NHS Charges for Dental treatment?

lowis

I am over-due a visit to my dentist for a check-up and I am really worried about costs.

I have two bridges which are coming to the end of their life span (10 years) and I am sure the dentist is going to say as much, he mentioned it last time I saw him, about 18 months ago. I also have a tooth which is sensitive and will need some sort of treatment - probably a filling.

My question is, can I insist on all the work being done on the NHS, and if so, what can I expect to pay for a bridge and a filling? I work full-time, and I am not in receipt of any benefits - but I can not afford private dental care - the last time I went to the dentist he said I could expect to pay 'around £600' for a bridge privately, even though I asked him for the NHS price! I was in shock and didn't question him further re: NHS charges, this is why I have not been been back since.

Isn't there some sort of tiered pricing structure for NHS treatment now?

Thanks

alison999

A bridge would be £198, if done on the same course of treatment any other nhs treatment would also be covered under the £198 charge.

You can only have work which NEEDS doing on the NHS so any cosmetic work will need to be done privately.

If he says he can only do your bridge privately ask him WHY

Toothsmith

The maximum charge for a course of treatment on the NHS in England is £198.

That would include everything that was necessary at that time. So any number of bridges, fillings, root fillings etc would all be no more than one fee of £198.

Slightly less in Wales, but Scotland and N.I. still have the 'old' NHS dental system, and the maximum charge there is probably of the order of £350.

The question really is at what point does a new bridge become 'necessary'?

If it's because it doesn't look brilliant, then that's a cosmetic reason, and not covered by the NHS. If it's because the bridge has failed, then there would be a good reason for providing a denture on the NHS, or the bridge as a private option.

It's often very difficult to argue the 'necessity' for a bridge. Having one already though would put you in a better position to argue for on as a replacement than someone wanting one in the first place.

lowis

thank you everyone. i will call up and arrange a check-up and see what he says this time - my dental surgery (now branding itself as an orthodontic centre with big pictures of beautiful smiles and white teeth all over the walls) has a high turnover of staff so no doubt there will be a new dentist anyway!

Campden

When my dentist retired, I took the opportunity to change to a practice which would accept me as a NHS patient.

My first visit entailed an examination and X-ray and cost £16.20.

The second, a week later, was a clean and a filling for which he charged £138.40. I asked why and the dentist, the head of the practice, explained that the NHS charge would have been £200 as the price assumed two gold fillings, so I was better off paying the lower private price.

As a professional man, I trusted his judgement and knowledge but I have now looked at the NHS price list and have my doubts.

It looks as though £44.60 should have covered the exam, X-Ray, scale and a filling.

He has made appointments for me to return in January and April and I am beginning to wonder if I made a mistake in moving from my old dental practice.

Any advice or opinions?

alison999

Are you sure it was a gold inlay?

Toothsmith

Something is certainly amiss here.

No-one should be enticed to a practice with the promise of 'NHS' and then end up paying a private charge. Certainly not without having the options explained to them beforehand. Cheaper or not.

It could well have been cheaper at the practice you'd left!

I would get an accurate written description of the treatment you've had, exactly what that would have costed on the NHS, and why it's been charged privately.

If you're not happy with the explaination, then contact your local PCT dental department.

Campden

Thank you for your advice. I wrote to ask as you suggested and received a phone call today.

It seems that an amalgam filling was not an option because the hole was too deep. The only possibilities were a white filling, private, £110 or a gold one, NHS, £198.

I don't know whether I should be happy with the explanation. Is it plausible that the cavity was too deep for an amalgam filling?

If so, I will appreciate the saving the dentist has helped me to make. If not, I will look for another surgery.

Toothsmith

This is certainly possible, but the way it was explained to you beforehand (or rather wasn't) still makes it all smell a bit fishy to me.

Ther only way you could take it any further though would be by getting another opinion from someone who can look in your mouth and assess whether or not the first dentist's claim that the filling was 'too big' for an NHS amalgam was true.

But then again, it's easily possible to get different opinions from different dentists, as there is rarely only one 'right' answer in dental treatment planning.

I would suggest that in this case it's probably not worth persuing, but I'd make sure you are 100% sure what's being done to you and what you're expected to pay in the future.

Toothsmith

£198

Yep - the price is set. Anything that needs a technician to make it is a Band 3 treatment and will cost £198 on the NHS (In England that is - our NHS dental service isn't 'national' any more).

So, a single tooth on a bit of plastic = £198

Complicated upper and lower metal partial dentures = £198.

Completely fair and sensible!

Cris2fer

Hi Toothsmith - thank you for the time to give advice on here

I had a question

My daughter who is 10 had some Ozone treatment on 3 rear teeth last year costing £120. Now they need filling. My dentist filled 1 for 'free' and quoted me £180 for the other 2. These were 'top' quality white fillings he said.

I did mention that the Ozone didnt work, but he said the teeth came through weak and it wasnt decayed where he'd put the Ozone treatment (which was ontop of the tooth) the decay is between two teeth and all 3 are coming through weak.

I'm a bit sceptical and not sure if I have reason to be. Other than that I have been pleased with him as a dentist and considering having £1800 worth of treatment done (2 veneers 1 cown)

Any advice on where I can look for peace of mind?

Thank You

Cris

Toothsmith wrote: »

The maximum charge for a course of treatment on the NHS in England is £198.

That would include everything that was necessary at that time. So any number of bridges, fillings, root fillings etc would all be no more than one fee of £198.

Slightly less in Wales, but Scotland and N.I. still have the 'old' NHS dental system, and the maximum charge there is probably of the order of £350.

The question really is at what point does a new bridge become 'necessary'?

If it's because it doesn't look brilliant, then that's a cosmetic reason, and not covered by the NHS. If it's because the bridge has failed, then there would be a good reason for providing a denture on the NHS, or the bridge as a private option.

It's often very difficult to argue the 'necessity' for a bridge. Having one already though would put you in a better position to argue for on as a replacement than someone wanting one in the first place.