New Nhs Dental Contracts

Mrs_Wobbly

Our dentist was one of those 10% who refused to sign the contract, after reading the reasons behind their decision, I fully understand why. Thanks ToothSmith
Denise

Toothsmith

Turning_into_scrooge wrote:

But do private dentist do work for those on Income Support?

Private dentists will do work for anybody.

I have several patients on income support on my books.

But they pay the charges like everybody else.

People pay for what they value. The problem with people who don't value good dentistry is that they look at their own income, and because it's not a priority for them, think that the only people who can afford private dentistry must be earning a whole load more money than them. This isn't true.

I remember reading in Car magazine, years ago, about a postman who had really scrimped and saved and gone without loads of things others would call 'necessities' in order to own and run a Lamborghini Countach. (Very nice expensive sports car).

Different people have different priorities.

Toothsmith

Kinnairdy wrote:

Slight deviation off topic, to help/prevent dental pain take Calendula and Hypericum Tinctures (BioForce Herbals) and Arnica 6c (Homeopathic Tablets)

Just remind me.

Is 6c the dilution that's the equilavent of one active atom in a swimming pool, or one atom in the Pacific Ocean?

Toothsmith

funkymonkey wrote:

surely if it was that apauling - why would there be any NHS dentists? im intrigued now! i cant believe they get such bad treatment! bloody government. hope its not patricia hewtill lol - BI*CH

It can be very hard to shift the balance of your practice towards the private sector.

Plus, there are an awful lot of dentists out there who have been really committed to the NHS, despite all the kicks in the head (I avoid using teeth). I myself was very pro NHS until about 8 years ago, when it was either stick to my principals and go bankrupt, throwing several nurses out of work and leaving a couple of thousand people without a dentist, or provide crap treatment, or go private.

I am not anti NHS now. I am just anti THIS NHS.

Dentistry is the tip of the iceberg, and because dentistry is made up of sub-contracted independant practitioners, it doesn't hide the cracks as well as the fully nationalised, state owned system of the rest of healthcare.

In short, dentists, unlike doctors, with a bit of planning can walk away.

Many, despite the history, didn't think the new contract would really be this bad. They thought they would 'suck it and see'.

Now they find it is, there will be an awful lot of planning going on!

But of course, there are also the practices who have worked out how to make this system pay, and aren't really that fussed about the standard of dentistry they provide.

They will be the last ones remaining.

esthomizzy

Last month I had a gold crown in the back of my mouth. I have an NHS dentist and she's really good but she said that under the previous NHS charges the cost of the crown would have been a lot less than the 189 I just paid. Though from the perspective of getting a check up or a filling it would probably be cheaper. I hope not to need to go to the dentist for yonks now though.

Toothsmith

By yonks, I hope you only mean 6-12 months!

Check ups and fillings are also more expensive now if you only need single items.

If you need multiple fillings it's the same charge.

So you have a choice (This Government LOVES it's choices!)

Wait until things have really fallen to pieces and go and get it all fixed at once

(Cheap in money terms, but will knacker your teeth over time)

Or go and get things checked regularly, and fixed whilst the problem is minor.

(Probably as dear as paying privately on the NHS now, but you will have healthier teeth with much less trouble).

Plus, if your dentist is still on the NHS, you will probably have to endure long waits for appointments as now registration has ended, everybody has equal access to any NHS dentist. (In theory!)