Dentist overcharge

sjn1982

Sorry if this is the wrong place, I tried searching but couldn't find very much.

At the end of June I had a couple of fillings (bad I know), about a week later I noticed that I now had a sharp edge on one of my teeth and increased sensitivity.

I rang up the dentist to make an appointment and had one booked with a new dentist.

When I arrived I had to fill in another lot of health forms and another registration form.

Went up, tooth was filed down and was given some sensitive toothpaste.

Then the shock came. Apparently because the appointment was with another dentist it counts as a seperate occasion and I needed to pay another £16.50. I had assumed that because it was all part of the same treatment it was covered by the original amount that I paid.

This was never explained to me and if it had been I would have waited another few days (had already waited 2 weeks!) for an appointment with my original dentist.

I left it with the receptionist that she was going to discuss it with the practice manager and let me know. This morning I recieved a letter saying that the £16.50 charge was correct.

So, should I argue this charge or just pay it? It was never explained to me that seeing a different dentist would mean that I would be charged again. Surely at some point this should have been explained? Either by the first receptionist that made the booking, the other receptionist that asked for me to fill in the forms or the dentist before she did any work!

Thanks
x

Apollonia

sjn1982 wrote: »

At the end of June I had a couple of fillings (bad I know), about a week later I noticed that I now had a sharp edge on one of my teeth and increased sensitivity.

Reference the part I have highlighted: Was it another tooth that had a sharp edge? I mean, not one of the ones that were filled in June?
If it was a third tooth then yes, it would be a new course of treatment.

welshdent

Its a tricky one, when seeing a different dentist outside of a course of treatment then its highly likely you would have had to have had a new course opened up. Your course of treatment would have ended after your last appointment for the completion of the treatment plan. After that if you have a problem it would be subject to an additional course. What you need to bear in mind is that we do not operate like medicine does. We are self employed independent practitioners that work independently of other practitioners. As a result the best comparison I have for you is walking in to tescos and buying a kettle. Finding it breaks so you take it back but to sainsburys. The practice are indeed correct in charging you the band 4 charge because it probably wasnt a part of the original course of treatment AND you were seeing someone completely different. Imagine if you will you work in a line of work that your friend also does but you are independent of one and other. Your friend does some work for a customer but they have an issue with the work. As a result they come to see you, expect you to put it right AND for it to be done free. So you would be expected to work on someone elses job with no remuneration. Thats the realities of NHS dentistry from the dentists point of view.

The only way you could have NOT been charged as far as I can see things is to have had a generous dentist who would do what is called a continuation if the new course was opened within 30 days of the termination of the last. The problem with this is I am not really sure that what you had done would qualify for the lower band. The dentist would then risk getting in trouble with his PCT potentially for fraud if he claims wrongly. Also there would be a lower accreditation for the work done. They are sniffing around us a lot now as they want patient charge revenue so do not look kindly on us saving the patients a few bob!!

sjn1982

Sorry, I should have made it clearer. It was one of the teeth that had been filled that I noticed the sharp edge on. Because of the sensitivity I thought that the filling may have come out.

My issue was that it wasn't explained to me at any point that seeing a different dentist I would be charged. If it has I would have made the informed choice to wait and see the original dentist.

And whoops it was the end of July that I had the original fillings!

welshdent

sjn1982 wrote: »

My issue was that it wasn't explained to me at any point that seeing a different dentist I would be charged. If it has I would have made the informed choice to wait and see the original dentist.

I suspect as you had a problem the receptionists were simply trying to get you seen as quickly as they could. They are not trained to diagnose at all and as such were probably just trying to help as much as possible. Also they may have felt that by now the contract is some 5 years old so they may have thought most people understood that an emergency appointment would be subject to a charge. also bear in mind that the dentist/practice do not get that money. Its basically a tax for the PCT to generate income. We are obliged to collect that money when a course of treatment is opened ... as your previous course HAD ended (they can not stay open indefinately) then they would have had to open up a new course to see you on the NHS ... hence the form filling.

Bobble72

I experienced the same thing. I went to the dentist for a check-up and was charged £16.50, at the time I mentioned that I had a hair-line crack in a front crown. The dentist said leave it and see how things progress. Two weeks later a piece of the crown came off. My dentist was on holiday and I saw another dentist in the same practice who made a temporary repair and charged me £40+ pounds. I explained that I had pointed out the hair-line crack to my own dentist but it made no differance. I eventually complained to the PCT and was eventually refunded £16.50 from the practice who still didn't accept my argument. I should add that I felt that I couldn't return to my dentist which has proved a great loss to me. I wish I just paid and hadn't complained.

welshdent

The 16.50 would have been for the check up - we can not predict something would have happened after. A crack can be something or nothing. The 40 odd would have been a normal charge to repair the tooth as a band 2 and thus a totally seperate course of treatment. I'm afraid on the info given I wouldn't have accepted your argument either. You appear to have been treated normally an fairly. I suspect your original dentist would have charged you the band 2 also seeing as they would have had no other option available to them short of either doing it for free or doing it privately. Many many teeth have cracks in that do absolutely nothing hence leaving them sometimes

brook2jack

A crown can have a crack in it and last many years or not many minutes, there's no way to predict but it is perfectly reasonable to review it rather than drill out the crack and need a new crown £200 plus .

You could have legitimately been charged more eg second dentist temporary dresses tooth charge £16 ish , you return to first dentist and they fill (£40 ish) or replace crown (£200). The rules on charging are really complex and rarely understood by PCTs.

Practices can make mistakes with charges and will refund legitimate mischarges , but it is sad if you feel that they are so keen to defraud you of £16 ish that a complaint is necessary. Trust has broken down and if you don't trust them with charges then you are right to move practices.