Charges for partially completed NHS dental treatment

Savvy_Sue · 1 February 2007 at 4:35PM

Finally, I've done it, and found a new dentist! :j

The bad news is that I didn't do it until DH was half way through some treatment, which I wasn't convinced was going to be well done by our old NHS dentist.

So, DH has had a checkup, at which he was told a filling (or something) was needed. He has had that done, and presumably paid for that, but a day later he was in a lot of pain and went back. The dentist said that he now needed a root canal, and did something (DH doesn't know what) to relieve the pain.

DH is supposed to go back next week to have the root canal done (or possibly finished: it may be that the dentist started doing something.)

Meanwhile I've sent him to the private dentist round the corner, who has said yes, he needs a root canal, but a) it's in an awkward place (tooth next to one of his wisdoms); b) the root canal might not work / last; c) it's not going to show if he has the tooth out; d) a root canal's going to be expensive (getting on for £300); and e) taking the tooth out won't cause any problems or show and the wisdom tooth next to it will gradually move forward to fill the gap and will be a lot cheaper!

So he's going to have it out.

Meanwhile I guess we may owe the old NHS dentist something, but does anyone know how much? I know they can't charge us for cancelling the appointment (even though they've got a sign up to say they will!) but are they entitled to charge us for what they've done so far? It's not that I object to paying, as much as I wonder why it flared up right after something had just been done to it!

The other major factor in getting me out of the NHS is discovering that only 20 minutes is allocated for a checkup for 3 people: 10 minutes for an adult and 5 minutes for each child! :eek: So when DS1 is home for Easter I'll spend half a day at the new dentist having them all checked over - new patient appointment 30 minutes, checkup 20 minutes! At least at this dentist they can walk there and back, so even if I sit there for 2 hours, at least they don't have to! :rotfl:

And I apologise if Toothsmith or Teerah or someone equally helpful has already answered this question in one of the previous dental threads, but I think I will lose the will to live if I have to re-read them all and it's not obvious what to search for!

Toothsmith · 1 February 2007 at 6:00PM

Well done Sue!!!

Everything your hubby has had done is within band 2 on the NHS charges.

The fact he needed something extra a few days later is still classed as the 'same treatment' as it was within 2 months.

So - he should have paid £42.40 for what he has had done.

If he's paid that already, he won't owe anything.

Savvy_Sue · 1 February 2007 at 9:22PM

Toothsmith wrote:

Well done Sue!!!

Thank you ... it's only been a year since I started saying I had had enough of NHS dentistry!

Toothsmith wrote:

Everything your hubby has had done is within band 2 on the NHS charges.

The fact he needed something extra a few days later is still classed as the 'same treatment' as it was within 2 months.

So - he should have paid £42.40 for what he has had done.

If he's paid that already, he won't owe anything.

Thank you for confirming that. I think I shall ask to make the sealing appointments before I cancel his ... If the dentist gets funny (actually quite unlikely in the humorous sense given his past performance!) I can always tell him that it was DH's decision to go elsewhere. Which, following his 'new patient appointment' this morning, it most certainly is!

I asked if he'd noticed a difference. Yes, he had. The dentist was friendly, communicative, approachable. And DH has come home with a 'treatment plan', with costs. It says that if he has the root canal, he'll almost certainly need that tooth crowned within a year or so. So that's £300 for a root canal now, and another £300 for a crown in a year's time. As against £60 for an extraction now. All written down, but more to the point, explained verbally!

Of course if it was a visible tooth or it was going to cause problems with his bite we'd pay to preserve it. But I don't think the previous chap even mentioned the possibility of needing a crown subsequently.

Oh, and new chap says 1.5 hours for a root canal, as opposed to 30 minutes ...

There's no going back now!

Toothsmith · 1 February 2007 at 9:52PM

All sounds good to me Sue.

This is just what private dentistry should be.

It's worlds away from a rushed dentist just charging more to do a very similar job to what he'd do on the NHS anyway.

Read and learn everybody - what Sue has posted above is what the dental experience should be. Don't accept anything less.

