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

boozercruiser

GotToChange wrote: »

Could I ask (Toothsmith, welshdent etc....), if there is a set scale of charges for private treatment, i.e. perio?
Reading above, it would seem that this kind of treatment may or may not be available as a NHS, if one were able to access a NHS dentist; however, even just speaking to a private dentist costs money, so it isn't really an option to "shop around".
Is there a definitive price that is charged - or a range within depending upon severity/ extent of treatment required?
(i.e., I was told a figure for perio treatment, and he implied that this was worst case scenario. It seems, after a perio survey, that I have a mild case and yet the estimate amount is for the "top" amount that he initally mentioned...)

Do you not have access to an NHS Dentist at all M8? It seems to me from what you have said up to now that treatment should be available on the NHS with relevent band charges.

Please read previous posts on NHS regulations and dentists contracts etc.

It sounds to me like you could easily be taken for a ride if you are not carefull.:D

P.S. I like Blondes!

GotToChange

I intend to have a call to all Dentists in my area (I know I should be going on recommendation but have no-one to ask.....) - barring those with whom I have previous acquaintance) as - as you suggest - I am feel a little as though I am being taken for a ride....:o

I have a nasty feeling though that "all" (of 2 in my nearest village/small town, around 12 in nearest town of any size and as many again in bigger town about 10 miles away*) are likely to be private only. I don't fancy too much the trawling through them all, as I am sure they would take me on privately and then I have to be assessed and THEN find out it may cost less or, worse still, not even really need doing and so on and so on.... OR - were I to access NHS treatment, maybe they wouldn't even (as before) tell me that I had any perio issue?



(Blondes do not always have more fun....)

boozercruiser

GotToChange wrote: »

I intend to have a call to all Dentists in my area (I know I should be going on recommendation but have no-one to ask.....) - barring those with whom I have previous acquaintance) as - as you suggest - I am feel a little as though I am being taken for a ride....:o

I have a nasty feeling though that "all" (of 2 in my nearest village/small town, around 12 in nearest town of any size and as many again in bigger town about 10 miles away*) are likely to be private only. I don't fancy too much the trawling through them all, as I am sure they would take me on privately and then I have to be assessed and THEN find out it may cost less or, worse still, not even really need doing and so on and so on.... OR - were I to access NHS treatment, maybe they wouldn't even (as before) tell me that I had any perio issue?



(Blondes do not always have more fun....)

.....................Blondes always have with me!! LOL..........................Hope this helps :-

How can I find an NHS dentist?


This information applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Many people have difficulty in finding a dentist who provides NHS treatment.
If you want NHS dental treatment, you will first need to find out which dentists in your area provide NHS treatment, and then find one who is prepared to accept you for a course of treatment as an NHS patient.
Some dentists do not provide NHS treatment, or only provide treatment to certain groups of people, for example children, or people getting benefits or tax credits.
Not all dentists who provide NHS treatment have to take you on as an NHS patient. If they are unable to take you on, they should tell you that you can go to another dentist.
You don't have to register with a dentist in order to get NHS treatment, but your dentist may keep a list of regular patients and provide ongoing treatment and care.
Under certain circumstances, your dentist may discontinue a course of treatment. This could happen, for example, if you don't cooperate with treatment or if you fail to turn up for lots of appointments. Where violence, or the threat of violence occurs, your dentist could discontinue treatment straight away, without any advance warning.
To find a list of dentists who do NHS work in your area:
in England, phone NHS Direct on: 0845 4647, or look on their website at: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
in Wales, phone NHS Direct on: 0845 4647, or look on their website at: www.wales.nhs.uk
in Northern Ireland, phone the Central Services Agency Dental Branch on: 028 90 324431 or visit www.centralservices.agency.n-i.nhs.uk
In England and Wales, to find out more about NHS dental treatment, see NHS dental treatment in Health fact sheets.

GotToChange

"Well, I'll go to the foot* of our stairs....!" (Yorkshire expression - I think.)

