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

Pennylane

Quick update

My hubby had an email from our NHS dentist saying that they now have a hygienist there and the charge for a clean is £45!! When they mentioned it a while back they said it was going to be £30 or £35. (But I'm sure it's in one of my older posts).

I think that's pretty steep personally. Then DH was talking to a woman who works at a private dentists (on reception I believe) and she said they only charge £35. That's in the same small town by the way. Mind you, now he's told her that, I bet they'll put their price up too.;)

boozercruiser

Pennylane wrote: »

Quick update

My hubby had an email from our NHS dentist saying that they now have a hygienist there and the charge for a clean is £45!! When they mentioned it a while back they said it was going to be £30 or £35. (But I'm sure it's in one of my older posts).

I think that's pretty steep personally. Then DH was talking to a woman who works at a private dentists (on reception I believe) and she said they only charge £35. That's in the same small town by the way. Mind you, now he's told her that, I bet they'll put their price up too.;)

Hi Pennylane. Nice to see you post again on this subject.
Funny that you have posted because I had just got on to give the latest on my post myself.

It looks like your Dentist has enlisted with the growing trend to have a Hygienist on hand to scoot the patient off to for £45 instead of doing the clean (Scale and Polish) himself as he should be doing under his NHS contract, as outlined in past posts by me.

Look, it is simple. If the Dentist advises you, as in my case that you have gum disease or some other disorder and advises you to see the Hygienist because of it.....dont put up with it.
Insist on a Scale and Polish and/or the treatment required for what is wrong with you under the NHS

If he doesnt say anything about health problems to do with your mouth, but says it would be nice for you to go to the Hygienist for a nice little clean up, then that's O.K.

I think I now understand that if a Scale and Polish is not NEEDED for treatment purposes then the Dentist can refuse to Scale and Polish.

Band 1 course of treatment – £16.50
[FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light][FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light]This covers an examination, diagnosis (e.g. X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, A SCALE AND POLISH, IF NEEDED!!!!!!, and application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealants. If you require urgent care, even if your urgent treatment needs more than one appointment to complete, you will only need to pay one Band 1 charge[/FONT][/FONT]

O.K....back to me.

I was told at my check up that because I had gum disease I should see the Hygienist for a further fee of £28. I said to my Dentist.......

"No, I want the treatment of a Scale and Polish if I need it because of Gum Disease under the NHS Band 2 I was in please".

So what have I had up to now......

2 Fillings.......... 1 Extraction.......and a realy good Scale and Polish!

(The Dentist even put a mirror in front of me and asked if I liked the result!)

She also prescribed for me 2 tubes of special toothpast only available on prescription (and she said that I could have a regular supply) and a course of antibiotics.

After the extraction, during which she took X rays because she was having a hard time, she said that I had some root left in from a rear upper tooth and would I like it out. I said yes...so I go back in a weeks time for that extraction.

Now then, I havent paid anything yet but she has assured me that everything is being treated as one course of treatment under band 2 which is £39 here in wales.

And you are being told that just a clean will cost £45!:mad: Strewth!

So, instead of the Dentist doing the clean himself.....your hubby gets scooted off for £45 and the time he would have spent doing the clean himself is spent fitting in another mug who will also be scooted off to the Hygienist.

A bit like Ground Hog Day methinks.:D

Nice one Mr. Dentist:D:D No wonder you and the Hygienist are smiling!

:kisses: Nice work if you the can get it...and you can get it if you try!

Above is the patient with the nice shiny teeth being kissed by the Dentist and Hygienist following the bumped up cost of treatment.

Say perhaps £45 to the Dentist (plus NHS fees on top...let us not forget that this is ALSO TAXPAYERS MONEY....YOURS AND MINE) PLUS £45 to the Hygienist.....

Not ASDA price for you....DOUBLE the price more like!:eek:

Ah well......nearly bed time. I have the rear tooth which I had extracted here because it was a really, really big one and I fancied keeping it for a momento!

I am going to put it under my pillow. Perhaps the Tooth Fairy will visit and leave the £39 Dentist fee for me!:D

P.S. Just to prove that I love most Dentists really.......below is an E. Mail I sent the practice manager.....

