Decent NHS dentist in SW2/SW9/Brixton area?

[ViolentPanda]

Yes, I know it's been asked a thousand times before, but I couldn't find a thread, so...
Anyone know of a decent dentist in SW2 who takes NHS patients? I've not got an urgent problem, but I have been occasionally grinding my teeth in my sleep lately, and this morning I woke up with some small bits of tooth in my mouth, so I'll probably have a problem in the near future. As I haven't been to a dentist for about 5-6 years (the last one did an extraction, but missed 3 bone/tooth splinters, which exited painfully, one by one, through my gums over the next fortnight, putting me off of dentists a bit!), they'll probably have a fair bit of work to do.

E2A:

Surgery needs to be on the ground floor, as I can't do stairs without a great deal of pain and a healthy dose of opiate analgesics.

 

[quimcunx]

http://www.bluedentalcare.co.uk/

have been recommended by a number of people here. I've been to them and have no real opinion good or bad.

e2a:
No good to you though re stairs. They have godawful ones.


Unless you could enter from the rear........ maybe 3 steps.

 

[editor]

They're excellent - I went there for the first time last week and they were miles better than the bunch at Loughborough Junction who seemed to have changed dentists every time I went back. When they started sending out reminders in hand written notes written on scraps of paper, I figured it was time to quit.


I'll change the thread title to reflect the fact that they're in SW9.

 

[TruXta]

They really are very good. Got some wisdom teeth out there a couple of years ago, not a problem in sight.

 

[Crispy]

Yep, blue were good with Sparrow's teeth.

Do NOT go to the pavilion dental practice.

 

[Badgers]

Helpful

 

[teuchter]

I go to the Half Moon place in Herne Hill and find them OK although I've never had to have any major things done. All on the ground floor and I think ramped access from the street.

 

[Mrs Redboots]

I go to the one half-way up Acre Lane, opposite Tesco's. Gerard O'Keefe, I think he calls himself. Very nice, and is sweet about my dental phobia.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I go to one in Streatham High Road who I much prefer to Dental Solutions on Brixton Hill.

They even do x-rays in the same room you're being treated in unlike the one on the Hill

 

[se5]

More Camberwell than Brixton perhaps but I would recommend the dentist at 167 Camberwell New Road, SE5 (next to the Co-Op on Camberwell New Road just down from Kennington Park) tel 020 7582 2562 - Ive been with them for about five years and always got good NHS service for the extractions and root canal treatments Ive had the pleasure of undergoing.

 

[Ms Ordinary]

Half Moon don't seem to take on 'entitled to free treatment' NHS patients (except for kids) if that's an issue - but their pricing structure for private patients seems very similar to NHS levels so they may be a good option if you would normally have to pay for NHS treatment.

I go to Blue who are great, but I think the stairs would be a problem. The reception is down below street level & then the surgeries are on the first floor - unless they have an accessible way in that I don't know about.

There is also the King's College Hospital Community Special Care Dentistry Clinic at Elmcourt Health Centre - Their general criteria for eligibility used to be 'if you would otherwise be unable to access dental care' so they might be worth a try if you can't find a dentist you can get to. It's SE27 but Tulse Hill end.

http://referrals.kch.nhs.uk/directory/dental/community-special-care-dentistry/ has more info about their specific criteria, when I last had contact with them they seemed to be quite flexible about who could get referred, this was a few years back though.

 

[Greebo]

Half Moon don't seem to take on 'entitled to free treatment' NHS patients (except for kids) if that's an issue - but their pricing structure for private patients seems very similar to NHS levels so they may be a good option if you would normally have to pay for NHS treatment.

VP and I are entitled to free treatment, and have previous experience of a dentist (v good but retired now) charging NHS type fees for private work (Denplan)- let's just say he got a bit sniffy if you said point blank that you really couldn't pay, and were fee exempt. In spite of sniffiness, his NHS work was v good eg. he sculpted surface contours in amalgam fillings and you could hardly feel the injection.

Thanks for all the replies. The retired dentist (out near Balham) was replaced with one who was really nice and gentle but just not that good at some things. The botched extraction she did on VP (FFS it took 2 appointments!) has put us both off going back there. Stairs (even a few) are absolutely a problem. It needs to be a dentist who's really good with patients who've had one or more pretty bad experiences before.

Anyway, will check the A to Z - Half Moon's near as the crow flies, but not that near by minicab (VP can't walk far at the best of times, let alone when nervous).

Thanks everyone for all the replies. As VP said, it's not absolutely urgent (and he's not v mobile at this time of year) but he really wanted to find one he can get to when he's mobile enough again. If anyone else has any recommendations, please add them.

 

[colacubes]

Again, nothing but good things to say about Blue Dental Care, but they're not much good if you've got mobility problems as all the consultation rooms are upstairs I think. Worth calling them to check though as they may have one hiding on the ground floor I've not noticed.

 

[teuchter]

Half Moon don't seem to take on 'entitled to free treatment' NHS patients (except for kids) if that's an issue - but their pricing structure for private patients seems very similar to NHS levels so they may be a good option if you would normally have to pay for NHS treatment.

Yeah I've got a feeling that when I was originally looking around, Half Moon were actually quoting lowers prices than those that some others were to take me on as an NHS patient. Which I guess is why I ended up there. I seem to remember being a bit confused about the whole NHS/not NHS thing at the time.

