Dental charges in Wales

milliejon

Can anyone help please? My hubby needs a root canal filling, in a tooth he had a normal filling in a couple of months ago, and then re-filled last month (free of charge as it was within guarantee except for £12 emergency charge).

He had another emergency appointment on Friday (at our usual practice, but not his dentist), which cost £12. He then made an appointment for a couple of weeks' time for the root canal filling. We have been quoted £39 for this, together with a charge for purchasing the tools of (approx.) £25.

My question is whether this tooth should be filled free of charge, because the original filling is still under guarantee? If it is chargeable, should we be paying for the tools used?

Until now I have had a really good relationship with our dentist; and having been seeing him for the past five years or so, so I don't want to upset things before the treatment is done.

I'd really be grateful for any advice.

Toothsmith

I'm not an expert on NHS regulations - especially in Wales.

But I'm pretty sure it's similar to England, and if a problem arises within 8 weeks, it's classed as the same course of treatment. So if the thing you need (the root filling) is in the same charge band as the thing you had (the filling) - which it is - then there shouldn't be anything extra to pay.

From the dentist's point of view, it's one of the things that makes the system unworkable!

milliejon

Thank you Toothsmith. Is it right that we should pay £25 for use of the tools?

Toothsmith

milliejon wrote: »

Thank you Toothsmith. Is it right that we should pay £25 for use of the tools?

Missed that bit!

I totally understand why the dentist is doing this. Some of the better root filling stuff is quite expensive, and it has to be disposed of after single use.

BUT - under the terms of the NHS, this is not allowed.

Yet another thing that makes good dentistry on the NHS unworkable!

milliejon

Oh dear - I wondered why I couldn't find any sign of it when I googled. How can I go about challenging this? My plan is to go ahead with the treatment, and pay, and then come back later and look to reclaim it. Any other ideas?

Toothsmith

Let your local PCT know what's happening. They'll 'Have a word', I'm sure.

Of course, the effect will either be that the dentist won't use the 'good stuff' for root fillings anymore, or it might even be the last straw that makes him give up on the NHS altogether.

But that's no bad thing, it will just cost more.

moomin_white

milliejon wrote: »

Oh dear - I wondered why I couldn't find any sign of it when I googled. How can I go about challenging this? My plan is to go ahead with the treatment, and pay, and then come back later and look to reclaim it. Any other ideas?

as Toothsmith has said, the instruments for filing a root canal should be one use only. Dentists most often used to reuse these, but the problem is it can weaken them and they can break off inside the canal and they can't be sterilised properly(biggest risk is vCJD). So now days, most practices charge patients extra, so they don't reuse them. This is in your best interest. Problem is, it's expensive to the dentist -which is why he is charging you for them. I just think you need to be aware of why he is doing it, and whilst it's not a usual NHS charge, maybe you should just pay it rather than challenging the payment and causing your dentist to reconsider doing things that are best for his patients if it means he has to incur the costs personally.

It upsets me that so many patients want as much as possible for as little cost. When you consider the work that your dentist provides and you still think you are being over charged. Bear also in mind that many NHS dentists are refusing to do root canal treatments because of how much work they have to do for what they get paid. Many just will take the tooth out(which is wrong)

I'm not having a go, just trying to make you understand what he is doing and why (and not because he's trying to rip you off)

Toothsmith

The problem with that Moomin, is that it will perpetuate the myth that the NHS dental system is 'working'.

It will only be working, because dentists are putting themselves in a very weak position by breaking the rules.

Much better - in my opinion - for dentists to receive the complaints sooner rather than later. Then they'll wake up to what a complete fiasco this contract is, and have nothing more to do with it.

milliejon

moomin_white wrote: »

It upsets me that so many patients want as much as possible for as little cost. When you consider the work that your dentist provides and you still think you are being over charged.

I'm not having a go, just trying to make you understand what he is doing and why (and not because he's trying to rip you off)

Thank you for this Moomin. I can understand where you are coming from but why I should I pay for something which somebody at the next surgery isn't? As it happens, I have quite a good relationship with my dentist, and am content to pay the cost now that I have all the facts - even if I do think it's unfair for him not to be straight with me.

Thanks Toothsmith for your advice too. I will mention that I'm aware that he shouldn't be charging this cost to me, but still pay it. That way, my hubby gets his treatment, we can keep our NHS spaces at the surgery, and the dentist is aware that I'll do my research!

Thanks again.

Toothsmith

Good plan!

tirednewdad

No you should have to pay extra for the tools that are used, but personally i would pay for the dentist to use them.
IMo you would get a better job done and therefore increase the success of the rootfilling. Lets face it, this is a dentist trying to manipulate the system to make it work- but i actually think he is trying to do it quite fairly for himself and patients.
It's wrong to need to do this- as has been said in previous threads the goverment wants rid of NHS dentistry. It just wants an extraction clinic where people can go to have teeth removed. Nothing elese in my opinion.