Maternity exemption for the dentist (UK)

The exemption only works with NHS dentists so if your practice is going private then you'll need to find another NHS one. I've never managed to use any of the free dental care despite being pregnant twice 😂

@Caroline same here 😒

Exactly as above, my practice does take on NHS patients but as I was a private patient I still paid for dental treatment whilst pregnant and post partum, despite my exemption. So I would absolutely get any treatment done now before the change in September, or find a practice that is taking on new NHS patients if you’re wanting to make use of your exemption certificate!

I’ve had to stick with my private dentist even though I’m exempt. I have dental insurance through Denplan anyway so I get 80% of it back. Better than nothing I guess haha x

I was able to find an NHS dentist. I think it will just depend on availability in your area.

@Caroline Yes I know the private ones don’t accept NHS exemptions, I should have worded it different 😅 I’m trying to find another NHS one for now then once my exemption is finished I’ll go to private. That’s a shame you’ve never managed to use it.

@Chloe I won’t get my exemption until 20 plus weeks (I can’t remember) & i’m still early on. I’m just trying to be organised 😅

Thankyou everyone, I’ll just keep trying places 🤞🏻

You get the exemption the minute you're pregnant, ask your midwife for the exemption certificate

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist I used this page to find dentists in my area/ as close to my area as possible accepting NHS patients. I hope this helps ! 🤗

You shouldn’t be waiting until 20+ weeks for your NHS exemption cert, I’ve had mine from as early as 9 weeks (at my booking appointment)

As others have said, I've been pregnant twice in the last 4yrs and didn't manage to use the free dentistry either time - all the NHS dentists around here have either closed or gone private since Covid. 😔

I had to go private as all the NHS dentists where full. My mum offered to pay for my check up. I'm slowly saving up for the £500 worth of work I need done, but I don't have £500 to spend on my teeth (to be fair I knew at least 2 teeth needed re filling as they've been broken for 3 years..... and I just haven't seen a dentist about it as there haven't been NHS dentists with spaces for the last 5 years)

@Rachel I’ll have to ask on my first appointment then, I didn’t realise 🙈 my brain is constantly farting 😂