 

[kjopa]

I'm a bit new to this board - but this post got my attention....why do you suggest not to go to the pavilion dental practice? I have an appointment to go there next week but I'm now thinking against it.

 

[Badgers]

Ouch

I need to sort something out this week as have a pretty bad situation in my rear top right teeth. Not a dental expert myself but it might be a bad infection or at worst an abscess. Gums and roof of mouth are pretty swollen but face is no fatter than usual. Did speak to NHS direct yesterday but Easter Sunday/Monday are not the best days to have dental problems.

Not been to a dentist for some (about 4-5?) years now so not registered. Have no idea about my private/NHS status and not wealthy at the moment, guess wherever I go will advise on my options?

Have been given some more than adequate painkillers and swilling with warm salty water regularly. Not sure if there is anything else I can do here?

 

[colacubes]

Ouch

I need to sort something out this week as have a pretty bad situation in my rear top right teeth. Not a dental expert myself but it might be a bad infection or at worst an abscess. Gums and roof of mouth are pretty swollen but face is no fatter than usual. Did speak to NHS direct yesterday but Easter Sunday/Monday are not the best days to have dental problems.

Not been to a dentist for some (about 4-5?) years now so not registered. Have no idea about my private/NHS status and not wealthy at the moment, guess wherever I go will advise on my options?

Have been given some more than adequate painkillers and swilling with warm salty water regularly. Not sure if there is anything else I can do here?

Blu Dental Care opposite Brixton Academy. NHS , v nice and I got an appt within 24 hours of registering. I was recommended them off here and have since recommended them. All the people I know who've used em only have good things to say.

Oh, and (((Badgers)))

 

[Badgers]

Blu Dental Care opposite Brixton Academy. NHS , v nice and I got an appt within 24 hours of registering. I was recommended them off here and have since recommended them. All the people I know who've used em only have good things to say.

Oh, and (((Badgers)))

Cheers Nips. Sounds like the first port if call tomorrow. Doubt I can avoid work tomorrow which is a (more) pain. Most annoying to have this happen on a nice hot holiday weekend. Can't eat or speak much either, denied two of my favourite things

 

[kittyP]

Does anyone think there is much chance of getting the boy an emergency appointment tomorrow considering we are not registered?
I am really concerned about him.
He is in so much pain. He is asleep now but only after possibly a little too much codeine.

 

[gaijingirl]

Just looked on the HAlf Moon website (my dentist) and their emergency no is:

"The out of hours emergency number is 020 8299 5509 or 0845 4647"

they also say..

"Out of Hours Emergencies

We always try to offer an emergency appointment the same day, but please phone as early as possible. Outside normal hours, please contact Southwark Primary Care Trust Dental Emergency Service on 020 8299 5509 or NHS Direct on 0845 4647"

on the Lambeth website it says:

"Dentist out of hours
In a dental emergency out of normal surgery hours call 020 8299 5509. Otherwise call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 who will assess and advise you accordingly."

(so the Lambeth and Southwark no are the same - I'd give them a ring first of all personally and take it from there).

Good luck.. poor Badgers...

 

[kittyP]

Thanks GG.
I got the Lambeth number from NHS direct yesterday but just ended up going round in circles and back with NHS direct again.
I'll try again tomorrow morning.
Fingers crossed.

 

[peterkro]

Does anyone think there is much chance of getting the boy an emergency appointment tomorrow considering we are not registered?
I am really concerned about him.
He is in so much pain. He is asleep now but only after possibly a little too much codeine.

If you can get to Kings Dental School,they have a walk in clinic and give priority to kids.If it's simple a student will do it,if it's more tricky you'll likely get a consultant.

 

[Badgers]

Moan, sympathy, moan, sympathy

 

[tufty79]

Aw (((badgers))) neil markham on streatham hill, in the same building as the edith cavell doctor's surgery, saw me same day last year, and no probs with nhs. Will wang you their number. They also have step free access. Blue were also v good on all the above except steps a couple of years back. Hope you get your gob sorted x

 

[marty21]

good luck with the gnashers Badgers.

 

[kittyP]

Aw (((badgers))) neil markham on streatham hill, in the same building as the edith cavell doctor's surgery, saw me same day last year, and no probs with nhs. Will wang you their number. They also have step free access. Blue were also v good on all the above except steps a couple of years back. Hope you get your gob sorted x

Could you PM me the number too Tufty please?

 

[Badgers]

Could you PM me the number too Tufty please?

0203 049 5959

 

[kittyP]

Right I have spoken to Lambeth Patient Pals and they gave the Kings Emergency Dental number.
Unfortunatly they are only out of hours and may not even see him if I get in touch with them out of hours.

I have spoken to Blue Dental Care Brixton and they are cancelling existing appointments today as they are so swamped but have said that he can go down at 9.30am tomorrow and wait to see if something comes up.
They said the initial appointment will cost £17 which is payable on the day.
Anything after that will not cost more that £204 .

Dos anyone know if on the NHS that fee is payable in instalments?
The receptionist didn't know.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Slightly different but related question.

Friend wants to get teeth deep cleaned, but no hygienist at his dentist.

Does anyone know a dental hygienist that doesn't have long waiting lists?

 

[peterkro]

^^Perfect Smile Becmead Ave Streatham 020 8769 1920. It costs £45,James Agar who works there is an excellent dentist although I don't like these franchised dental services in general.