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I have a couple of queries that I hope somebody will be able to help me resolve about NHS dental charges.
I went to the dentist in October for a check-up. Now, all they do on the check-up is basically, check, no clean or polish or anything. And then if you are needing treatment, you have to make another appointment to come back.
On this occasion, I was told I needed a filling, so I made the appointment to return on a later date. I paid £15.50 for this first appointment and got told next time I would owe £26.90
On my second appointment, in December, when I arrived, I was booked to see the hygeniest, not the dentist (which I was never told about, and only found out when I walked into the room and saw it was a different person!). I had a filling, and a scale and polish (which again, I never got told I needed). For this appointment I got charged £42.40.
By the time I had paid and got home, I remembered what they said about it only being £26.90 this time around. Today, I rang them to check this, and they told me it was right what I had paid as I paid £26.90 for the filling and then another £15.50 for the scale and polish.
I have had a look on the NHS website today, and it says that the scale and polish is included in the first £15.50 that I paid on the first occasion, and just because I had to go back again, which is down to them anyway, it is still included.
So again I phoned the dentist practice up, no, that is wrong, because the hygienist did it, it is more work for them than a dentist and that is why they are charging extra.
Now, to me, this isn't right. Surely I should be due £15.50 back for the extra that I have been charged. Are there any knowledgable people on here that could help me with this??
Thank you in advance!!
Hi,
Looking at the date of this post you have probably sorted this matter out by now but you are well within your rights to complain about this, and you should first contact the PCT and explain to them what you have been charged.
We must stop Dentist from conning the public out of their hard earnt cash and this sort of thing is happening all the time and more people need to complain to be able to get some action on this.
I have just successfully had my old Dentist investigated with the help of the PCT and ICAS and made it a sort of landmark case for ICAS and they are now able to take case's a step further due to the breakthrough in mine.
"I WON!!! Hands down" and have paved the way for others but PEOPLE NEED TO COMPLAIN MORE IF THEY ARE BEING OVERCHARGED!!!
I think some dentists are deliberately misleading the public - my husband went to see our new "NHS" dentist this week because one of his front teeth fell out. He paid the £16.20 check-up fee and was told that he needed 2 wisdom teeth extractions at a cost of £200 and bridge work for his missing tooth at £1500 (which in this recession is not a goer). It was only a chance conversation with my brother and a quick trip to the NHS website which seemed to imply that there is a ceiling of £198 for all of this week - can anybody verify that is the case - or am I misunderstanding the price list? - more to the point - am I being misled?
which lists NHS dental charges. It looks as if you are right. Go back to the dentist and point this out. If you are still unhappy with their explanation, ask them to put it in writing to you and make a formal complaint.
I have to say that I wish I had access to an NHS dentist. I pay £33 for a five minute checkup every six months. Fortunately, I've needed no work to my teeth in years. Sounds like I may have to remortgage my house when that happens!
I attended the dentist today, they have come up with what I think is a great way of adding £45.60 (Band 2) to my final treatment payment of £198.00 (Band 3)............Do half of the work today and charge me £45.60, then tell me to come back in two months time so they can charge £198.00 because you are out of time?? I queried this and was told that it's the dentist new training?? So are dentists now given additional training on how to overcharge?
I think some dentists are deliberately misleading the public - my husband went to see our new "NHS" dentist this week because one of his front teeth fell out. He paid the £16.20 check-up fee and was told that he needed 2 wisdom teeth extractions at a cost of £200 and bridge work for his missing tooth at £1500 (which in this recession is not a goer). It was only a chance conversation with my brother and a quick trip to the NHS website which seemed to imply that there is a ceiling of £198 for all of this week - can anybody verify that is the case - or am I misunderstanding the price list? - more to the point - am I being misled?
I think dentists are not deliberately misleading the public, we have to think according to the dentists point of view , I agree with your price list but the cost of dental equipments are too expensive.
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Right, forgive me if I am wrong but I thought teeth were very important for eating with and had to last a lifetime? So why are people complaining about the NHS charges? Which, as the title suggests are set by the NHS and not the dentist. Think about your car. Every year it needs a service and a MOT (not cheap), parts need replacing on a car which are more expensive than fillings AND you don't expect your car to last a lifetime you will replace it (can't do that with teeth). A little perspective here please people. Also, as someone has already stated, you should be grateful you HAVE an NHS dentist
People are complaining that the charges don't add up to what they are meant to be, and are checking to see if they are being ripped off, which is what this site is all about. Or are all dentists above reproach?
It is an appalling insight into how far the dentistry profession has fallen that you should be GRATEFUL to have an NHS one - I am entitled to free care but I have to pay because my dentist won't take on any more NHS.
As for replacement teeth, I thought that's what implants were (dentures at a push )
One little question I'm curious about - all of your posts are replies to others. What brought you to the site to begin with?
No I am not a dentist but I talk to my dentist and listen to what he says. I would be very grateful to have an NHS dentist but unfortunately live in an area of the country where they are rarer than gold dust and consequently have to pay a small fortune for dentistry and that is without having to pay for implants.
