Any NHS Dentists here?

[Chlamydia]

Evening, I'm looking for some advice from anyone involved in NHS Dentistry.

For years I had dental health coverage with my employer but when I changed work about two years ago the new employer didn't offer dental. No problem, I'll go NHS I thought, and then promptly forgot about it

Anyway, sod's law meant that a few days ago I cracked a tooth so I went to see a private dentist who told me that the cracked tooth and some root canal treatment I apparently need would cost me over £1,200! Sod that - time to find an NHS dentist! I've found one that's local to me that is taking on patients and has a good reputation but as I've not had an NHS dentist for almost 30 years, (private with previous employer and I was in the Armed Forces before that so it was military dentists then), I'm not sure about a few things and I'm hoping someone here can help:

1. Don't I register with a dentist? One I called said there's no need to register, but surely I do otherwise how would they get my dental records? I may have confused the receptionist and maybe she thought I was talking about emergency dental work. The NHS website also says there's no requirement to register but I'm assuming that is also regarding emergency treatment?
2. The same dentist said that they only take on people with no dental problems. What?? She said any work required would be charged at private rates and once sorted THEN they'd take me on as an NHS patient. I've asked around friends and they are of the opinion that this dentist was trying it on, but then they've all been with their dentists for years so maybe it's something new?
3. I've researched the Bands system for NHS dental costs and see that Band 1 is for diagnosis/check-ups etc at £18.50, Band 2 is for fillings, root canal treatment etc at £50.50. In my example of requiring work on a cracked tooth and root canal treatment I assume that will involve a check-up (Band 1), and two separate Band 2 treatments: 1 x £18.50 and 2 x £50.50. Is that correct or would it involve two check-ups and two treatments, or even one check-up and both Band 2 works carried out at the same time?

You can see I'm confusing myself here

I had more questions but the NHS website answered a few and for the life of me I can't remember what the others were.

[fourfoldroot]

There is no longer registration. The dentist is pulling a fast one requiring you to be dentally fit prior to accepting you as an nhs patient.Band 2 includes the band 1 items so theoretically you will only have to pay the fifty odd pound charge once and that will cover all your treatment. Having said that , the tooth may require a crown which will push the treatment into band 3, and again it includes all treatments necessary in the lower bands. They won't want to do it though.

Edited by fourfoldroot on Saturday 26th July 20:12

[Chlamydia]

Thanks for the quick reply. Funnily enough just as I posted my questions a friend sent me a link to an NHS page saying that dentists can't get you to pay for private work prior to taking you as an NHS patient, so I'll definitely give that one a miss. It's all changed so much since I was last NHS in the eighties.

[Chlamydia]

I just wanted to thank fourfoldroot for his advice, it was spot on so cheers