.
Phoned them at 3am after I woke up in agony with my knee swollen up too the size of a rugby ball. They got my an appointment at my GP the following morning without me needing to spam the phone at exactly 0800.
tcpukl@reddit
I got sent to a drop in centre from 111, they asked me why am I here. They couldn't believe 111 sent me.
I did need urgent treatment though.
GazelleInitial2050@reddit
The issue is everytime i've used them the questions are so generic its always just ended up in sending me to A+E
pb-86@reddit
I called 111 a few years ago when my son had chicken pox as his temperature was just below 40° and their advice was to give him ibuprofen to bring his temperature down. Ibuprofen can literally kill when taken by someone who has chicken pox
Maetivet@reddit
You’re being way overly dramatic - Ibuprofen will not kill someone with chicken pox.
There’s a chance that it may increase the risk of bacterial infections in people with chicken pox. It’s not advised for patients with chickenpox unless a doctor recommends it.
pb-86@reddit
It's the cause of Reyes Syndrome, a sudden, rapid swelling of the brain and has a mortality rate of 40%
Spaztic_monkey@reddit
My understanding is that ibuprofen can potentially lead to skin infections if given to someone with chicken pox, but definitely not reyes. Reye’s syndrome is cause by aspirin, I know this because I was given aspirin as a child which caused reyes and put me in a coma for 4 days.
Also the nhs page clearly states no ibuprofen for children with chicken pox, unless recommended by a doctor. So it isn’t no ibuprofen ever in any circumstances.
pb-86@reddit
111 isn't a doctor on the other line, they shouldn't be telling you this information and since this have now stopped. There was a case that brought this to light where 4 doctors all gave a child ibuprofen, and it was only when the child was sent to alder hey that it was caught. I linked it in my above comment.
I never said don't under any circumstances, if a doctor gives you ibuprofen then fair enough but they're doing that because they're picking the lesser of two evils and your temperature has to have really spiked for that to happen. The skin infection you are referring to is Necrotising fascitis, which is fatal if not treated, and can also cause complications such as Septicaemia. Again, potentially fatal.
You're right about the aspirin though, it's just another drug not to give someone with chicken pox. It's pretty much all NSAID's (non steroid anti inflammatory).
Spaztic_monkey@reddit
There are clinicians with 111. The call handlers can consult with them before offering advice, and they can also get the clinicians to call you back directly if needed.
pb-86@reddit
They can, they don't always do. This was 2017 though so hopefully things have improved since then
Lopsided-Muffin9805@reddit
Not true. They triage yoh first then a clinical phones you back! So someone medically trained! Drs and nurses and oaramedics.
Lopsided-Muffin9805@reddit
Ithat’s from aspirin though….unless you’re going to give your kid aspirin which is never advised!
pb-86@reddit
No one is from aspirin which I pointed out. Others are from ibuprofen. I provided sources, feel free to have a read
Lopsided-Muffin9805@reddit
But why are we talking about Reyes with chickenpox? How does it fit in??
pb-86@reddit
Reyes is caused by taking NSAID's (specifically aspirin) whilst suffering from chicken pox. I was more mentioning it as another thing you need to be careful with in regards to chicken pox
Maetivet@reddit
You're thinking of aspirin, not Ibuprofen - it's there in your link.
The Ibuprofen concern is to do with bacterial skin infections, there may be a risk, so it's recommended that it's avoided; it's not instant poison like the original commenter's post implied.
Efficient_Chic714@reddit
In my area they refer us to an NHS dentist with availability BUT it’s in another city so we have to travel which is not ideal when in a lot of pain
Last time I needed an emergency dentist, I bit the bullet and went to a private one that could offer a same day appointment - and that itself was a miracle ngl as everywhere was booked for a few days
CoconutBasher_@reddit
They’re absolutely useless for dental issues.
DevilRenegade@reddit
For an emergency appointment they may refer you anywhere in the local area that has availability.
I had a tooth abcess a few months ago. I rang 111 at 8am, described the symptoms. They called me back at 10am and gave me an appointment at a private Bupa practice nearby at 2pm.
Went there and had a checkup, x-rays, anaesthetic, extraction and a prescription for oral antibiotics, all for £30. Couldn't fault the service.
