NHS Dentist. Charge confusion.

[wirehair]

I am very confused about the charges for NHS dentist. My OH has been charged £15.90 (Band 1)for an appointment when he had tooth ache ,he was given antibiotics and an xray and was given another appointment to remove the offending tooth .When he had the treatment he was charged a furthur £43.90 . (Band 2) On the NHS Leaflet it says you should only have to pay one charge for each course of treatment-even if you need to visit your dentist more than once to finish it . The cost of urgent treatment is included in the Band 1 box and the Band 2 box states this covers everthing in Band one + any further treatment.So I can't see why we had to pay for two bands of treatment. Any Ideas.

[Toothsmith]

Urgent treatment can be classed as a seperate course of treatment.

So - it's one course at band one to sort out an emergency, then whatever band the treatment is to fix it later.

Had the problem been spotted at a routine check-up - and a dressing put in then the check-up, and dressing would be included in the band 2 charge to remove it later.

As it was an emergency appointment, and not a routine appointment, that's where the extra charge comes from.

Dentists are given extra 'points' for being available for patients with emergencies.

Confusing - yes, but your dentist is correct here.