Partial Denture, charged twice??

single_lonely

I have 2 teeth missing so dentist suggested partial denture.
they didnt give metal ones so they keep coming out when im eating

went back after 2-3 months and a different dentist suggested putting metal 'clamps' on the non metal denture so its supported by the tooth in front and behind.

i paid £204 for the original partial denture.
he wants another £49 to add the 'clamps'
surely its one course of treatment so only one fee?

(also id suggest other people in similar situations to get metal frame partial denture)

Im in very early 30's!!!

welshdent

Afraid not sorry. The original course of treatment by provider/dentist a is the provision of the denture. That course of treatment ended when the denture was fitted. For whatever reason you are not managing so well with it which can be common. Its not specifically because of the material the denture is made from .... I cant remember the last time I made a metal one to be honest. dentist b is completely unconnected to a in the eyes of the pct because they have their own performer number. dentist b has suggested altering the denture so it falls in to a new course of treament (band 2) hence the additional charge. You MAY have got dentist a to do the modification as a gesture of good will but even to them it is not obligated upon them. Dentures and bridgework have no guarantee on the NHS. Even if they did it would not apply to modification just repair and replacement.
Regards the material of choice ... well its a clinical decision by the dentist mostly. For someone who has never worn a denture before its unlikely that you would be offered a chrome straight off the bat anyway. As I said I can not recall when I needed to make one last. When you are a private patient you do have more options available to you. It is still a clinical decision but as you are footing the bill you are limited by less things. When you are having NHS treatment then unfortunately its not a case of going in and saying you want X y or Z. The dentist foots the bill and there is no mechanism built in to claim more money if the lab charges exceed that which the NHS provides the dentist to give you the treatment. As a result the dentist has to make a judgement call on what is clinically necessary to meet your health need. In the majority of cases a standard acylic denture is that need met. The lab fee fpr a chrome is very large to say the least!