CellistLow8857@reddit
Yes I’m pretty sure they have to see you within a day or two for an emergency appointment, call back and explain you are in considerable pain and cannot work.
If they still won’t budge call 111 they should be able to get you an appointment somewhere, and pursue a complaint with your local NHS trust about your NHS dentist not taking NHS emergency appointments!
Lopsided-Muffin9805@reddit
111 might not be able to get you a nhs appointment though. Might be private.
CellistLow8857@reddit
I don’t think 111 will arrange any kind of private appointment
Lopsided-Muffin9805@reddit
I work for 111 and yes we go
CellistLow8857@reddit
This is mind-blowing to me!!
CoconutBasher_@reddit
I had an abscess a few years ago, couldn’t get an appointment so I called 111. I was referred to another dentist who did give me an appointment only to tell me that he couldn’t do anything as I wasn’t a regular patient and needed to be signed up to the surgery. Asked to sign up but there was no space. I asked if this was a practice done at his surgery only and he said it was commonplace.
FitSolution2882@reddit
They didn't even give you antibiotics ffs?
niteninja1@reddit
They don’t unless your in the middle of treatment you aren’t a patient
becky_1872@reddit
This isn’t the case here though; if he’s already registered as an NHS patient in their books, he’s entitled to an NHS emergency appointment
Crafty_Reflection410@reddit
There is no register anymore. It’s just about appointment availability
Source: I’m an nhs dentist
redseaaquamarine@reddit
Can I just ask for clarification? My son didn't attend appointments for a couple of years so was taken off the books at our dentist. He is now unable to get re-registered and they tell me they are not taking anyone else on to the waiting list. (England) Does "appointment available" apply to all members of the public if registers no longer exist?
Crafty_Reflection410@reddit
Yes it does. However appointments are usually very limited, hence the waiting list and there will be a point at which they have maxed out their capacity so it’s no use adding more people on the waiting list as the practice will never get around to them before they have used up their contracted funding.
Eg my practice has like a max set number of patients it will have on the system at any one time that are “active”. Those patients are seen….anyone who is inactive ie hasn’t been for 2+ years (or is a bad attender) will not be offered an appointment until our level of active patients goes down, either through not attending, poor attendance or asks to be removed cos they have moved house….it takes actually a lot of organisation from the admin team to keep on top of it.
CoconutBasher_@reddit
How do you explain not being able to get an appointment with someone other than your regular dentist because you’re not registered? I’ve been quoted this quite a few times as a refusal for emergency appointments.
justinhammerpants@reddit
I love my dentist so much. I go 2 times a year. I'd like to go more. We have a gas.
redseaaquamarine@reddit
Thank you very much for the good explanation - greatly appreciated
niteninja1@reddit
That’s not true there is no being on the books there hasn’t been since the 2006 contract reforms.
Your NHS dentist is only yours while you have an open course of treatment.
julialoveslush@reddit
Huh, my boyfriend has been with his dentist ten years with no appointment and was still able to be seen a few weeks ago.
BeatificBanana@reddit
Yes your dentist may choose to keep you on an informal list of patients, they are just not obligated to do so
niteninja1@reddit
so for planning and practicality reasons nhs dentists like to “keep you on the books”
Kittygrizzle1@reddit
I’ve been with mine for 9 years. Including 2 years where l was too unwell to attend.
becky_1872@reddit
Okay this must be different in Wales for some reason? We literally have a whole register we sign up to which gets us registered with an NHS dentist for routine appointments
niteninja1@reddit
Yep Wales had a different system
D3mentedG0Ose@reddit
That explains it. I’m in Wales
D3mentedG0Ose@reddit
Might want to tell that to my dentist then. I've been on their books for years
CrabbyGremlin@reddit
I know where I am if you don’t go for a year or two you’re taken off the NHS list. I use to be one but didn’t go for 3 years and now I can’t get back on the list.
niteninja1@reddit
So they can “keep you on their books” but it’s not a legal thing and you have no right to treatment.
https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/advice-and-information/2025-04-07/your-right-nhs-dentist
Ok-Personality-6630@reddit
Indeed my dentist had no issue seeing me and didn't charge anything. I do every annual checkup on schedule.
e_lemonsqueezer@reddit
Your local NHS Trust has no affiliation whatsoever with the local dentists. The complaint would need to go to the Integrated Care Board (ICB), who commission nhs dentistry.
