Last year, my NHS dentist that I have been going to since I was a kid decided to go private i'm now 29. All 2000+ members were changed onto private plans. I had been travelling 30 minutes because I was being seen as an NHS patient.
I decided to join the waiting list of a local private dentist where I live. I was told it was a 1 year waiting list to join. I couldn't believe it 1 year waiting list to be seen as a private patient.
After a year I've just had my new patient examination and been told I have some decay in two of my teeth that need fillings and I have a wisdom tooth that needs to be removed due to decay. All in my estimate to have all the work done is
£174 for a composite filling x2
£180 for an extraction of my wisdom tooth
Total £528.00
Whereas if I was still an NHS patient it would have cost me £220.50 for all the work, band 2 £73.50 per job.
They even convinced me to join Denplan to get 10% off any work plus 2 check ups and hygienist appointments a year, but I'm not sure if I should just put that money aside instead of paying for it every month.
I live in the south west no practices are accepting new patients it's impossible.
How are people in the UK affording to visit the dentist if they aren't an NHS patient? (People with much lower incomes)