Are you still having regular dental check ups

[Pippalongstocking70]

Has anyone else given up on going to the dentist in this col crisis? Seems like visits to the dentist are a luxury for most people these days.
Private dentists are expensive & getting an nhs dentist is like trying to get blood out of a stone. Even if you do find one you still have to pay something.
I can imagine lots of people with bad teeth in the future

Whats your AIBU?

No, I won’t be giving them up, they’re an essential part of your health.

Of course, it’s non negotiable to me, teeth are too important aesthetically and for health. I’m lucky I have an NHS dentist but I do have to drive 45 mins to my old town because I’ve not been able to get one in my new area. I would go private if I lost this space. Thankfully managed to get the kids into a local NHS dentist.

I pay around £80 every 3 months for periodontal clean and check - I want to keep my dental health as good as I can

Still going, every 6 months. I go private as my Mum used to work there and my previous NHS dentist ended up going private anyway. Teeth are too important to risk.

I'm not intending to sound like a dick but checkups are free in Scotland and treatment is incredibly cheap, so thankfully this isn't an issue.

I go private...4 annual visits to hygienist and 2 to dentist. Not had any treatment for 30 years..I'm 67. Still got all my teeth. Always been a priority

DC and I go every 6 months, but we’re very fortunate that we still have an NHS dentist. I’m fastidious about going so we don’t get taken off the list!

It’s something we prioritise and don’t find it unaffordable; roughly £450 a year for my husband and I for our check-ups and cleans. Kids are on the NHS list at our dentist. I will say, we are quite lucky to have healthy teeth so haven’t needed anything doing for years. Appreciate a lot of that is down to genetics.

I work in a school and the amount of kids I see with teeth rotting in their mouths is completely unforgivable. A lot of people aren’t doing the basics of teaching oral health, I don’t blame the NHS for not wanting to take on that burden. Our kids were moved to the NHS list after our 3rd private appointment at our surgery, and they said it was because we’d bought them regularly and they could see we were taking care of their teeth.

Get on a plan. 2 dentist checkups a year, 2 hygienists appointment, 2 x rays a year and 10% off any treatment.

Our NHS dentist has just moved us from 6 monthly to 9 monthly checks.

Any recommendations?

Same here.

It is a priority for me too. I have a payment plan of £22 a month. It includes 2 dental check ups and 2 hygienist appointments plus 10% off any works that need doing.

I’m supposed to go every 6 months, but usually only go once a year. I love getting my teeth cleaned.

DH only goes when he has problems or pain, perhaps every 5 years or so

We have had to reduce our outgoings due to my husband developing a chronic health condition which has meant he is no longer able to work. We went without a dentist for a few years before that due to our NHS dentist going private. Both of us needed work doing once we started with a private dentist - it would have been much cheaper to have been seen regularly and not need root canal, and a crown. We pay a monthly amount to cover all regular checkups and the hygienist. I really regret not seeing a hygienist when i was under NHS care, but i thought it was a cosmetic thing - it really wasn't.

So in tightening our belts, we felt it was better to pay regularly for a dentist. I do have very poor teeth though, with a fair number of issues.

I prioritise my dental health (& that of my kids) even with financial tightening

Luckily managed to get an NHS place at a local dentist at the start of the year- before that I was paying privately for the dentist for the past 20 years or so

I had braces as a teenager- the full works metal ones, not Invisilign as you see so many with these days, including teenagers.

I did not go through all that orthodontic work just to neglect my teeth!!

Yes.

I haven't since Covid meant our NHS dentist kicked everyone off the books and went private. Ive finished paying for both of my kids braces privately and now I am just about able to consider dental care for myself,provided my car, boiler or whatever doesn't go.

Dental care shouldn't be a privilege. I am a teacher and can barely make ends meet- my kids go before me and even then!

We all have an NHS dentist. Me and my husband are at one practice and my children at another. We always go for our six month check ups. If we had to go private I don't know what we would do to be honest but we would have to find it somehow because I don't have the best teeth and need regular check ups.

Yes, every 3 months. Teeth are very important! Private dentist.

I'm not surprised about the children you are seeing in school. There are no NHS dentists in our area even for children, we did have NHS for them but most of the dentists here have gone private and stopped doing NHS work. Not every parent can afford £50 a time for each child just for a checkup, it only works out slightly cheaper on a plan.

Both my kids have and still do but I haven't seen one since Covid. I probably can afford it this year for me bit haven't been able to up until now. I put the kids first.

Yes but have been with the same NHS practice for 37 years.
Just as well as I've inherited terrible teeth.

I go regularly now but in my 20s/early 30s probably went once every 5 years and started going again with my kids. The dentist says my teeth are great and I have no issues so I can’t help but think I’d have wasted a lot of money if I’d been going regularly with no different outcome. I also think it’s down to luck and genetics. Yes I brush my teeth regularly but no more than most.

I learnt the hard way when I was a student and didn't see the dentist for 2 yrs and a molar cracked. Always regular visits before that and since. Teeth are not only a main facial feature, but if infected of having issues, they can leave to multiple other health issues in the body.

I have an NHS dentist, but travel 80miles to see her. I have family near our old house so the trip isn't JUST for the dentist, but I do need to find someone closer to where I live now. An NHS check up is £28 so yes there is a fee. I'm fortunate that I can afford it and I'd prioritise it over buying other things to save my teeth.

Only if you’re with an nhs dentist.