Dentist Time

This has probably been asked somewhere before, but, anyways... I am in need of going to the dentist and I've been in England for almost a year already. I'm about to visit back home soon, so I was planning on going to the dentist there but I'm wondering how much would it be if I did it here as it always costs me fortunes when I go back home. I'm not on any private insurance or anything, I'm still not sure how any of that stuff works. I just know that I've gone to the GP for free of course, on NHS I'm guessing and I've gotten free medication. I do know you have to pay for the dentist though, but I'm wondering how it works. If I just call in to any dentist and say I want an appointment? Does it take long to get one?

I'm a bit new to this, so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance! 

All depends on if your NHS dentists are taking new patients.  We've got a waiting list at least 3 years, if not longer, long so we've got no choice but to pay private. 

Best thing to do is call a few dentists and see if they're taking new NHS patients.

If its an emergency, swelling, extreme pain, bleeding, you can get seen quickly.   

If you can get into an NHS dentist, then you will pay a fixed amount of one of three charges for treatment. A basic check up is £16.50, but if you need any work done you will either pay a total of £45.60 or £198 for the entire treatment (including check up). The list of NHS dental charges is here: http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1781.aspx?CategoryID=74&SubCategoryID=74

Depends on where you are - I just signed up with my dentist and had an appt within a week (NHS), but as the above poster said, that's not the case everywhere.

Compared to what I would pay at home though, it's a MUCH better deal.

Just taking a look at your previous posts, ThePeffy, if you are under 19 and still in full-time education, I think you may qualify for free NHS dental treatment, but once you are 19, you will have to start paying.

Not sure where you live in Lancashire, but doing a search on the NHS site for Lancashire dentists (there are about 100 in total!), the majority do not seem to be accepting fee-paying NHS patients at the moment (only 1 surgery of the 50 I looked at is accepting new NHS patients!). However, a few do say that they are accepting new children age 0-18 for NHS treatment, so if you qualify for that you may be able to register at one of those.

It may not apply to the OP, but just a note for others that the age of free dental treatment is higher in Wales.  You also get free dental Tx as a pregnant woman or within a year of having a child.  I think seniors also get assistance, but I don't know for sure.

I managed to get into a new dentist the next day when I went last week, so it really depends on where you live.

Yeah, it seems that NO dentist around here is accepting any new NHS patients, and since I am 18 and full-time student, it's harder. I'll have to pop into the uni sometime this week and ask if they can help me sort something out... I mean, where else do all the other students go?!

Thanks for all your help though. I'm pretty sure I'll end up doing it here if I can find an appointment!