Hello,
Following my dental treatment yesterday with Dr............... to remove a rear tooth.

Please convey my thanks to her for the hard work that she put into removing what was obviously a really difficult rear molar tooth. She was very good with me during the treatment, and explained what was and had gone on, showing me X Ray photographs she had taken.

I felt at ease as much as one can during dental treatment and any discomfort was as minimal as it could be.

I suspect that the surgery took longer than was expected because of unusual root problems and she worked into her lunch in order to complete the 'operation' and I very much appreciate that.

I am more than happy to stay on her patient list and I look forward to the last part of treatment for which I have an appointment on 8th February 2011.

Best Regards

akh43

I went for my appointment the other day, I went for my crown preparation appointment and he has decided I would be better with a post crown as it would add some extra strength. I spent approx 1 hour with the dentist most of that with the preparation and some discussing the course of treatment, another tooth at the back has flared up since my last visit and he has given me anti biotics first as it looks like there may be an abcess and on my next appointment he will reassess. It may be that I need root treatment or that I may end up losing the tooth, which I really dont want, but he is quite happy to do his best to save it. Whilst there I asked about the scale and polish on the nhs. He said that he could do it included in my course of treatment but that they are only allowed 5 mins at the most to do this and that he felt that I would benefit much more from the treatment at the hygienist as that would be a 15-20 min treatment. He said that I do have some peridontal disease but that that is now getting under control, he said the tartar was more of a problem and that I had pockets which needed cleaning out and the 5 min appointment would not really do much for those. He left it upto me which way I wanted to go and put no pressure on me.

I go back for the crown to be fitted next Friday and I am thinking now of going for the hygienist mainly because I have never had a full hygienist clean, when I have had them previously they were limited to what they could do due to the sensitivity of my teeth (this time dentist is going to numb them up) or my last time I was late and only got 1/2 my appointment. If I do not notice a real difference then in the future I will opt for the nhs one. My hygienist is £25 and if it makes a noticeable difference then maybe its worth it, I will wait and see.

boozercruiser

akh43 wrote: »

I went for my appointment the other day, I went for my crown preparation appointment and he has decided I would be better with a post crown as it would add some extra strength. I spent approx 1 hour with the dentist most of that with the preparation and some discussing the course of treatment, another tooth at the back has flared up since my last visit and he has given me anti biotics first as it looks like there may be an abcess and on my next appointment he will reassess. It may be that I need root treatment or that I may end up losing the tooth, which I really dont want, but he is quite happy to do his best to save it. Whilst there I asked about the scale and polish on the nhs. He said that he could do it included in my course of treatment but that they are only allowed 5 mins at the most to do this and that he felt that I would benefit much more from the treatment at the hygienist as that would be a 15-20 min treatment. He said that I do have some peridontal disease but that that is now getting under control, he said the tartar was more of a problem and that I had pockets which needed cleaning out and the 5 min appointment would not really do much for those. He left it upto me which way I wanted to go and put no pressure on me.

I go back for the crown to be fitted next Friday and I am thinking now of going for the hygienist mainly because I have never had a full hygienist clean, when I have had them previously they were limited to what they could do due to the sensitivity of my teeth (this time dentist is going to numb them up) or my last time I was late and only got 1/2 my appointment. If I do not notice a real difference then in the future I will opt for the nhs one. My hygienist is £25 and if it makes a noticeable difference then maybe its worth it, I will wait and see.

Simple...isn't it?

