Approx cost for a dental bridge?

bertie2

Toothsmith wrote:

And these practices and yourselves are still willingly doing complex things like bridges on the NHS?

How much is the technicians fee? Will it be an experienced technician making the bridge? How long do you spend preparing and fitting it? How many staff do you have, and how much do you pay them?

It's not a question of making money on the treatment, I'm interesed in how you do it without making a loss?

In Scotland the nHS deal is alot better than the new contract in England and Wales so we are still doing "piece' work ie old system with some changes to it. I have only worked here for 1 year having moved from England (6 months new contract) and I would not move back!

Toothsmith

Soph wrote:

Hi

I've got a question to ask about dentistry. Apologies to Donna-j as this is unrelated to your original question, but this seems the most relevant thread.

My partner, who's just turned 33 hasn't been to a dentist in several years. In fact, I'm not sure whether he's even been while we've been together, since 2000. I have recently mananged to pursuade him that he needs to go and he has just got registered at a faily new NHS practice that has opened about 16 miles away.

For some time now, his teeth have been giving him problems and he thinks that he'll need to ahve them all extracted and a set of false teeth putting in.

My question is, does anyone know how much something like this is likely to cost on the NHS?

Many thanks

In England, on the new NHS contract £189. With another £189 for a new set of full dentures after a year or so when the original set become loose after the healing period.

I would be very surprised if he needs such drastic action though.

Alternatives may well be dearer over the long term though, although much better for his overall wellbeing.

Luis

Hello to the OP,

I don't know whether my story may provide some advice?

My dentist applied to the NHS for a grant to do my bridge, as it could be justified as necesssary treatment (rather than cosmetic), which meant I 'only' paid £380, which I think was the maximum amount you had to pay per year at the time, for what was about £5k work. So the NHS paid all his costs, and I paid my bit.

It was a lot of work though - I had the front upper 6 missing, and the two teeth on each side of the gap had to be crowned to provide an anchor for the bridge (which was only for 4 teeth due to lack of space).

The NHS agreed to pay for it, as I was only in my 20s at the time, and had had a denture since I was 14, which was starting to badly damage the rest of my mouth and teeth.

Can you apply for a grant for necessary but costly treatment? My Dentist suggested this and did all the necessary to get the grant - I just turned up with my gob! I have to say, he should get sainthood too, as it is the most amazing thing I have ever had done to improve my quality of life.

Thanks to dentists everywhere!

wishfull

Thanks Luis , I am just waiting to get the ok from the nhs to get my bridge. I have just got a new dentist and he is nhs and great. The nhs said yes theywould pay the bridge at fisrt but he said the way they wanted to do it was too unstable and unsuitable for my mouth. I am in my early 30's and unsure about getting a bridge but I am impressed how he is fighting with the nhs to get the best possable work for me. Especailly as I need a bridge due to previous nhs dentists sloppy work. My dentist is outside glasgow and is foreign but he is very good.
I know the cap in scotland is £380 for nhs .Im now looking forward to getting my bridge .

donna-j_2

Thanks everyone for your help. My very sore knackered tooth is being pulled on Monday. My dentist wants to wait a few months until it all calms down before carrying on with a bridge or such-like, so I've got some time to save.

Toothsmith

If it's not visible Donna, and you have nearly all your other teeth, there may not be any NEED to have it replaced at all.

Having a bridge does involve damaging the teeth that are going to act as supports for it, and that is why something like an implant, although very expensive, is the best way to replace a gap. Because it doesn't use the teeth either side of the gap.

In this few months, you will see if you can survive without anything there at all. If you can, think long & hard and have a serious discussion with your dentist about just how necessary it really is. I think you are sensible to save up and get it done well by your regular dentist though, rather than getting a bargin job that could ultimately make matters worse.

donna-j_2

Thanks Toothsmith. The gap is huge. I hate it. I have a snob-stigma thing in my head about nice people not having big gaps in their mouths!

My dentist says that as both teeth either side could benefit from crowns then a bridge would be better but to wait a few months for it all to heal.

Yay to no more pain though. Three absesses in four months was not fun.

Toothsmith

I bet!!

It sounds like you have a good dentist there. And it sounds like you are someone who places a high value on good dentistry.

Dentistry in this country is expensive. We are hugely over-regulated. Everything from waste disposal to Minimum Wage regulations all impact on the equation (I know the minimum wage will not apply to a qualified dental nurse, but if you can get £5 per hour for stacking shelves at Tesco, how much extra would a qualified and skilled DN want to be paid? The same with a skilled dental technician).

It can't be done cheaply.

Whether the Government should put taxpayer's money into paying those costs is another argument. At the moment they don't, hence the huge problems.

Savvy_Sue

donna-j wrote:

Thanks Toothsmith. The gap is huge. I hate it. I have a snob-stigma thing in my head about nice people not having big gaps in their mouths!

I think I have the same snob-stigma thing, but as things settle down I would encourage you to think about whether it shows as much as you think it does ...

My 'gap' isn't one of my front teeth, so maybe I'd feel different - no, I would feel different - if it was. But I've decided it doesn't show (unless I really bare my teeth and growl :rotfl:), so I'll leave the gap. But I am sure it feels about 10 times bigger than it actually is!

SparkyG

I know Toothsmith says its ok to leave a gap, and I respect his opinion as a professional, but my experience was different.

I had a lower 1st molar extracted, and as Sue said the gap felt huge, although it didn't show. It really affected me mentally, and I mourned the loss of that tooth!:o More importantly though, it affected the other teeth in my mouth, and my bite. The tooth in front of the gap, a 2nd premolar, suffered gum recession to such a degree that the root was exposed and sensitive, and the upper opposing molar has shifted down as there was no resistance to bite against, causing my upper teeth to be out of line.

When (after 7 years), I had the gap filled with an implant it was one of the best things I have ever done in my life, both for my physical and mental wellbeing!:j I had not realised how much that gap had affected me!

JMO

SparkyG