NHS dentist charges

bikeman

Hoping someone can clear something up for me.

The NHS publish 3 bands of work each with a specific charge. A checkup comes under band 1 - £17 and a filling under band 2 - £47. It quite clearly states that band 2 covers all required band 1 work.

So if I go for a check up and I need to come back for a filling, my dentist should charge me the single band 2 fee of £47. However, my dentist charges me £64 (£17 + £47).

Is he over charging me? If so who should I report him to?

Thanks

Toothsmith

As written, you're right, he's wrong and you should first complain to the practice, and take it up to the local PCT if you get no satisfaction there.

BUT

There is provision in the regs for an 'emergency fee'.

That is, if you attend the dentist as an emergency patient, say with a lost filling, and an examination is done and a temporary filling, then that is a single chargeable £17 item. Then, when you come back for the filling you can be charged the full Band 2 fee of £47.

It depends whether it was a routine, planned check up appointment, or whether you rang up and booked in because you'd lost a filling.

brook2jack

Also if you have the check up and don't return within two calender months then that also is liable for £17 + £47 even if you have just cancelled appointments.

bikeman

Thanks for the clarification/

bikeman

Another question...

I'm told I need an app with a hygenist and it will be private. I've argued that NHS says that if required a scale and polish is part of the treatment and is covered by the band 1 checkup fee. He says not.

Also been told I need a root canal filling and it's not covered by NHS. Private treatment will cost £700!

I was under the impression that only cosmetic treatment was excluded from NHS.

I think he's taking the £i$$

welshdent

yes from that descrption.

If he said to you "you have problem X with your tooth meaning it needs either an extraction or a root filling to manage it. I do not feel I am competent to carry out the root treatment for you and there is insufficient referral services provided by the PCT for me to refer you. I can extract it or refer you to see specialist privately" That would be fine.

What is NOT fine is "you need a root filling it is a) not available on the NHS (not correct) b) I am not capable of doing it for you on the NHS but I can privately (incorrect).

re the scale and polish - loooooong thread on here. Had he said you have some staining but are free of disease. We have a hygienist whom I recommend seeing but she is only with us independently. She can remove the staining and advise on how to better look after your mouth as she has more time available than I do ... thats ok. What is NOT ok is ... its not available on the NHS. What is also ok is "I can do a basic scaling for you to remove any hard deposits but if you want the stains removed and a more intensive clean you may see our hygienist privately".

bikeman

Thanks for the reply - here's the detail...

1. Hygienst - yep as you guessed I have some staining, he wasn't specific about any disease but did not offer to do a basic scaling. He used to a basic scale/polish every visit now it's never. I argue that if he did a bit each visit there would be no need to see a hygeniest for a thorough going over.

2. Root canal work - Dentist did indeed state that they could not do the work privately or on NHS BUT he then referred me to another practice which I've just found out is his brothers!

SmallL

I had four fillings (For 4 cracked teeth that were caused by growing wisdom teeth!) that cost just over 100 pounds

welshdent

bikeman wrote: »

Thanks for the reply - here's the detail...

1. Hygienst - yep as you guessed I have some staining, he wasn't specific about any disease but did not offer to do a basic scaling. He used to a basic scale/polish every visit now it's never. I argue that if he did a bit each visit there would be no need to see a hygeniest for a thorough going over.

2. Root canal work - Dentist did indeed state that they could not do the work privately or on NHS BUT he then referred me to another practice which I've just found out is his brothers!

Did he actually say things were not available on the NHS or is that your interpretation?

NHS regs state we do not provide scaling for stains as part of an NHS course of treatment but we are allowed to charge privately for this. Some dentists do and some do not. Its usually case by case person by person. Its not really a case of doing a bit each time sorry.

He is not in breech of his obligations re the root treatment. I can not see your tooth to judge its complexity. That said even if I thought it was one I could do, its not a measure on if someone else can do it. We frequently refer some treatments out to others., Regards root treatment. It is a VERY complex process IMHO. PCTs do NOT place any value on it so do not comissuion much in the specialist treatment for it.

welshdent

SmallL wrote: »

I had four fillings (For 4 cracked teeth that were caused by growing wisdom teeth!) that cost just over 100 pounds

I have to be honest, growing wisdom teeth cracking teeth is a new one on me :-S

kittycatface

Depending on your income level/capital, you can apply for help with dental care (it includes refunds so keep all paperwork!)
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/HealthCosts/Documents/HealthCosts/HC11.pdf is the link, and gives you all the info you need. we had to pick up the actual form from the local job centre.
we are on v low income: posted the certificate application just before Christmas and it arrived no questions asked within two working weeks. hth: it's not the kind of thing the government advertise but a lot of people are eligible and they don't know it!