So, Ive been looking into registering with a dentist in Gib, the essential Gibraltar web site states the following...

"dentist appointments will take up to 2 years…. no, this is not a typing error! This irritating flaw in the system underlines Gibraltar’s dire need to reorganise and upgrade its medical system."

THIS^ is obviously a problem!

I've done a web search for private practices, but all I have found seem to be cosmetic dentist. What I looking for is a general dentist surgery for check ups, cleaning, replacing fillings and the like.

Are there GHA dentists that would take on private patients?

Any insight and advice would be gratefully appreciated.

I have noticed that a lot of dentists advertise their services quoting their ability to do the cosmetic side of things and do not mention normal everyday dentistry. My dentist has all of the cosmetic stuff etched onto his window but he is a great general dentist. Maybe you would be better off doing your investigating whilst out and about because that will also give you the opportunity to evaluate their premises.

Rosemary

Is there a particular reason that you want to go to a Gibraltar dentist? The reason I ask is that OH and I have lived within sight of Gibraltar for 15 years and have always used Spanish dentists (or at least dentists in Spain - one was English and the others were Argentinian). They were all cheap and good.

Of course if you live in Gibraltar my question is entirely redundant.

I suppose it doesn't matter really! If there was a decent dentist in La Linea I would go there.

Have you found language to be a problem? that would be my only put off, I can get by in Spanish, but I dont think could communicate medical/dental issues. I see you mentioned an English dentist. Do you perhaps have details?

Thank you Rosemary, I will maybe call into one or two during the week. Try to find out a little more.

Take your pick

http://www.gibyellow.gi/search-resul...&search=search

Would you care to give a link to this information?

http://www.essentialgibraltar.com/Medical_care.html

As others have said, just use a dentist in Spain.
Jesus you only need a few words written down in Spanish at a dentist (filling, cap, descale clean etc) and the area of Spain where you live have shed loads of English/English speaking dentists.

I've been to two dentists in Jimena, about 30 mins from the border and another in Los Barrios - even closer. My Spanish is OK - by no means brilliant - but we both (me and OH) got by fine. OH had a huge amount of work done (5 bottom front teeth replaced) and an initial quote of 1500Euros (I considered that good value) ended up as 1350.

The English dentist was great - he was Dr Dawes (always called Jaws) in Estepona but he retired a few years ago and sold to a German I believe.

I am sure there is an English dentist in Sabinillas just up the road from La Linea towards Estepona.

From the GHA website http://www.gha.gi/primary-care-servi...ntal-services/

Persons undergoing full-time education, on Supplementary benefits, or have been granted exemption may receive treatment free of charge. Adults registered at the Primary Care Centre or in possession of an E111 may be treated in case of an emergency and will then be referred back to their General Dental Practitioner.
A Dentist is on call out of hours and at weekends for children and severe dental problems in adults which include – Bleeding, facial swelling and trauma. Adults with toothache will be asked to attend the emergency clinic the next day.

Where this idea of 2 years has come from I have no idea.
Dentistry is not normally available to the general public except as above or through their General Dental Practitioner which will be a private practioner.

However the healthcare offered by the GHA is very good in an almost new hospital. The very few problems that cannot be dealt with in Gib are referred to the UK or Spain.

Thank you jimenato, thats a great help.