My mum and I go to the same dentist. Me privately, her on the NHS

[p1an0player]

For a check up and filling:

For me, the dentist did the check-up on one day and the filling another day, charging two fees.

For my mum, the dentist did the check-up and offered to do the filling on the same visit. Due to the NHS funding structure, he would only have got one fee whether he did it there and then or on a separate day.

Can any conclusions be drawn from this? Do you have any similar experiences?

[silvercar]

Can any conclusions be drawn from this?

Her filling was smaller than yours?

[Sami_Bee]

For a check up and filling:

For me, the dentist did the check-up on one day and the filling another day, charging two fees.

For my mum, the dentist did the check-up and offered to do the filling on the same visit. Due to the NHS funding structure, he would only have got one fee whether he did it there and then or on a separate day.

Can any conclusions be drawn from this? Do you have any similar experiences?

I've had exactly the same experience only it was me both times, I went back to NHS when I was pregnant to get the free treatment and didn't bother going back to private, also when private the dentist would do scale and polish in same app as a check up but on NHS S&P was done by hygienist on separate app

[peachyprice]

Can any conclusions be drawn from this?


Errr, if your mum had had 2 appointments he would only have been able to claim one back from NHS, so would have been out of pocket for the second appointment?

[p1an0player]

Errr, if your mum had had 2 appointments he would only have been able to claim one back from NHS, so would have been out of pocket for the second appointment?
Thanks :)
So do you think I was effectively overcharged?

[coldstreamalways]

No, I think you pay privately. On the NHS system, the dentist would get about £43 no matter how many visits your mum makes so he will try to squeeze as much work in as possible, (one reason I left the NHS-the quality of work you can do is so limited by time). For you, he charges one fee for the exam and another fee for the filling. I'm sure if you asked him he would have squeezed the filling in that appointment, you would still have had to pay for both but would have got a "quicker" filling.

It's simple economics.......

[p1an0player]

I think I'd rather he "squeezed" in the filling there and then rather than have to get more time off work another day

Are you suggesting that a quick filling might be of lower quality than a leisurely filling?

[coldstreamalways]

Gosh, you do have a pretty accusatory tone. Maybe this is something you should discuss with your dentist.

[breezerockz]

i was private at a nearby dentist, i asked specifically to get one rotten tooth removed, one filled and another filled( turned out need root canal) in one appointment dentist said wouldnt normally numb all three dif areas in one go, but would,but i knew what i needed/wanted done, so could arrange the one appointment with him. (i had to go back for the rc),,

[Toothsmith]

I think I'd rather he "squeezed" in the filling there and then rather than have to get more time off work another day

Are you suggesting that a quick filling might be of lower quality than a leisurely filling?


I can certainly do a filling better if I take my time over it, than if I rush at it.

But - there are also certain fillings I can do well very quickly.

I don't like the conflict of having NHS patients and private ones. I just got out of doing NHS stuff altogether when I felt I couldn't spend the time necessary to do a decent job.

That was 10 years ago though.

[alison999]

I think I'd rather he "squeezed" in the filling there and then rather than have to get more time off work another day

Are you suggesting that a quick filling might be of lower quality than a leisurely filling?

Your not the only two patients in the practice though are you? In between patients the surgery and equipment also has to be cleaned and sterilized, if he'd have done your filling there and then would he have had enough handpeices for the next patient that was ALREADY booked in for a filling?

Theres also only so much time in a day, you cant squeeze everyone in and do there treatment in one visit or the dentist and his/her team would be there all night.

[p1an0player]

You're not the only two patients in the practice though are you? In between patients the surgery and equipment also has to be cleaned and sterilized, if he'd have done your filling there and then would he have had enough handpeices for the next patient that was ALREADY booked in for a filling?

Theres also only so much time in a day, you cant squeeze everyone in and do there treatment in one visit or the dentist and his/her team would be there all night.
Yes I take your point. Yet for my mum he did manage it.

My understanding is that private dentist fees are mainly based on time taken for routine work like this, I heard it was about £170 per hour to include the cost of the premises, assistant, reception etc. (Not that my dentist is transparent about it).

I don't think it would be good practice to deliberately stretch out over two appointments the time taken for a particular piece of dental work, purely in order to extract more money out of the customer. I'm not saying that's what happens, it's just what it looks like when I compare my experience to my mum's.

[alison999]

Yes I take your point. Yet for my mum he did manage it.

My understanding is that private dentist fees are mainly based on time taken for routine work like this, I heard it was about £170 per hour to include the cost of the premises, assistant, reception etc. (Not that my dentist is transparent about it).

I don't think it would be good practice to deliberately stretch out over two appointments the time taken for a particular piece of dental work, purely in order to extract more money out of the customer. I'm not saying that's what happens, it's just what it looks like when I compare my experience to my mum's.


But you cant compare private treatment to NHS treatment. The dentist probably went that bit further for your mum since she is private, it isnt unusual, but he cant do it for every patient, your mum is paying for this type of service.

[p1an0player]

But you cant compare private treatment to NHS treatment. The dentist probably went that bit further for your mum since she is private, it isnt unusual, but he cant do it for every patient, your mum is paying for this type of service.
yes, but it is I who is private! maybe he just likes her

[Toothsmith]

Ahhhhh.

You think your Mum got the better service as all was done in the same day, whereas you have the inconvienience of having to come back again.

I would say he's just trying to get through his NHS work as 'efficiently' as possible whereas he takes his time with his private work.

The ultimate pay off of this should be that you would need to attend less overall with fewer broken fillings and problems.

[alison999]

yes, but it is I who is private! maybe he just likes her


oh! i misread, then. some fillings take 10 minutes, others 30-40-50 minutes, it isnt always possible to squeeze certain treatments in. maybe your mums filling was a 10 minutes job, and if shes old/finds it hard to get around he might of just thought he was doing her a favour :confused:

ifyoure really unhappy why not call the practice and ask why your mum got treatment and you didnt? theyre the only ones that can give you the actual answer for your situation