Dental treatment

[Trish9]

Is there any rating system for private/NHS dentists? How do you find a good one. I'm not happy with my current NHS dentist but all others in area are not taking on more patients. Even local private ones say they are not taking on. How do you go about getting a second opinion? My current dentist only answer to problems is to extract teeth. Maybe she is right but how do I know?
A check up, filling and clean and polish was done in 12 minutes. My teeth have never looked so bad. Any suggestions please

[rowanwitch]

go out of area....it would be worth a trip out a couple of times a year to see a good one.... for ages I went back to london from Birmingham until he died then I had to look for a local one...

[ladybirder]

Having the same problem Trish. I've been looking for a decent dentist in Brighton/Hove area plus 10/15 miles; there are plenty but I've no idea if they're any good or not and can't find anybody to recommend one. Sigh!

[bednobs]

there is no rating system as such. On NHS choices, you may find feedback from the public on different dentists. The NHS contract says that the dentist has to keep you orally healthy - if a tooth is infected some dentists read this to mean extractions, even if costly treatments could have saved the tooth

[JustJenni]

I had the same problem with my old dentist and managed to get put on a waiting list for another dentist in my area who is brilliant, spotted a filling that needed replacing straight away that the other one said was fine, and it was such a nice place to be. Do your local ones not even have a waiting list you can put your name down on?

[scotman]

It's just like everything else; word of mouth is best.

[boxtops]

If you're not happy then you should be complaining to your local PCT - every one has a complaints process.