Interesting-Tip-2962@reddit
Ring 111 fit an emergency appointment ,my dentist didn’t have an available appointment for me and I was in pain and needed the tooth out, rang 111 and got sent to a dentist nearer to where I live than my dentist, they took the tooth out and cost me the 20 odd quid it was at the time, if I had got an appointment at my own dentist it was £80 for an extraction! Definitely give them a call. Good luck
UsuallyWhirlwind@reddit
Where are all these cheap dentists?! Mine charges hundreds for extractions
lems93@reddit
Same for my partner, at 10pm he called 111 in agony and they sent him to an emergency out of hours dentist and it was £20.
everything2go@reddit (OP)
Thanks so much for all of the brilliant advice. I waited outside the practice before it opened this morning and managed to secure an NHS appointment for later this afternoon! Just going to keep gargling salt water until then. Many thanks again.
TheRealBrattyPanda@reddit
NHS dental nurse here. NHS dentistry is on its arse and unfortunately there are few appointments available. If you try calling as soon as your dental practice opens there may be a limited number of same day emergency slots available as it depends how your practice do their zoning. Alternatively ring 111 as they have access to the practices who hold the NHS emergency treatment contract and they should be able to see you within 72 hours.
viktory70@reddit
I called 111 with dental pain and they gave me an appointment with an NHS the same day (I called at 4, appointment was at 5). Cost me £30
donut_sprinkle@reddit
I am a NHS dentist (not verified on here). You do have a right to a NHS emergency appointment, however, if the practice is at capacity for the day they can’t just create an appointment space for you.
At my practice, once NHS emergency slots for the day have been filled there is not much else we can do. We always offer a private emergency slot as an alternative if they are also available too, but there is no pressure for this, it is just so that the patient knows what all their options are.
We do try our best to get a patient in, with receptionists messaging around to the dentists to see if following triage a severe case patient can be squeezed in somewhere.
However if this is not possible we do signpost the patient to 111
TheTackleZone@reddit
Thing is, I hear "at capacity so nothing can be done" and I hear "offer a private slot" and my brain sort of thinks the word capacity maybe doesn't mean what I thought it meant.
peaceandlove1993@reddit
If you’re an NHS patient then they need to see you within 48 hours for pain especially an abscess as it can escalate quickly to sepsis.
I’m a dental nurse in a Scottish practice. My practice is a mix of both NHS and private. We have 2 emergency pain appointment slots per dentist everyday. If someone phones and says they have an abscess or swelling we will tell them to come down and wait until one of the dentists are free.
I genuinely don’t know how other practices get away with stuff like this because we have to take it seriously and would be in massive trouble if anything were to happen to the patient.
niteninja1@reddit
scotland has different rules
hughesyg@reddit
When I had a tooth abscess I would have paid £950 to get it sorted!! 😱 worst pain I’ve ever had.
stefanielevans@reddit
not everyone has the money spare tho🤷🏼♀️
hughesyg@reddit
I’d have gone in to debt for it!
I was rolling on the floor screaming in pain 🙈
Plus_Band_3283@reddit
You really don’t understand how poor some people in this country are, so you.
hughesyg@reddit
Doesn’t everyone have savings??
TheTjalian@reddit
39% of adults have less than £1k in savings (so ultimately only one bad incident at best) and 16% have no savings at all, so roughly 50% of all adults in the country have no or close to no savings.
Additionally, only 32% of adults only have a cash ISA and only 17% have a stocks and shares ISA.
hughesyg@reddit
Mate it was a joke 😂 reeeeeelaaaaax
Traditional-Metal581@reddit
with math like that can see why. The 16% is part of the 39% not added to it. Having an isa is irrelevant to having savings
bellDor@reddit
You can’t be serious
hughesyg@reddit
Obviously 🙄
c33fern@reddit
Please tell me you’re joking… I have never had savings in my life and the vast majority of my family are the same. Oftentimes when people say they have no money they genuinely mean it
hughesyg@reddit
Of course I’m joking FFS 😂 everyone needs to chill on Reddit seriously 😂
peachesnplumsmf@reddit
So was I. Not everyone has the option of going into debt, unemployed student and frankly the pain left me unable to navigate the loan system.
