Use this form to claim a refund for dental charges if you are entitled to help with healthcare costs. 4. Once you have exhausted all of these options, your next step depends on where you live in the UK. Historic ocean treaty agreed after decade of talks, China looks at reforms to deepen Xi's control, Inside the enclave surrounded by pro-Russia forces, 'The nurses wanted me to feel guilty about my abortion, From Afghan TV fame to a US factory floor. Sadly these claims look like they were cobbled together on the back of an envelope. We check the NHS website daily so your list of NHS dentists taking on new patients is as up-to-date as possible. Find NHS dentists taking new NHS patients near you (checked daily). Dentists may not refuse any NHS treatment and then offer to perform it privately. Dr Gidney said there are a few rare exceptions, but most apart from the poorest must pay for treatment. Dentaly.org is reader-supported. But a first call to a dentist seven miles away in Carmarthen was greeted with a "no". As a reporter, I decided to google NHS dentists around south Wales and call them to see what availability there is elsewhere. Many are now only accepting patients who can pay privately. A recent BBC investigation found that 90% of NHS dental practices across the whole of the UK were not taking new NHS patients with some council areas not having any space at all. Dafydd Williams has lived in Newtown, Powys, for 20 years but his dentist is in Telford, Shropshire. Just input your postcode and a list of your nearest NHS dentists will pop up with information on which ones are taking on new patients. These are the closest NHS dentists who have indicated they are currently taking new NHS patients: School Road Dental Practice. My kids need me.I've got a three year old who is a little whirlwind most of the time, but when I've had a seizure, he sits beside me and he calms down. "We are constantly just playing catch-up. Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds, who represents Mid and West Wales in the Senedd, said she had discovered that in November last year, there were 794 children under 18 on a waiting list for an NHS dentist in Powys alone. NHS dentistry is still far from a universal service in Wales, with just 37% of dentists currently accepting new NHS patients. . If they are only taking patients on referral this means that they are only taking on those referred from other dentists and doctors. As the first point of contact for patients, a friendly, helpful manner is a must whether face to face or over the phone. If the dental practice you contact is full or doesn't provide NHS care, this doesn't mean there is no NHS dental care available locally. How much does dental treatment cost? It added: "We have asked health boards to encourage dental practices to recall people who are overdue their routine NHS dental examination and to provide appropriate NHS treatment for all. Meanwhile, many patients are not getting NHS treatment and funding is going unspent. "There are currently 29 NHS contracts in Newport which attracts 8.3m of investment. The practice location is a three-minute walk from the bus and train station in town. A staggering 88% of the practices I phoned said their books were not open to new clients. Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Andrew Dickenson, the chief dental officer for Wales, said dentistry has had "some very unique challenges" over the past few years. However Russell Gidney, chair of the British Dental Association's Welsh general dental practice committee, said: The Welsh Government is attempting to conjure up new appointments without meaningful investment. 2023 BBC. Health experts explain what you can do to improve your symptoms, David Attenborough's latest series expected to be his last on location, The naturalist's next series will focus on British natural history, Jeremy Clarkson farm petition amasses 140k signatures as fans fight 'planning injustice', Clarkson took control of Diddly Squat Farm in recent years with his forays into the world of agriculture documented in an Amazon Prime show, Matt Hancock said ousting NHS England chief executive would be massive improvement, The former health secretary reportedly discussed Simon Stevens, now Lord Stevens, with Boris Johnsons then chief adviser Dominic Cummings, 'My kids need me': Mum of four waits three years for surgery to remove a brain tumour, "If I've got a fighting chance, I've got more of a reason to get through it now. The answer was not the one I wanted. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. "We are working with the British Dental Association and the wider dental community to reform the contracting arrangements for NHS dental provision. Entitlement to free NHS dental examinations and treatment, Claim a refund of NHS dental charges: form HC5W (D), are pregnant or have had a baby within the 12 month before treatment starts, are an NHS in-patient and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist, are an NHS Hospital Dental Service out-patient (there may be a charge for dentures and bridges), you are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate. 2. Historic ocean treaty agreed after decade of talks, China looks at reforms to deepen Xi's control, Inside the enclave surrounded by pro-Russia forces, 'The nurses wanted me to feel guilty about my abortion, From Afghan TV fame to a US factory floor. And it warned the poorest were suffering most as they were least able to afford to pay for private dentistry. Patients who contact the helpline must either be registered with a Powys GP practice or live in Powys. Meanwhile, in Cardiff, 17 calls to surgeries yielded just three yeses. This comes as the Welsh government aims to introduce 112,000 appointments for new patients. Looking for an NHS dentist to register with? Turkey "The time and the stress that the admin is causing me, I'm spending more of my time ticking boxes and doing paperwork than treating people.". GOV.WALES uses cookies which are essential for the site to work. A check-up costs about 14, fillings and treatment for gum disease about 47, with the cost for more complex work rising to around 200. "A lot of us don't want to leave (the industry), but I've been doing it 20 years and every year it gets harder," he said. . Sign up to receive the latest news and offers from Dentaly.org. There are 9,000 people on his NHS list, for example, but this year he will only see about 5,500 of them. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet. Its important to remember that when you feel like you are out of options, you can still opt for private care. Also, there is some work you can't get on the NHS, such as cosmetics and implants. Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (ABMUHB) Dental HelplineCovers Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea(24 hours) telephone 0845 46 47 Betsi Cadwaladr Dental Helpline Covers Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham(24 hours) telephone 0845 46 47 Hywel Dda & Powys Dental Helpline Covers Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Powys(24 hours) telephone 0845 46 47 Aneurin Bevan Dental HelplineThe contact telephone number for the Aneurin Bevan Dental Helpline is the same for both daytime and evenings/weekends/bank holidays: 01633 744387Cardiff and Vale Dental HelplineCovers Cardiff and the Vale of GlamorganTelephone number available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - Cardiff 02920 444500 Cwm Taf Dental Helpline Covers Rhondda Cynon Taff & Merthyr Tydfil9am to 5pm Monday to Friday: 01443 680166 For evenings, weekends and bank holidays only - 0300 1235060, I was told: "There's limited availability for dentists that are taking on NHS patients.". However, if you call Merthyr Tydfil your home, you have a strong possibility of striking it lucky. . They are also responsible for: Improving physical and mental health outcomes Promoting wellbeing Reducing health inequalities across their population What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? All will perform a mixture of NHS and private work, according to Dr Russell Gidney, who has a practice in Chepstow, Monmouthshire. This is not just a Wales problem. A time of significant change and impact for dentistry in Wales. Suddenly, the need to register with a dentist moved sharply up the to-do list. people were unable to access an NHS dentist in Wales, Harry: I always felt different to rest of family, Chris Rock talks Oscars slap in live Netflix show, PM to end asylum claims from small boat arrivals, Everything Everywhere wins big ahead of Oscars, Mbappe breaks PSG goal record in win over Nantes, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc. It said some people were living in pain, unable to speak or eat properly, because they could not find treatment. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. In terms of funding, the Health Board has an agreed three-year plan to improve access to dental services across Hywel Dda, but this needs to be based on need and the current access rates per locality across Hywel Dda. This dentist has not supplied this information in the last 90 days. However, he said often this is "a temporary fix, to put you out of pain and make you stable". Get a free quote for your dental work abroad, Age But we require deeds not words to guarantee the future of this service and end the postcode lottery of care. No-one should be suffering from toothache, a dental infection or problems from their mouth - your regular dentist is able to provide care and advice quickly and emergency dentists are available. The man said patients in Swansea were facing a two to three-month wait. On top of this, his surgery will be able to see 1,800 new patients, which means the other 3,500 existing patients will have to wait until 2023. Another said they could only take on children as new NHS patients, while many said they had a waiting list stretching on for months. Over the last two decades there has been a steady decrease in tooth decay; more adults are keeping their teeth and there has . This is partly due to sanitisation protocols or staff going off sick to isolate when testing positive for the virus. Wales Online contacted health boards across south Wales for comments, and we are awaiting some responses. The British Dental Association (BDA) said the system had left dentists fearing for the survival of NHS practices, with many dentists considering quitting their contracts due to threats of fines. It's not profiteering at all, the Dentists are bound by the rules given by the NHSE so they cannot do routine check ups atm or they would loose their NHS contract. My partner and I had just moved to a small village near Carmarthen and, as we were settling in, his problems began. He said the association had taken the message to the Welsh Assembly, and was in negotiations regarding a new contract. There's more access to new patients but at the expense of others," he said. While he is working through the list, he is seeing his regular patients who are "low risk" less often. 165 Victoria Rd, Aldershot GU11 1JR. "At present services are being recovered, but that takes time and I can fully appreciate the sentiments coming from Dr Roberts and Mr Williams but what we've been trying to do is address the unmet need for the population.". One dentist believes the situation will improve for those on waiting lists, but on the whole, we will have to get used to being seen less often. "You manage to save up money, save for a holiday, I'll be saving to have my teeth done every three months," she said. Sandra Hembery had moved to Wales and wanted an NHS dentist - this is what happened next Keep up to date with the latest stories with our WalesOnline newsletter. It said it was "always disappointing" when a dentist returned their contract and it was investing 2m annually . The largest health organisation in Wales, providing a full range of primary, community, mental health, acute and elective hospital services for a population of . Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Bear in mind that the health board for the area (Cardiff and Vale) also includes the Vale of Glamorgan but for the purposes of this research they were not included.