NHS dental charges-per tooth or per treatment?

jugglebug

peteski wrote: »

hi
just been having similar problems myself, i e-mailed my local Primary Care Trust (PCT) to ask what the official stand on a 'course of treatment' was. basically, if the dentist has outlined everything that needs to be done, then that qualifies as one course of treatment. If they say it isnt then they need to demonstrate, if challenged, why the work is not required during the first course of treatment. It may be worth getting in touch with your local PCT (try at NHS website, search for Primary Care Trust Listing and select your local trust) to get them to put it to you in writing, which you can then show the dentist if they still refuse to put it all as one treatment.
Hope this helps, best of luck!

Unfortunately this goes against the guidance given to us dentists and certainly doesn't cover all eventualities. Not surprising though really as the folks who administer the dental system at PCT's are seldom dentally trained and tend to look at the system in a very superficial way. This isn't a criticism of them, more of the people doing the recruiting, but still after all these years you would have expected some to have gotten a clue by now
The regulations absolutely allow for multiple courses of treatment for ostensibly the same problem. For example one (or more) to stabilise a problem, followed by further treatment at a later date once the conditions are met. An example being a patient with poor oral hygiene, gum health issues and a broken down abscessed tooth requiring a root treatment and a crown.
The NHS is happy for me to clear the infection and begin to treat the gum disease (which may take years) but not provide the crown until much, much later as there is no sense in crowning a tooth that is going to be lost due to gum disease. Should the patient never improve their oral hygiene realistically I may *Never* provide the crown.
To say that counts as a single course of treatment is unworkable as I would be essentially agreeing to treat that person for a single charge for the rest of the forseeable future! No extra funding at all. Sorry but there isn't a business in the world, medical dental or otherwise where that would work.
I would point out that the politicians have been known to spout the same line as the PCT as it makes good media soundbites, but they are wrong too.

elfen

toothsmith, you'll be happy to know I registered with a dentist.

The banding this also works in that if you have more than one treatment in the same band within three? months then you don't have to pay again as you've been back so soon. So if you have a filling and it falls out and you need another one within three months you dont have to pay for it. At least that's what the thing I read said.

Toothsmith

Well done!

That all sounds right, but as I've had nothing to do with the NHS for nearly 4 years now, I'm not an expert on the tiny details of the contract.

maysmummy

elfen wrote: »

toothsmith, you'll be happy to know I registered with a dentist.

The banding this also works in that if you have more than one treatment in the same band within three? months then you don't have to pay again as you've been back so soon. So if you have a filling and it falls out and you need another one within three months you dont have to pay for it. At least that's what the thing I read said.

Under NHS rules, this only applies if it's a permanent filling and it's the same filling and not due to trauma.

HTH

maysmummy

vikkit wrote: »

Hi
If you have a severe dental phobia you could try contacting your local community dental services (telephone your local pct for number) they specilise in trating children, those with extra needs and anxious patients. Although standard NHS dental fees apply you should find that they have more time to spend with the patients. Another alternative option is to ask if you can be referred to a dental hospital they have special clinics for anxious patients although with either of these there is no guarentee that they will see and treat.

a helpful resource is the dental phobic website they have lots of advice on how to cope with a dental phobia.

i hope this helps

You will need a written referral from a doctor, dentist, health or social care professional stating what your problem is.If it lies within their remit, then they will accept the referral and see you.