Kezmangotagoal@reddit
You just have to be super dramatic with this stuff. Even if it doesn’t hurt or isn’t that big of a deal to you, tell them you’re in agony that you can’t eat or sleep! They usually cave and give you an appointment!
YeDasASausage@reddit
I had my dentist tell me the same thing, refused to take a wisdom tooth out after repeat infection. 4 infections in 6 months unless I went private, got a referral letter from the dentist to go to A&E and they said it was so bad they were going to keep me overnight and operate, spent 2 more days in hospital and was all sorted.
I dont think the cost is really bad tongonprivate but you will get it done on the NHS if you ask your dentist for a referral.
The more issues you've had with it that are on record the better your chances.
Also worth noting in my dentist I saw 2 dofferent dentists, one was a good dentist and one was shit.
But a referral is what got me sorted, hope this helps and all the best.
kbeavz@reddit
my wisdom tooth was 590 to take out private
KarmaIssues@reddit
Call 111, I don't know what everyone is on abput by saying they're useless. They got me an emergency NHS appointment the next day when I had an abcess a few years ago.
jimmerjammer1@reddit
I wasted a couple of hours on the phone to 111 and the emergency dentist receptionist with a very painful abcess. After they asked dozens of questions about the issue they said because I said the pain level was only 6 out of 10 they were too busy to help. I class 7 to 10 out of 10 as child birth, torture etc. The most annoying thing was I am friends with the emergency dentist and I knew he was sat there doing nothing all day.
Every single interaction I have with the NHS is a big disappointment. They are not fit for purpose and a money pit.
MrsSEM84@reddit
Try calling 111. When I did it they got me an appointment booked for the following morning.
IntelligentCitron917@reddit
There is an emergency NHS dentist available. Not necessarily the usual dentist surgery you belong to, but whichever surgery is "on call" at the time.
My son only a few months ago was in agony with an abscess, he wasn't even registered with any NHS dental surgery. They gave him the details of a surgery on the way to the next town, who saw him on the NHS, within a matter of hours.
Don't be mistaken though into thinking that NHS dentists are tge same as NHS hospitals. They are not. Even NHS dentists require payment unless on very specific benefits and even then its dependent on the amount earned. If you incorrectly mark the incorrect box you WILL be hit with £100 fine.
NHS treatment is, I believe in 3 bands of charges. If for example you need a filling that comes under Band B. Something to remember though, you only pay it once in a 6 month period. So if you had a filling and 5 months later required another one, your original payment would cover that one. Also if you were having a course of treatment as long as its completed within the 6 months from the start date when payment was made, you wouldn't be required to pay anything extra.
Google "NHS dental emergency care" that will assist with local services.
As for the pricing https://www.google.com/search?q=nhs+dental+charges+2026&oq=nhs+dental+chatgds&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCQgCEAAYDRiABDIGCAAQRRg5MgwIARAAGA0YsQMYgAQyCQgCEAAYDRiABDIJCAMQABgNGIAEMgkIBBAAGA0YgAQyCQgFEAAYDRiABDIJCAYQABgNGIAEMgkIBxAAGA0YgAQyCQgIEAAYDRiABDIJCAkQABgNGIAEMgkIChAAGA0YgAQyCQgLEAAYDRiABDIJCAwQABgNGIAEMgkIDRAAGA0YgAQyCQgOEAAYDRiABNIBCDg5ODFqMGo5qAIOsAIB8QXnP2PTVAed8fEF5z9j01QHnfE&client=ms-android-ee-uk-revc&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#lfId=ChxjMe
Isgortio@reddit
So there's a few things here.
Firstly, it's possible what you saw on the instruments was just dried disinfectant from them not fully rinsing the instrument before putting it into the autoclave, and then it wasn't spotted before the instruments were taken to the surgery, and before the hygienist used the instruments. Instruments are supposed to be inspected at each stage of the sterilisation process, if it got to the point that you, as a patient, were able to spot that it was dirty, then multiple people have failed in that practice. If it was instruments from the previous patient (I absolutely hope it isn't!!!!) then both the clinician and nurse have failed you. Another possibility is they put the polishing paste onto the clean tray, and the mirror touched the paste so everything is as it should be but they should've noticed and wiped the prophy paste off before using the mirror, this one is harmless.