As it happens, BOTH practices in my nearest village/town are accepting patients for treatment on NHS - I did not mention the perio issue as I suppose they would then think that I don't want to shell out top ££s as quoted - although am happy to pay more if necessary. I think it remains to be seen IF they tell me I have it and what that will mean - i.e. DO I actually not have perio disease - OR - do they not want to treat on NHS...... hmmmm, a puzzle.

Thank you booziecruiser:)

I feel myself back at square one, with £200 less in my bank account.
*sigh*


*It might actually be top of stairs, I'm not really sure.....

boozercruiser

GotToChange wrote: »

"Well, I'll go to the foot* of our stairs....!" (Yorkshire expression - I think.)

As it happens, BOTH practices in my nearest village/town are accepting patients for treatment on NHS - I did not mention the perio issue as I suppose they would then think that I don't want to shell out top ££s as quoted - although am happy to pay more if necessary. I think it remains to be seen IF they tell me I have it and what that will mean - i.e. DO I actually not have perio disease - OR - do they not want to treat on NHS...... hmmmm, a puzzle.

Thank you booziecruiser:)

I feel myself back at square one, with £200 less in my bank account.
*sigh*


*It might actually be top of stairs, I'm not really sure.....

Glad to be of help GotToChange.

If you just keep in mind the below guidlines I extracted out of the Denticare practice I go to you should not go far wrong.
If your NHS Dentist says

"You have some gum disease/gingivitis whatever and you should/need to see a Hygienist (at extra cost)

just politely request that you want the treatment under the NHS. The Dentist may be suprised as that sort of Dentist probably thinks most people are ignorant of there rights.

The NHS Dentists contract/regulations are in plenty of previous posts.

Just keep in mind this...........

#######################################

Periodontal Treatment

Denticare policy is that, for NHS patients, the Dentist/Performers should provide all ‘proper and necessary dental care and treatment’, as detailed in the NHS GDS regulations. This includes periodontal treatment.The regulations do not define ‘necessary’ so individual dentists need to make a clinical decision on whether they consider the treatment to be necessary.
If periodontal treatment is considered necessary it must be offered on the NHS. In many practices the service of a hygienist is available. If the hygienist only provides treatment privately:

when periodontal treatment is considered necessary, the patient may be offered treatment with the hygienist as an alternative to treatment on the NHS. the dentist must offer to provide the treatment on the NHS. The patient is free to chose which they prefer.

On some occasions, and in some practices, the hygienist may provide treatment both privately and on the NHS. In these circumstances:the dentist may give the patient the alternative option of seeing the hygienist privately for treatment. however they are not obliged to give the patient the option of seeing the hygienist on the NHS, as they may offer to provide that treatment themselves on the NHS.

Where periodontal treatment is not considered ‘necessary’ by the dentist: if the patient wishes to have periodontal treatment, such as scaling and polishing for cosmetic or other purposes, it should be provided privately.

NHS resources should not be utilised for unnecessary treatment.

#########################################

Just don't have any part in the Rip Off Britain syndrome that seems previlent in our society nowadays.:D

All I am doing here is just trying to uphold the Money Saving Expert motto 'Cutting Your Costs, fighting your corner' :beer:

~Chameleon~

NHS denistry: what it costs and covers

boozercruiser

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

NHS denistry: what it costs and covers

Blimey...I would have purchased the paper today if I had spotted that.

Read this article GotToChange and anyone else having NHS Dental Treatment. I have posted similar....but this is the best yet.

Nice one Chameleon...I note that you are not a 'cut and paster' like some!:rotfl:

welshdent

They have that wrong - band 3 should be a about 8 items higher than it is

boozercruiser

welshdent wrote: »

They have that wrong - band 3 should be a about 8 items higher than it is

I think that was as much info I originaly posted....but they didn;t even mention Band 4;)

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

GotToChange

Thanks for this ^^^^.
I wonder though, is it a matter of "at the Dentist's discretion" whether or not these treatments are offered? How actually does the patient know what they need - despite knowing (thanks to the article) what they "are" entitled to?