NHS dental charges from 1 April 2010
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times][FONT=Times New Roman,Times]�[/FONT]
[/FONT][FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light][FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light]The charge you pay depends on the treatment you need to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy. You will only ever be asked to pay one charge for each complete course of treatment, even if you need to visit your dentist more than once to finish it – either Band 1, Band 2 or Band 3. If you have to be referred to another dentist for another course of treatment, you can expect a second charge. Some minor treatments are free, including having stitches removed and repair to dentures (if they can be mended). [/FONT]
[/FONT]If you are not exempt from charges, you should pay one of the following charges for each course of treatment you receive:[FONT=Times New Roman,Times][FONT=Times New Roman,Times]�[/FONT]
[/FONT]Band 1 course of treatment – £16.50
[FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light][FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light]This covers an examination, diagnosis (e.g. X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, A SCALE AND POLISH, IF NEEDED!!!!!!, and application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealants. If you require urgent care, even if your urgent treatment needs more than one appointment to complete, you will only need to pay one Band 1 charge. [/FONT]
[/FONT]Band 2 course of treatment – £45.60
[FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light][FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light]This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or if your dentist needs to take out one or more of your teeth. [/FONT]
[/FONT]Band 3 course of treatment – £198.00
[FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light][FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light]This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures or bridges.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light][FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light] SCHEDULE 1 Regulation 4(1)
Band 1 Charges – Diagnosis, treatment planning and maintenance
(a) clinical examination, case assessment and report
(b) orthodontic case assessment and report
(c) advice, dental charting, diagnosis and treatment planning
(d) radiographic examination, including panoral and lateral headplates, and radiological report
(e) study casts including in association with occlusal analysis
(f) colour photographs
(g) instruction in the prevention of dental and oral disease including dietary advice and dental hygiene instruction
(h) surface application as primary preventive measures of sealants and topical fluoride preparations
(i) scaling, polishing and marginal correction of fillings
(j) taking material for pathological examination
(k) adjustments to and easing of dentures or orthodontic appliances
(l) treatment of sensitive cementum
　
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)
　
SCHEDULE 3
Regulation 4(3) and (4)
Band 3 Charges- Provision of Appliances
(a) porcelain, composite or acrylic mastique veneers, including acid etch retention
(b) inlays, pinlays, onlays and palatal veneers, in alloys containing 60% or more fine gold, porcelain, composite resin and ceramics
　
Crowns including any pin or post aids to retention
(c) full or three quarter crown cast in alloys containing not less than 33
1/3% fine gold or platinum or palladium
(d) full or jacket crown cast in alloys containing stainless steel or cobalt chromium or nickel chromium
(e) crown in porcelain or synthetic resin and other non-metallic crowns
(f) full or jacket crowns in alloys containing not less than 33
1/3% fine gold or platinum or palladium, or alloys containing stainless steel or cobalt chromium or nickel chromium, with thermally bonded porcelain
(g) jacket crown thermally bonded to wrought platinum coping
(h) prefabricated full or jacket crown, including any pin or post retention
(i) crowns in other materials
　
Bridges including any pin or post aids to retention
(j) bridges in alloys containing 60% or more fine gold with or without thermally bonded facings
(k) bridges cast in alloys containing stainless steel, cobalt chromium or nickel chromium, with or without thermally bonded facings
(l) acid etch retained bridges
(m) bridges in other materials
(n) provision of full (complete) or partial dentures, overdentures and obturators in synthetic resin or metal or both synthetic resin and metal, including any cast or wrought metal components or aids to retention
(o) orthodontic treatment and appliances
(p) other custom made appliances excluding sports guards
14
SCHEDULE 4
Regulation 4(5)
Urgent Treatment under Band 1 Charge
(a) examination, assessment and advice
(b) radiographic examination and radiological report
(c) dressing of teeth and palliative treatment
(d) pulpectomy or vital pulpotomy
(e) re-implantation of a luxated or subluxated permanent tooth following trauma including any necessary endodontic treatment
(f) repair and refixing of inlays and crowns
(g) refixing a bridge
(h) temporary bridges
(i) extraction of not more than 2 teeth
(j) provision of post-operative care including treatment of infected sockets
(k) adjustment and alteration of dentures or orthodontic appliances
(l) urgent treatment for acute conditions of the gingivae or oral mucosa, including treatment for pericoronitis or for ulcers and herpetic lesions, and any necessary oral hygiene instruction in connection with such treatment
(m) treatment of sensitive cementum or dentine
(n) incising an abscess
(o) other treatment immediately necessary as a result of trauma
(p) not more than 1 permanent filling in amalgam, composite resin, synthetic resin, glass ionomer, compomers, silicate or silico-phosphate including acid etch retention



Simple...isn't it?