Secondly, you've mentioned they injured you during the appointment and now you've got pain and possibly swelling following this appointment. Take photos. I'm sure you've already explained this to them, but if you contact them again and tell them you felt like you were injured during your appointment and now you've got swelling, they should see you. If you're a NHS patient usually, then they should try to get you in for an NHS emergency appointment. They may have been fully booked for the day (some practices allocate slots for NHS and some for private only). Call first thing in the morning. Tell them you're happy to sit and wait for someone to be available.
Third, if they still won't accommodate you, especially after you've mentioned you were injured, tell them you want to raise a complaint.
They cannot withhold NHS emergency appointments if you have swelling.
Longjumping_Edge3622@reddit
You have an NHS dentist. Only 3 other people on Reddit have this. Ask them.
pintofendlesssummer@reddit
Once you accept an private appointment you may lose your nhs place. This is what happened to me one Saturday I got an emergency appointment not realising it was a private one and from that moment on I became a private patient.
Wibblejellytime@reddit
If you have an abscess then the dentist will take one look and prescribe you antibiotics. They won't drain it unless they really have to and only after you finish a course of antibiotics. Get yourself online and get a next day delivery posted out. It's about £28 and much cheaper and quicker than an NHS or private appointment. Make the dentist appointment for 4 weeks or whatever in case it doesn't clear up or comes back and actually needs treatment.
yelliekate@reddit
Just to point out as well, they definitely didn’t reuse instruments on you! They are very messy and dirty after use and there’s no way that would happen with the cross infection hoops we jump through. The polishing paste on the mirror is normal, it’s an oil based prophy paste, that if they’re anything like me, they smear it on their mirror before using it, because it makes the water run off easier.
everything2go@reddit (OP)
Thanks that's really reassuring to know.
FitSolution2882@reddit
Call 101 and get the emergency dentist.
Failing that, a&e.
RecentCow6479@reddit
Go to A&E
Negative-Fondant1373@reddit
I’m a ex dental nurse and I used to work for 111 as a dental nurse advisor. If you’re registered to a NHS dentist they have the duty of care to see you if you’re in pain. They can offer private treatment, but they still have a responsibility to ensure you’re safely triaged and directed to urgent NHS care if clinically needed. If you call first thing in the morning they tend to release emergency slots for that day. 111 can help if you’ve exhausted avenues with your dentist but really emergency dentists have a triage system and want emergency cases like facial swelling, trauma, taking maximum pain relief etc but they can provide you with some services that might be able to help
niteninja1@reddit
https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/advice-and-information/2025-04-07/your-right-nhs-dentist
This is wrong outside of a treatment plan you are officially discharged from your nhs dentist
peaceandlove1993@reddit
This is wrong.. I’ve been a dental nurse for 10 years and we have never done this in my practice and I work for a corporate company who have many practices all over Scotland and England. Even if you haven’t been in for 15 years.. as long as you’re still on our NHS registration, we need to see you. Open treatment or not.
niteninja1@reddit
that might be your company policy but its not nhs england’s.
Negative-Fondant1373@reddit
Incorrect. You are WRONG.
peaceandlove1993@reddit
Dental nurse here.. the downvotes here are killing me cause you’re correct 😭
niteninja1@reddit
how am i wrong. what source are you willing to provide to disprove my source.
Negative-Fondant1373@reddit
NHS dentistry in England doesn’t work on “discharge” like hospital care. It’s based on courses of treatment.. once that episode ends (even after a check up). If you need care again, you can start a new course of treatment if the practice has NHS capacity.
BeatificBanana@reddit
It sounds like youre contradicting yourself now? As you said, you have to start a new course of treatment if youre not currently in one. OP is not currently in a course of treatment, so what you wrote in your original comment:
"If you’re registered to a NHS dentist they have the duty of care to see you if you’re in pain"
Is Incorrect. You are WRONG.
niteninja1@reddit
They don’t seem to like their own contradiction being pointed out
niteninja1@reddit
“””If you’re registered to a NHS dentist they have the duty of care to see you if you’re in pain”””
“””If you need care again, you can start a new course of treatment if the practice has NHS capacity.”””
so we agree there is no duty of care once a course of treatment is complete.