As for your final query I was curious as to how much I would be paying for treatment if I was on the NHS so I googled "NHS charges" and this site came up. I'm sure not all dentists are above reproach but likewise I am sure that they are not all "ripping" people off.
I too have a query about dental charges. I am in Wales where they are slightly cheaper but not much. I am over 60 so I do not pay for check ups. However, on my last visit for a check up, I was told that a top molar on which I have had a gold crown, had decay in it which would have to be cleared and a new crown fitted. On top of that, I have a chrome dental plate which clips around the crown, and he said I would need a new one because the shape of the tooth would be altered. The cost would be £177 for the treatment and £450 for the plate! I have had no problems with my original cown, in fact I have hardly noticed it was there. However, I had to accept his advice, although in hindsight, I wish I hadn't. The new crown was eventually fittted, and my teeth didn't meet, but he said my mouth would adapt. It didn't, so I had to go back because I couldn't bite anything. Then he filed the crown down with the result that it hit the opposite filling and when gold meets filling, it bl**dy hurts! So he then filed down the filling but I am very conscious of this crown and it still is uncomfortable when I bite on it. To top it all, when he fitted the new crown, I asked him to try my existing plate and guess what? It fitted. What a rip off!! I am going back to give him one more chance to put it right, as I have already registered with another dentist for my next check up and if he decides to re-do the crown, that's another £177 which I can ill afford to pay. I have to decide whether I will make a formal complaint, as I have a good relationship with my dentist who I have been with for many years. Any suggestions?
I think some dentists are deliberately misleading the public - my husband went to see our new "NHS" dentist this week because one of his front teeth fell out. He paid the £16.20 check-up fee and was told that he needed 2 wisdom teeth extractions at a cost of £200 and bridge work for his missing tooth at £1500 (which in this recession is not a goer). It was only a chance conversation with my brother and a quick trip to the NHS website which seemed to imply that there is a ceiling of £198 for all of this week - can anybody verify that is the case - or am I misunderstanding the price list? - more to the point - am I being misled?
Only some treatments are available on the NHS. A patient is entitled to all clinically necessary treatment. The dentist decides what is clinically necessary so if you don't like the advice you are given, you will have to find another one.
I always give my patients the option between NHS and private treatment. 99% of missing teeth are treated by way of a plastic denture as that does the job. Just because a patient may prefer bridge does not mean that it is appropriate. There is a difference between what somebody wants and what they need.
It is also illegal for a dentist on the NHS to supply treatment that is more expensive than that that will do the job.
Sometimes treatment does not go smoothly. just decause your old crown felt okay does not mean that it was. Would you advise women to leave a lump in their breast because it didn't hurt?
In my experience, I advise patients that it is 50/50 if an existing metal denture will fit a new crown. I do not provide metal dentures on the 'new' NHS any more unless they are clinically needed (I've done about 10 since April2006) so it would have to be a plastic one in my hands. £450 is a good price for a new metal denture IMHO.
I attended the dentist today, they have come up with what I think is a great way of adding £45.60 (Band 2) to my final treatment payment of £198.00 (Band 3)............Do half of the work today and charge me £45.60, then tell me to come back in two months time so they can charge £198.00 because you are out of time?? I queried this and was told that it's the dentist new training?? So are dentists now given additional training on how to overcharge?
It can sometimes be appropriate to do something to a tooth, leave it for a time and depending on how the tooth behaves, to finally decide on how to treat it. How would you like to pay £198 straight away and then to have the tooth extracted as things were rushed? Yes, doing proper dentistry sometimes attracts a separate fee for a separate course of treatment (for that is what it is).
Sometimes treatment does not go smoothly. just decause your old crown felt okay does not mean that it was. Would you advise women to leave a lump in their breast because it didn't hurt?
In my experience, I advise patients that it is 50/50 if an existing metal denture will fit a new crown. I do not provide metal dentures on the 'new' NHS any more unless they are clinically needed (I've done about 10 since April2006) so it would have to be a plastic one in my hands. £450 is a good price for a new metal denture IMHO.
Cheers
DrT
That is a totally unfair comparison. It is well known that a lump in the breast is life-threatening. A dental plate is not. About your comments that you do not provide metal dentures on the NHS, my dentist told they are not available on the NHS, hence the £450 price. Anyway, my plate feels ok, I guess that means it is ok, so i still think it's a rip off!
That is a totally unfair comparison. It is well known that a lump in the breast is life-threatening. A dental plate is not. About your comments that you do not provide metal dentures on the NHS, my dentist told they are not available on the NHS, hence the £450 price. Anyway, my plate feels ok, I guess that means it is ok, so i still think it's a rip off!
No it isn't...a dental abscess an kill too. It is the same logic you applied anyway..."it does not hurt so why does it need doing?".
What is the rip-off? Your plate feels okay and you have £450 in your pocket.
What I meant was that I didn't have to buy a new plate because the old one fiited, but he was determinded to try and sell me a new plate. That would have been the rip-off!
What I meant was that I didn't have to buy a new plate because the old one fiited, but he was determinded to try and sell me a new plate. That would have been the rip-off!
You are 110% right! My policy, when it comes to dentures, is always let the patient decide if they need a new one. If they are happy, I'm happy.
NHS Dental charges
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