[/FONT]

Garetha

boozercruiser wrote: »

Simple...isn't it? NHS dental charges ...[FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light] [/FONT]

Hi again BC
just a little request
please don't shout quite so loud with your enormous fonts!

Thank you

boozercruiser

Garetha wrote: »

Hi again BC
just a little request
please don't shout quite so loud with your enormous fonts!

Thank you

Yes....and I am sorry about that...honest:)

The thing is I have copied and pasted that particular information from the NHS Web Site....so rather unavoidable i'me afraid.

I might have been able to mess about and get the lettering smaller....but eh! I have spent enough time trying to get my message across as it is.

I am not meaning to 'SHOUT' though;) Honest:)

Garetha

before you 'submit reply' check what you have written/pasted
- if you find some big words, highlight them by dragging your mouse from one end to another.
Now click on 'sizes' and select 1 or 2 - maybe 3 and then you can 'submit reply'

and Gareth will be happy

boozercruiser

Garetha wrote: »

before you 'submit reply' check what you have written/pasted
- if you find some big words, highlight them by dragging your mouse from one end to another.
Now click on 'sizes' and select 1 or 2 - maybe 3 and then you can 'submit reply'

and Gareth will be happy

Now then....you have taught me a lesson there Garetha:T

I really did not know that trick....I only know how

to get a free Copy and Paste and a Scale and Polish.....that's it!:D

catdentist

Dear all,

Had been reading all the comments- which is so interesting to see the patient's point of view.

I am so disappointed with dentistry and I have only been doing it for under 4 years. I work for the NHS... guess no need to say more.

I got a feeling those high salary figure people are throwing around are practice owner- it is a bit like saying my corner shop owner are in retails hence they must all be earning billions like Tesco.

I am planning to do further training and get out of here (UK)- where everything is expensive and the weather is rubbish. You earn less in Australia but you expenses are less- you get loads for your money (just watch relocation down under).

Going back to the BPE business- I show my patient the BPE probe and the BPE score in their own mouth- if my patient is scoring 3 and 4- I show them in the mirror the healthy part where it is 0 and 1 and show them the pockets where the probe disappears. They all understand it and never question when it is band2. I also show them a patient video in the chair on the computer screen.

I so far has no prob with pt seeing me for band 2 treatment.

If patient bpe is 0 and 1 I will show them the plaque in the mirror and do band 1 s and p which is part of the check up.

I go through tooth brushing technique with my pt also.

I never had any complaint.

I always give them the option is they have advance perio (for example- young ppl with bpe of 4, but I do it now for all bpe 3 and 4 as advice by the ddu)
1- referrral to private periodontal specialist- who can provide treatment that I am not trained to do- such as surgical root planning etc and they will form the treatment plan (as adviced by my DDU)
2- nhs deep clean on band 2 for subgingival calculus removal
3- private hygienist

Our private hyg is cheaper vs nhs charges by £6. I give all the options and it is for my patient to pick- but most wants to stay with me.

if they have deep pockets and just want a basic s and p- I still do it (supragingival scaling) but I would explain the differences.

But i was told I should not do that anymore just as you won't do a flg if the pt needs a crown. so if they need advance tx and refuses tx - I should not treat them at all...

I hate nhs system.

give me a G and T now...

catdentist

I don't want to get sue so i now already doing defensive medicine- i must have the best notes in my practice.

I will not give my advice of treatment decision and tell my patient everything is their choice and i am only here to give option and opinions. i do not even help them to pick a shade for cr, bridge or denture anymore- everything is big smile... 'sir/madam, it is your choice'. make sure they sign that they are happy with their choice etc. make them sign everything. make them sign to say they understood everything.

I am doing post grad exam so i give them quotes from research paper as to what the sucess (quoted) rate is- although i would have still given the less sucessful tx a go if it is my own teeth I just give them the figures now and say if there is 2mm tooth left supraging for the post core cr than it is 60% etc etc etc and let them take their pick.

It is sad when i see pt not really know what decisions to make and i can only say- 'you know all your option and you can go home and think about it and book tx in when you are ready. anything else I can help you with?'

JUST so they don't blame me at the end.

Everyday is... 'it is your decision, it is your choice, here are the options...'

I hate my job.