Negative-Fondant1373@reddit
you clearly didn’t read it all.. i’m probably arguing with a middle aged balding “know it all” male
niteninja1@reddit
29 and Degree educated actually. i notice your not providing any sources other than your claim to be a ex dental nurse.
Negative-Fondant1373@reddit
29, degree educated and balding. My mistake
niteninja1@reddit
Not balding either.
Begone if your unwilling to backup your arguments with facts and resort to insults
DoctorRaulDuke@reddit
It seems you are quoting something that is technically correct, yet plays out at dentists in a completely different way. Dentists will only see people who are on their 'books', they report to the NHS qurterly about when they are accepting new patients, and close those when full. They also act like they have a duty of care to those patients and offer them emergency appointments quickly when they need it. Its almost like they've accepted the new contract changes and carry on how they used to, just getting paid a different way.
The technical reality seems to mean some, maybe increasingly so, will just do what the OP's dentist is doing and not help.
Emergency-Assist-421@reddit
I’m afraid you are wrong. Unless you are actively under treatment then they can tell you there is no capacity in their clinic and to look elsewhere.
WGD23@reddit
You have the right, but exercising it might be near impossible
gibberishnope@reddit
it’s an obligation for them to provide an nhs dentist,the 111 number worked for us
Ambitious-Eye-6335@reddit
Need to value the nhs doctors and nursing while we have it
EternallySickened@reddit
You can usually get an emergency appointment via 111 but they are less likely to arrange something unless you are in agony with it. My gf has managed to be seen same day multiple times in the last few years. You can’t dictate where you go though, you have to able to drop everything to go to an appointment a few miles away etc. also did I mention that you have to say you’re in agony.
DevilsAdvocate1662@reddit
In my experience, all an NHS dentist will do is stick you on a waiting list. Then you'll get sick of having to wait months and having to deal with the pain, you'll end up going private and seeing the same dentist but in days instead of months, it I'll cost you hundreds though.
Private practice is the actual worst. Basically if you're wealthy enough to go private, you jump the queue, it's disgraceful
DevilsAdvocate1662@reddit
I may be wrong, but it was my understanding that all an NHS dental practice would do is stick you on their endless waiting list, until you get so fed up of waiting and putting up with the pain that you pay to go private.
Then you basically jump the queue
Takklemaggot@reddit
Abscess they won't do anything until the infection is cleared up.
Get some Amoxicillin. Ask your GP.
Kind-Mathematician18@reddit
I assume this is the same surgery where you saw the hygienist? Tell them you now have an abscess, and explin the rushed procedure and the issues since. Tell them they WILL see you today, either private or NHS, it doesn't matter.
If they say private, tell them you want a receipt and their insurance details as you'll make a claim for negligence. Your appointment will turn in to an NHS one pretty quickly.
Coocoocachoo1988@reddit
My understanding was that if your face is swollen with an abscess, then they have to get you seen to within a day or so? Things might have changed, though.
nanoDeep@reddit
I had something similar and the receptionist whispered to me that if I phoned the NHS and told them about the pain then my dentist was legally obligated to treat me within 24 hours, it worked
GetCapeFly@reddit
Do you mean NHS 111?
nanoDeep@reddit
Aye that was it
GetCapeFly@reddit
When you say phone the “NHS” what do you mean exactly?
gretchyface@reddit
I had to call 111 for an emergency appointment and it was ace! First thing the next day (I called about 2am) and was seen really quickly. Cost under £30, got a prescription for antibiotics and a "Flex" referral to get my dodgy wisdom tooth out because I don't have an NHS dentist. Highly recommend trying it.
Cool_Doubt2152@reddit
As others have said call 111, tell them your pain is an 11/10 if they ask, they should get you in somewhere for emergency NHS treatment or at least that’s what happened for me when I chipped a tooth and a filling out when eating sourdough bread!!!
