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maternity exemption and being charged to see hygienist

JoJoB
Posts: 2,080 Forumite

The last time I went to the dentist I had check up and cursory scrape and polish and was told I should see the hygienist for extra (at an extra charge of about £40).
Is this correct or should the hygienist also be free under maternity exemption? It is not simply cosmetic, my gums bleed every time I brush and I'm very worried about gum disease and want it treated properly. Mart exemption runs out mid-April and I have an appointment today so really want to know my rights on this issue!
Also, if a course of treatment is determined before my mat exemption runs out but those treatments take place after it runs out will I be charged for those subsequent treatments?
Thanks for any advice!
Is this correct or should the hygienist also be free under maternity exemption? It is not simply cosmetic, my gums bleed every time I brush and I'm very worried about gum disease and want it treated properly. Mart exemption runs out mid-April and I have an appointment today so really want to know my rights on this issue!
Also, if a course of treatment is determined before my mat exemption runs out but those treatments take place after it runs out will I be charged for those subsequent treatments?
Thanks for any advice!
2015 wins: Jan: Leeds Castle tickets; Feb: Kindle Fire, Years supply Ricola March: £50 Sports Direct voucher April: DSLR camera June: £500 Bingo July: £50 co-op voucher
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Comments
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If you are seen as a NHS patient, and the treatment is deemed neccesary for your health, then this extra hygienist appointment should not be charged for.
Some people, request hygienist appointments that the dentist feels are not needed, then they can be charged, privately to do so.
As for maternaty exemption- not 100% sure but i feel that it's from when the treatment starts, and as long as the treatment is complete within 2 months from the initail examination- will check with my reception at lunch time ( really is something i should know though!):money: Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou to everyone who has helped.0 -
just checked and what i said was correct.:money: Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou to everyone who has helped.0
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Thanks for that, I guess the problem is that the Dentist doesn't "deem" it necessary for me to have more than a 3 minute scrape and polish. He literally did behind my 2 front teeth and that was it! And then when I started to ask questions about my gums bleeding was very short and just wanted me out of there asap. Just told me to keep them clean. I do my best on that score already.
I'm sure I have gum disease, my gums are receeding before my very eyes and I'm really worried about losing my teeth, but the dentist clearly has a huge amount of patients to see and does the bare minimum. But I'm NHS so I suppose that has to do!
When I get a spare £45 I'll book in for a thorough session with a hygienist. Then if they say the treatment was "necessary" in any way I will promptly do my nut and complain to the PCT.2015 wins: Jan: Leeds Castle tickets; Feb: Kindle Fire, Years supply Ricola March: £50 Sports Direct voucher April: DSLR camera June: £500 Bingo July: £50 co-op voucher0 -
If they are bleeding, then it is an indicator of disease and therefore treatment need.
Did the dentist measure the health of your gums during the appointment?
In all honesty- if you smoke or had poor oral hygiene, then i have little sympathy for you, but i suspect this is not the case.
If the dentist feels that 1 session of cleaning will not be enough to control/help with the gum disease then they can treatment plan, a second cleaning- this comes at no extra cost to the patient-( its called a PERIO 2).
The hygienist will do a better job than the dentist at the clean, but it is grossly unfair to have to pay again for something that you should have already had covered.
The GDC (general dental council) and LHB (local health board) really need people to complain if they feel that someone isn't following the system fairly- i feel this is the case with your current dentist.:money: Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou to everyone who has helped.0
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