Can You Have 2 Dentists?

Finding a good dentist depends on so many factors. You have to take into account whether they are an NHS dentist or a private dentist, their patient availability, their quality of care, fees, opening hours, and location.

There may come a time in your life where you find yourself wondering, can you have 2 dentists?

For example, you may be a university student who is moving away from your home town to live in student accommodation. When you have moved, you may have to register with a new dentist during term time, while still being registered at your home town dentist for the rest of the academic year, when you return home.

Or, you may be unhappy at your current dental practice, so you are interested in getting a second opinion, from another dentist.

So, can you have 2 dentists? We will outline the answer in this article.

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Here at Didsbury Dental Practice, we regularly update our blog with articles about all things dental health. We publish these articles to answer frequently asked questions that we know people are searching online if they are experiencing toothache or a dental emergency.

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What is the difference between a private dentist and an NHS dentist?

An NHS dentist refers to dentistry which is available on the NHS, as it has been subsidised by the government. Every NHS dental practice is given a fixed NHS budget, which usually comes with limitations. For example, the NHS dental practice may only operate from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

There are patients who are entitled to free NHS dental treatment, such as people under 18, people being treated in an NHS hospital, pregnant women, and people on low-income benefits.

At NHS dentists, you have to pay for certain treatments, such as emergency dental treatment. However, there are treatments available which are free of charge, such as having your stitches removed or if your dentures need repairing.

Click here to view the list of services available at NHS dentists.

Whereas, at private dentists, patients have to pay privately for any dental treatment they undergo. Private dentists do not work on a fixed budget, so they offer a wider selection of treatments, such as cosmetic work, which are unavailable on the NHS.

Moreover, at a private dental practice, they may choose not to take any NHS patients, and instead, have private patients registered who pay fees for appointments and treatments.

Can you have 2 dentists?

With NHS dentists, you can register with more than 1 NHS dentist if you wish, and you do not have to pick a dentist which is closest to your location.

With private dentistry, we would always advise patients to register with 1 dental practice of their choosing, and have all their checkups, appointments and treatments there.

Having 1 dentist is much easier and more convenient option for your oral health. Your dentist will know your medical history and they will have carried out previous check-ups and treatments on you. So, the dentist will get to know you well, with every appointment you have, so any potential issues will be diagnosed quicker, and you will feel more comfortable as you go along.

If you register with 2 dentists at the same time, then this may end up being a colossal waste of time, money and effort.

However, we understand that there may be times when you have to visit a second dentist.

For instance, if you experience a dental emergency out-of-hours, and your current dental practice is closed, then you may have to seek emergency care at an emergency dentist (such as ours at Didsbury Dental Practice). In this case, it wouldn’t matter that you are already registered with another dentist. You would simply contact the emergency dentist and they would see you as soon as possible, to correct the problem and offer you the best care or treatment.

Additionally, some private dental practices allow you to come in for cosmetic work such as lip fillers and Botox, even if you are not registered there as a patient. So, in this situation, it is perfectly acceptable to get these cosmetic treatments done at a different dentist than you normally go to.

Do you know the benefits of trusting a dentist to carry out lip fillers or Botox?

Dentists are a medical professionals who have specialist knowledge of facial anatomy, are experienced in administering injectables to the face, and they are experts at creating a safe, comfortable environment for patients.

Can You Have 2 Dentists? — Can You Have 2 Dentists

Can you have both NHS and private dentists?

Yes, patients are allowed to have a mix of both NHS and private dental treatments.

For example, if you are under 18, you are entitled to free NHS dental treatment, but you may benefit from Invisalign Teen, which is only available at private dentists. So, you can get Invisalign Teen at a private dental practice (such as ours at Didsbury Dental Practice), while still being registered with your NHS dentist.

Why do dentists take you off their list?

So, you have just attended a check-up at the dentist, and you are waiting for a new appointment to be made for you in 6 months’ or 12 months’ time. The appointment letter never comes. When you call up your dentist to make a new appointment, they inform you that you have been removed from their patient register. Why does this happen?

A dentist will take you off their list if you:

let more than 2 years lapse between appointments
miss an appointment
are late to appointments

NHS dental practices have no choice but to remove patients from their list, due to the high volumes of people who are on the waiting list to join.

To avoid being de-registered at a dental practice, you should always make a follow-up appointment after your check-up has ended, in 6 months’ or 12 months’ time. It is not the responsibility of the dentist to make appointments for you, annually or bi-annually.

Always note down in your calendar or diary the dates and times of your appointments, and call ahead if something comes up and you are unable to attend your appointment.

To avoid being late to your dental appointments, aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled slot.

How do you switch from an NHS dentist to a private dentist?

Many people switch from an NHS dentist to a private dentist, because they have moved house, because they are unhappy with the care provided, or because they wish to be seen by a different dentist.

You can register for a private dentist by calling them and asking them if they are taking on new, private patients. If they are, then you will be able to register with them.

Before you register with a private dentist, you should inform your NHS dentist that you will be moving to another dental practice. Make sure you have cancelled any upcoming appointments and finished paying for any treatments.

Your new dentist can ask your previous dentist for your dental records, so they can understand what your care needs are.

If you want to join a new NHS dentist, then there is likely to be a long waiting list, so you may have to wait months to be seen.

Is it ok to get a second opinion from a dentist?

Yes, if you are not happy with the care you are receiving, then you can ask for a second opinion from another dentist at your dental practice.

If you want to move to a new dental practice and leave your current one, then don’t forget to inform them you are leaving, cancel any upcoming appointments and pay for any fees left.

Emergency dental care at Didsbury Dental Practice

Our emergency dental care is second to none.

Our team of dental professionals can provide treatment for any type of dental emergency: from severe toothache and tooth infections to broken teeth, lost fillings or broken dentures.

Didsbury Dental Practice has got you covered, at any time of day or night. Dental emergencies can be very painful, so we offer out-of-hours treatment because we know that dental problems don’t always stick to 9.00 am to 12.00 am.

To book an emergency appointment, it is not necessary for you to be an existing patient at our practice.

If you experience a dental emergency, simply call our dental emergency helpline on 0161 413 2509, or walk into our dental practice on 90 Barlow Moor Road, Manchester, M20 2PN, and we will aim to see you as soon as possible.

Click here to learn more about the emergency dental care offered at Didsbury Dental Practice.

We hope we have answered the question ‘can you have 2 dentists?’

To learn more about Didsbury Dental Practice, visit our website here.

We offer a wide range of dental services and treatments, including teeth whitening, Invisalign, Alias lingual braces, Six Month Smiles Braces and Damon Clear Braces.

If you need an emergency appointment, call our dental emergency helpline on 0161 413 2835, or walk into our practice and we will aim to see you as soon as possible.

Visit our blog to read more articles on dental health.