"Availability of NHS Dentist in Plymouth"

I have worked full time since I was 18 and therefore not previously been entitled to free dental treatment.

Being 6 months pregnant I attempted to register with an NHS dentist in September this year and was told Plymouth has a 6 month waiting list, which I joined.

I am now 9 months pregnant and yesterday an old filling fell out leaving quite a substantial gap in my tooth and obviously leaving the tooth open to further damage. However because I am not in 'excruciating pain' I can not see a dentist until the 6 months is up. So basically I have been told that I cannot receive the NHS treatment that I am supposedly entitled to until I am in severe pain and the problem with my tooth has worsened.

To make matters worse when I contacted the local phone number for 'people who are not registered with a dentist' the receptionist I spoke to was incredibly rude and asked me 'not to waste their time as everyone thinks their problem is urgent' and ' if my pain threshold is really that low I could book me an appointment'. I have never been spoken to in that way before.

I have now made an appointment with a private dentist as I don't want to leave the problem to a point where it causes me severe pain.

If you have a medical problem you don't wait until it is so severe you need hospitalising before you receive treatment....do you?