Advise on dentists?

[chess]

My teeth are making 'we have Issues and wish to register a complaint' noises. They are not yet emergency-level painful but it hurts to chew on one side of my mouth, and I believe it to be something wrong with the molar that I've previously been told have a hairline crack which might develop into something nasty in time.

I am not currently registered with a dentist, and have no idea how to go about doing this (my parents have always previously dealt with this kind of thing).

I do have not inconsiderable quantities of money so private dentistry sounds like a reasonable option, as apparently NHS dentistry is almost impossible to get back into once it lapses.

The last time I'm aware of having any dental records was at the University Dental Clinic. It may also be relevant that I abandoned them while in no fit mental state to deal with anything, missed an appointment, received a letter fining me some money, never did anything about this and never went back. (Getting to them within opening hours has been Very Difficult at all subsequent points, including this one.)

Also, I currently have no bank card because I lost my bank card *again*, which makes actually paying people things a more long-winded process than usual, as I have to transfer the money to Nicholas' bank account and have him get it out of a wall / do the paying.

Some advice would be appreciated.

Comments

[ktx.livejournal.com]

I have had similar trauma. I had bad toothache for about a week, but wasn't allowed see an emergency dentist because I wasn't about to die. I tried to get onto NHS books in Southampton, but there was a 6 month waiting list, I also tried one back home in Brentwood, and got an an appointment straight away. Since you have to pay for NHS dentists anyway, I would say go straight to a private one for a checkup - if they find a million pounds worth of stuff that's wrong with you, it is always possible to find an NHS one at a later date.