Ohtherewearethen@reddit
Someone I know works at a dentists' and she told me that an abscess is a dental emergency and any NHS dentist has to see you, not just your own. She managed to get me an appointment for the same day in the place she worked at. I George you are being fobbed off. They going into a different NHS dentist and tell them you have an abscess and require emergency treatment. Good luck. Teeth are nothing but fucking trouble and it's miserable! An abscess can turn to sepsis so it's paramount you get it seen to asap.
Several-Gift-8681@reddit
In my experience yes! NHS 111 should tell you all dentists that will help NHS patients for emergency dental care but you may have to travel for it
kush__1@reddit
I called 111 and got an emergency appointment the same day. Had to travel though
BirdieStitching@reddit
Call 111 and they will fit you in somewhere. An NHS emergency appointment won't remove it but they will give you antibiotics and a temporary filling possibly. I had one last year and the filling blocked the infection in making it worse so I'd advise antibiotics and let it drain based on my experience. You'll then need to make a standard appointment for a proper filling or extraction.
It's worth noting that anaesthetic doesn't work as well on infected teeth (apparently due to the change in ph) so you may have to wait for the infection to clear before you can get anything else done.
julialoveslush@reddit
Yes, this is normal unfortunately. The brief time I wasn’t with a dentist I had to do it.
I’d suggest ringing 111, they will sort you emergency care.
ian9outof10@reddit
Please don’t get antibiotics online without a medical consult, this can have terrible outcomes.
julialoveslush@reddit
I meant from a registered pharmacy who do online consults.
ian9outof10@reddit
Do they actually do consults though? Or do they just ask you to write some words in a form as an exercise in empty die diligence
dreadwitch@reddit
Call 111 when you they will send you to a local emergency dentist.
SportTawk@reddit
Bit late in the day, but never seen the hygienist, that just cause problems, as you know
I've never seen one in the last twenty or more years, and what's happened since the, two tiny fillings, didn't even need an anaesthetic! I'm 75 btw
Crazytimesinlove21@reddit
Dial 111 and they will advise you. For an abscess I thought your dentist would have been happy to get you in, prescribe antibiotics and tell you come back in a week.
I’d make a formal complaint about the previous treatment, remember you have paid for this !
Sad_Calligrapher9192@reddit
Call 111, they will give you emergency appointment at your local dental clinic or direct you to A&E depending on how serious it is. Some cases require emergency procedure under GI. Abscesses are serious and can lead to sepsis. Source - I work in Acute Theatres and we get MaxFax cases all the time.
bananabread98@reddit
I work for 111 and we can only offer emergency appointments to those who cannot be seen by their own dentist in 24-72 hours depending on symptoms. its worth a ring but if your dentist MIGHT be able to see you tomorrow they might not be able to offer you anything until they state they cannot help tomorrow
zoehester@reddit
If you contact 111 they will just give you a list of local dentists to call. Save yourself some time and just google local dentists. You don’t need to be an existing patient to access emergency treatment.
Useful_Tear1355@reddit
Call 111, they will triage you and send you in the right direction.
I answer 999 calls and we use the same triage system. Please call 111 though.
Crafty_Reflection410@reddit
They can only offer you an nhs appointment if they have one available. If they don’t they are with in their rights to offer private.
GroomingTips96@reddit
Depends where you live but I had a dental abscess flare up. Called the out of hours NHS service had to travel about 6 miles but got an evening appointment had to pay NHS charges for the appointment and the antibiotics
millimolli14@reddit
Call 111 they will pass your information onto your local NHS emergency dentist, the dentist will ring you and book you an appointment, explain when you ring 111 that you’re in a lot of pain and there’s swelling, you should get straight in
dragongirl_3@reddit
Call 111. They will get you an emergency appointment in your area. I think it's £35 if you go through them, had to do this for my brother a few weeks back.
sapphire-sky-dragon@reddit
You need to Google the emergency dentist number its different for different areas, its free but you will likely have to travel. You will be asked to phone at 8am to get an appointment all the days are appointments are given out in the morning.
Serberou5@reddit
https://111.nhs.uk/guided-entry/dental-help
Fill this in and a local dentist should be allocated to you for an emergency appointment via 111.
AutoModerator@reddit
Please help keep AskUK welcoming!
When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. If a post is marked 'Serious Answers Only' you may receive a ban for violating this rule.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.