Asked for Dental NHS Scale and Polish.Told "Go to Hygienist at £25 extra"

boozercruiser

P2TKL wrote: »

Just stumbled on this thread by accident but I am visiting a new dentist in Jan and have discovered he is a EU trained guy. I have previously visited my dentist regularly for the last 45 years...I was saddened when he told me he was retiring but I knew the day would come.

My intro letter asked me to bring the amount of money for band 2 payment...around £46 I think although I may not be required to pay this amount.

I`m now wondering if I should be a little wary especially after reading these boards. Any advice welcome. Thanks

My advice for what it is worth is to be VERY wary. If you are told that you need this that or the other, possibly finished off with a Scale and Polish and you owe whatever under the NHS Bands payments.....THAT IS FINE...in my opinion.

Say "Thank you very much" kiss his or her feet and go on your merry way.

BUT.....if the conversation goes a little like mine did...."Oh! and by the way, you really should see the Hygienist as you have Gum Disease (or whatever) at an extra cost of £28"....THEN the alarm bells should ring.

THEN insist the treatment be carried out on the NHS. For the full regulations on what you are entitled to, please look up earlier in the threads.:D

SCHEDULE 2
Regulation 4(2)
Band 2 Charges - Treatment
(a) non-surgical periodontal treatment including root-planing, deep scaling, irrigation of periodontal pockets and subgingival curettage and all necessary scaling and polishing
(b) surgical periodontal treatment, including gingivectomy, gingivoplasty or removal of an operculum
(c) surgical periodontal treatment, including raising and replacement of a mucoperiostal flap, curettage, root planning and bone resection
(d) free gingival grafts
(e) permanent fillings in amalgam, composite resin, synthetic resin, glass ionomer, compomers, silicate or silico-phosphate, including acid etch retention
(f) sealant restorations
(g) endodontic treatment of permanent or retained deciduous teeth
(h) pulpotomy
(i) apicectomy
(j) extraction of teeth
(k) transplantation of teeth
(l) oral surgery including surgical removal of cyst, buried root, unerupted tooth, impacted tooth or exostosed tooth and alveolectomy
(m) soft tissue surgery in relation to the buccal cavity and lips
(n) frenectomy, frenoplasty and frenotomy
(o) relining and rebasing dentures including soft linings
13
　
(p) addition of tooth, clasp, labial or buccal flange to dentures
(q) splints (other than laboratory fabricated splints) in relation to periodontally compromised teeth and in connection with external trauma
(r) bite raising appliances (other than laboratory fabricated appliances)

Savvy_Sue

boozercruiser wrote: »

And I WILL NOT be pushed onto a Hygienist at extra cost.

d'you know, I think we've got that!

and sure, that's the cheapest option for you. whether long term it's the best you could do for your teeth remains to be seen! especially as many of the dentists seem to be saying that the hygienist does a better job than they do of that part of your dental treatment!

joewa

As i said i am entirely happy with my dental treatment
Good on me LOL

stumpycat

I'm sure the cheapest option is a pair of pliers and wire wool, but personally I won't be taking it...
Thanks to this thread I'm now going to be eternally confused between Scale and Polish and Polish dentists...
I'm also going to be even more grateful to my lovely dentist, who I believe has gone beyond the call of duty on my dodgy teeth (disclaimer: apparently not all my fault as they are 'like marble' and chunks fall off and I grind through fillings ;-)
Actually, a lot of my problems are my fault as I am a 'scrubber' :eek: and have gouged enamel off my teeth.
Anyway, I am more than happy to pay the (NHS) costs and think I've had great value for money. I'm also very impressed at the treatment my 7 year old son has been given - his teeth are perfect and he is keen to keep them that way.

boozercruiser

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

d'you know, I think we've got that!

and sure, that's the cheapest option for you. whether long term it's the best you could do for your teeth remains to be seen! especially as many of the dentists seem to be saying that the hygienist does a better job than they do of that part of your dental treatment!

