Been reading recently about how few dentists, dentistries there are available in the U.K. Also, how expensive they have become. It is now possble, apparently, to buy self-dental kits at supermarkets. In fact, some people even extract their own teeth because, generally, they cannot afford to go to the dentists. Have you had any problems with dental care?

Not in terms of getting it, only in terms of enduring it!

I don't know where you read that but it's rubbish (sorry!)

There are loads of dentists if you want to go private. If you want NHS care, it's a little harder to find a practice but not that hard. There are 3 within 7 miles of my house. I chose one based on reviews on the NHS website and got an appointment within a few days. I am getting a root canal, 2 crowns and a large filling, all for £225. (This work is done by the same dentists who take private patients).

Basic treatment is much, much cheaper but £225 is the most you can pay for one course of treatment (meaning the things they find when they do an exam).

As an aside, my dad pulled out his own tooth when I was a kid - not for money reasons but because he didn't have time to go to the dentist - they made them tough in those days!

I'm returning to England in a few weeks time, and intend to be a resident and start to do the things residents do, such as update my British driving licence etc. Going to the dentist is one of the things I may or may not do, since I have a good dentist here in New York State and could conceivably reschedule my next appointment with them, when I know I'm going to be here for a few weeks.

So in my town in England, there is just one practice, it has three dentists, and it has stellar reviews (several people say it's the best dentist they've ever been to etc.) Apparently it takes new patients both on a private basis and an NHS basis. I don't really get this private or NHS thing; are people simply choosing to pay more or less money for the same service? I realise many people don't have a choice, they probably don't have money in their budgets for private care.

Here, I pay about $90 for a cleaning, or about $120 if it is X-ray time. I'm usually in there for about half an hour or 45 minutes. I have a consultation with the dentist himself every other visit, although it's mostly catching up on news of our respective kids latest adventures etc...

So going to this dentist in England is not my top priority but I'm wondering how much the private would cost..

For reference as a guideline

Private Dental Charges - Dentalcare Group

Britain's dental cost lottery - and how to pay less in your postcode - Telegraph

I'm sure that the dentist that you would be going to have a fee schedule

Thanks, that is useful. The one you link to in Hampshire, the charges seem about the same as US prices. The practice I'm interested in in Norfolk has no website, but I'll definitely go there and talk to them when I go to England.

did some digging for you & found a couple with 'fees' buried in the dental practice website. See if this may be better representative of the 'post code' area you'll be in

http://www.newmarketroaddentalclinic...prices/?k=:6::

Fees - Norfolk Dental Specialists

Hmm these dentists web sites nearly make me rethink my plan of returning to England to live. Apparently, English people now grin inanely and show their unnaturally white teeth, just like Americans!!

Only the celebs who have spent time in the USA. Plenty of reassuringly British teeth lurking behind reassuringly British scowls.

Having spent many months there last year, although I didn't need dental treatment, my brother sees a private dentist. He had a root canal and later had a filling. He did have the root canal with a endodontist. Massively cheaper than here and job well done m

Re: the private vs public thing ... here's what I've learned.

Most practices do both, but lots are no longer taking NHS patients. So it may be hard to find a practice to take you on as an NHS patient. Having said that, I found one easily enough.

But even if you're an NHS patient, you can choose to have treatment done privately. In some cases, the NHS won't pay for the treatment (e.g. anything cosmetic) or will pay for a lesser treatment (sometimes it's about the materials used - for example, the NHS might pay for one type of filling but if you want one that looks nicer, you might choose to go private for that). If the dentists feel the NHS treatment isn't the optimal one, they will advise you and let you choose.

The good thing is that, say you choose to have the white filling done privately, you still stay on the NHS roles and can have your next treatment done on their fee structure.

One thing I have noticed is that the dentists I've seen don't have the presence or bedside manner of American dentists. This is bad for me as I am nervous about them anyway. I'm going to risk it, but I'd prefer to feel more reassured by their manner. I'll let you know how it goes!

I've been to lots of different dentists in the UK (over the years). I would say presence/manner very much depends on the individual. Some are very gentle and reassuring others are straight out of Dickens. Shop around.

Where are you reading this tripe?

I couldn't afford private dentist so I used PLIERS to pull out 13 top teeth.

'Gulf war vet Ian Boynton's story is common in today's Britain as those struggling to afford mounting bills take their health into their own hands. Families living in poverty are resorting to repairing their own TEETH because they cannot afford to pay dental bills.
Those struggling to afford mounting bills are taking their health into their own hands by removing their own teeth with pliers instead of paying trained dentists. Research last year from the British Dental Health Foundation found that one in five Britons said they would remove a tooth themselves or ask a friend to do so if they could not afford dental treatment. And thousands of people across Britain are using DIY dentistry sets to replace loose fillings, caps and crowns. The kits, which cost under £5, can be bought over the counter on the high street with no prescription needed. One DIY pack sold by DenTek, available on Amazon for £3.38, says on the packet “Repair Lost Fillings & Loose Caps”.
--- Daily Mirror

You can buy home dentistry kits in lots of countries.....they are on
Sale here in Australia where dentistry really is expensive.

No doubt you can buy them wherever you live as well.