Do pensioners in NI pay for dentures?

Wee_Bargain_Hunter

My auntie phoned me tonight as she's really worried about the cost of new dentures. She's got an appointment for tomorrow just before lunch to get an impression made and is thinking of cancelling as someone has told her dentures cost £1000!
She's on DLA (middle rate) and gets the state pension and some rates rebate. Hasn't claimed pension credit.
Does anyone know if she'll qualify for some help? Is £1000 the usual price? Thanks


PS. I wasn't sure about whether to post on the NI or main health & beauty board but thought local NHS rules could be different.

just_thrifty

Hi, your aunt would be able to find out from Age Concern- she could even ring them in the morning. They are really helpful and will know exactly what help she could get. £1000!! That's a fortune!!

Teerah

She can only get free treatment if she receives gets Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit. Doesnt sound as if she is entitled to free treatment from what you have said above. However, £1000- is really very top-end for a set of dentures...who did she get this information from? Was she not told how much dentures would cost when she made the appointment?

It depends very much on the type of denture and the number of teeth involved, how much new dentures would cost on the health service but the cost you mentioned is certainly a private price if it is correct and she should have no trouble getting a set made much cheaper if she tries elsewehere (even a good "private" set) Make sure she gets the information required before embarking on having a new set made, there is no point in starting and leaving the dentist with unwanted labwork should she change her mind after beginning the process.

Wee_Bargain_Hunter

Thanks for all the info. She saw the dentist today and has decided to go ahead with the treatment. The total cost is £400 for a replacement full set and it'll take about 6 weeks. She's not sure if that's NHS or private though.
If it's NHS, then there's a possibility that the low income scheme may cover her - not sure though as the treatment has already started.

Teerah

Wee_Bargain_Hunter wrote: »

Thanks for all the info. She saw the dentist today and has decided to go ahead with the treatment. The total cost is £400 for a replacement full set and it'll take about 6 weeks. She's not sure if that's NHS or private though.
If it's NHS, then there's a possibility that the low income scheme may cover her - not sure though as the treatment has already started.

No thats not an NHS price. She really should have been told whether her treatment was NHS or private though.

odie

According to the NHS, it costs £198.00 for detures. http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=1781

ipri

NHS Dentures....just under £200...no matter how many teeth...ask before you sign if its NHS or private.Being a pensioner ,in itself does not make her exempt.

Teerah

odie wrote: »

According to the NHS, it costs £198.00 for detures. http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=1781

Its actually about £167 here in Northern Ireland for a full set of plastic complete dentures, we dont follow the same fee guide as England and Wales. Other types of dentures will cost differing amounts depending on the material involved and the number of teeth involved.