I am so pleased that you have "Got That";)

I am just trying to lead by example in my 'Itsy weeny Crusade' to encourage other people to resist the seemingly current trend for the Dentist to say "You need to go to see the Hygienist at extra cost" when I GUESS he or she could and should be carrying out the work under the NHS Band regulations for which he or she is already being paid for.:D

Now then, have you GOT THAT?

If so, how much have you GOT THAT on a
SCALE (Polish it) of 1 to 10!;) :j:beer:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your Family.

P.S. My New Years Resolution is to try and be Savvy Too Sue.:D

boozercruiser

joewa wrote: »

As i said i am entirely happy with my dental treatment
Good on me LOL

Yes, and good on you joewa:T As I am very sure that the vast majority of people are. In fact I was until the change in NHS Dental Contract around 4 years ago.

Since then, Dental Care has, in my opinion gone down the pan a bit for some, and a few unwanted practices have crept into the way some Dentists operate.:D

jennikitten

At my parents' we always went to a private dentist as it was the only convenient one, they'd been doing my teeth since I first got teeth etc.

After uni, I enrolled at an NHS dentist that had room for patients, happily thinking that I'd save some money.

Imagine my surprise when I'm referred to the hygienist because the dentist refused to clean my teeth. Final result was that, not only did I have to have 2 appointments AND take time off work due to the hygienist only working 9-5, but I also ended up paying FAR more than our private dentist due to having to pay for 2 separate appointments.

boozercruiser

If I may just return to my situation for once!

At my appointment the Dentist said that I have Gum Disease and that I should see the Hygienist (Just in case you didn't know that!) I have not got to go back to the Dentist for treatment for a coupla fillings and an extraction until next month.

Now then, the Dentist knows that I have a Bovine (Silly Moo!) Pericardial Heart Valve. I do of course know that Dental Care for me is important and Gum Disease should be avoided at all costs.

My Dentist didn't offer me any advice on Dental Care or any Medication of which there are some out there that can help. Another sign that this particular Dentist is lacking? But then, what do I know? Sometimes my opinions here are turned into me giving medical advice.....when in my humble opinion...I am not.

I even had to request a prescription for Amoxicillin Penicillin which at a recent consultation with my Heart Consultant said I should take both before and after Dental Treatment. O.K. I know that Nice say that in most cases this is not a requirement now....but if my Consultant says I should have it...then I will. And he has put a letter into my VERY GOOD Doctor to that effect.

Finally, I would like to Wish EVERYONE who has taken part in this 'Debate' a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and all your family.

If the Tooth Fairy visits you then I hope that she or she brings you good Dental Health and fortune in 2011.

boozercruiser

jennikitten wrote: »

At my parents' we always went to a private dentist as it was the only convenient one, they'd been doing my teeth since I first got teeth etc.

After uni, I enrolled at an NHS dentist that had room for patients, happily thinking that I'd save some money.

Imagine my surprise when I'm referred to the hygienist because the dentist refused to clean my teeth. Final result was that, not only did I have to have 2 appointments AND take time off work due to the hygienist only working 9-5, but I also ended up paying FAR more than our private dentist due to having to pay for 2 separate appointments.

Can some kind Dentist explain here how her particular Dentist can REFUSE to clean her teeth, yet refer the Patient to the Hygenist?

It is cases like yours jennikitten which really get my back up:mad:

If I where jennikitten (What a lovely name) I would be registering a complaint with a view to taking it into the NHS complaints procedure with the locea NHS authority.

jennikitten

boozercruiser wrote: »

Can some kind Dentist explain here how her particular Dentist can REFUSE to clean her teeth, yet refer the Patient to the Hygenist?

It is cases like yours jennikitten which really get my back up:mad:

If I where jennikitten (What a lovely name) I would be registering a complaint with a view to taking it into the NHS complaints procedure with the locea NHS authority.

Thanks

I just assumed it was standard, I never even thought I could complain? To be honest it was a bit like a cattle market, just told to move between a couple of different waiting rooms, dentist checked my teeth in complete silence, didn't really speak to me etc. Equipment didn't seem as good either, e.g. at the private one they use a gadget for telling you exactly how much each of your teeth is eroded by/damaged, so they can pick out problems/teeth that need fillings earlier on.