Savvy_Sue · 2 February 2007 at 9:26AM

The really daft thing is that I was put off this dentist initially by the fascia above their premises. It's got a really toothy smile on it, and they've got various signs in the window plugging tooth whitening and cosmetic dentistry, even - I think - cosmetic surgery options. So I was worried that they'd be wanting to whiten all our teeth to dazzling brightness, and try to sell me an implant for the tooth I had out last year (which doesn't show) etc etc etc.

But after I'd made DH's appointment, I did find that one of my friends goes there, and she assures me that they're not like that at all, and she's very happy with them.

Wish me luck with the old NHS practice today ...

Toothsmith · 2 February 2007 at 3:09PM

I like the way you use him as a guinea-pig!!!!

Savvy_Sue · 3 February 2007 at 1:26PM

Toothsmith wrote:

I like the way you use him as a guinea-pig!!!!

Well I don't need anything done right now - allegedly! :rotfl:

Old surgery didn't say anything when I cancelled his appointment, and I've got the fissure sealing booked in for half-term. We'll see if they say anything then.

Then all I need to do is find out if DS1 intends to come home at Easter (he's probably worked out that if he wants his Easter Eggs, he'll need to!) and then book the three of them and me in then with the new dentist.

DH's tooth comes out on Thursday. Will be interesting to compare his experience of that with mine last year ...

specsappeal · 3 February 2007 at 1:58PM

hi all,
i too am entitled to free NHS treatment but gave up on my NHS dentist last year. Every time i went in he always ended up managing to get money out of me even though i should have got it for free. the last straw came when i went for my checkup to be told i needed 2 fillings but that he would not give me silver fillings as he felt they would not be good enough (!!!!!!?).He said he would only do white fillings and that i also had to have a scale and polish at the same time which i would also have to pay for. Because i needed the fillings i said i would reluctantly pay for them but wait for the scale and polish til my next check up (therefore getting it free which i was entitled to) but he slammed down his pen and stated in a very aggressive way that if i was refusing the scale and polish then he would refuse to treat me. he also said that there were no other NHS vacancies in the local area (this is true). i was mortified and quite intimidated so made the appointment for later that week. As i left his room he reminded me that i had to bring the payment of 'between £120 - £160' with me on the day. I was so upset with the way he treated me. (i am terrified of dentists at the best of times). i felt like crying so my hubby told me to look elsewhere even if it meant going private - after all if i was being charged anyway then i may aswell get good service. i found a fanastic private dentist who took me on the same day and gave me a thorough check up. She then explained i actually needed 3 fillings and a polish, it was also written for me in a treament plan. I went ahead and had 3 fillings and the polish for the price of £130. the service was exceptional from all the staff, i did not have to wait to be seen and the whole thing was very unhurried and relaxed. i could not believe the difference! i now put away £20 per month to go towards my dental treatment and it is money well spent. looking back i am disgusted with the treatment i used to receive both in and out of the chair. and to think i was grateful for having a place with an NHS dentist!! i did report the NHS dentist to my local PCT to be told that i was the 3rd person from that dentist that week in a similar situation but that there was not alot they could do!!

Toothsmith · 3 February 2007 at 7:08PM

specsappeal wrote:

i did report the NHS dentist to my local PCT to be told that i was the 3rd person from that dentist that week in a similar situation but that there was not alot they could do!!

That is absolute rubbish. There is plenty they could do, and they are not doing their job properly by not doing it.

I would assume he is getting a significant monthly NHS income, and the PCT could stop that tomorrow if he is proved to be doing what you say he is.

They may well be scared that the last NHS dentist in their area is a crook, but not doing anything to stop him is far worse than letting him get away with it just to keep the illusion of NHS dentistry going.

I realise that now you are out of there, it's not really your battle anymore, but if you wanted to stir things a bit, put your complaint in writing to the PCT, and make it clear that you will take a complaint against the PCT further if they refuse to do anything about it.

Oh - and a threat to take it to the local papers often concentrates their minds a bit better!

specsappeal · 3 February 2007 at 10:30PM

i was going to do that but my children are at the same practice (seeing another dentist who is very good with them). I am saving up my £20 per month (i should not now need any more work for quite a while) and when i get a good amount i will be able to take the children private aswell. But i think you are right in that the PCT are worried about taking him on because of the shortage of NHS dentists. It's diabolical that this is the way it is now.

Charges for partially completed NHS dental treatment

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