Question re scale and polish - NHS or Private pricing?

Not sure if this is the right board for this query, but I'll give it a go:

I currently receive free NHS dental treatment due to being on means tested ESA. I had a check up a few weeks ago and as usual, everything was fine, no treatment needed. As I have a very small amount of staining on the backs of my teeth, I asked about a scale and polish and the dentist quoted me the private price (£40 - something).

Now, I do understand that it is purely a cosmetic procedure and not clinically necessary (no plaque) and I am certainly happy to pay for this. However, I believe the NHS cost for a scale and polish is £20.60. So I'm a bit confused as to why it's not possible to give me the treatment at the NHS price.

Can anyone enlighten me on this topic?

Comments

  • Apollonia
    Apollonia Posts: 408
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    edited 19 January 2018 at 8:49PM
    Edited to remove incorrect information - see brook2jack post below.

    Funding for NHS dentistry in England is worse than I thought!!
  • brook2jack
    brook2jack Posts: 4,563 Forumite
    Sorry Apollonia you are wrong.
    A band one treatment attracts 1 UDA which is an average of £25 including patient contribution. Many practices will get even less than this. After expenses the dentist will take Home , before tax , national insurance etc around £7 from this.

    As a cheap surgery costs £140 plus an hour per room to run NHS fees barely cover costs. £20 would buy around 8 mins of surgery time and as most private scaling is done by hygienists it wouldn’t even cover their costs . £40 is a good average private price for a hygiene appointment.
  • brook2jack
    brook2jack Posts: 4,563 Forumite
    Apollonia wrote: »
    Edited to remove incorrect information - see brook2jack post below.

    Funding for NHS dentistry in England is worse than I thought!!


    Same system in Wales as well , even less money , average UDA value £24!
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