NHS Dentist question, help please

bruciebounus

My boyfriend recently registered as a NHS patient at a local dental clinic. He had an appointment yesterday and was told he needed 6 fillings and dentures (to replace 2 front teeth).

Now the price they gave him was £48 for all fillings (NHS price), but £450 for the dentures. Thats was the private rate as they said they did not do NHS dentures at the clinic.

Is that correct, can they refuse to give him NHS dentures even if they can provide privately? And is there a difference in quality?

Sounded to me that they are trying to get as much money as possible as they first tried to flog him the fillings at the private cost too.

Many thanks for reading

Toothsmith

If he's accepted as an NHS patient, then there should be an NHS option for everything that is 'necessary'.

If the dentist feels a denture is 'necessary' then there should be an NHS option for this.

It's possible that the dentist could offer an acrylic denture on the NHS or a better fitting metal skeleton one as a private 'option' - that would be OK as there is an NHS choice there.

It's also possible that the dentist might not think that the denture is 'necessary' in that your boyfriend will still have enough teeth for him to be able to chew without one. So the denture is only being made to cosmetically fill in some gaps.

If the gaps are in front teeth - so very visible - it would be hard for the dentist to argue that a denture was not appropriate on the NHS, as even on the NHS replacing a front tooth would not be counted as 'purely' cosmetic.

It all depends on what is required, what is optional, and how the dentist explained it all.

bruciebounus

Thank you Toothsmith for the speedy reply. I'll speak to him later to find out exactly what was discussed.

It probably wont make a difference as have found out that he has already signed a form agreeing to the treatment (both NHS and private). I just don't feel that he was fully informed when signing. Is he able to back out if he has signed the agreement (no treatment date set for dentures yet).

brook2jack

Your boyfriend should have been given a fp17dc form detailing what the nhs option and what is private.
As toothsmith said he may have been offered a plastic nhs denture or a metal denture privately.

He needs to contact the surgery to clarify what has and hasn't been offered and to get this in writing. If he is unhappy he then needs to complain to the surgery and go through their complaints process. If this doesn't resolve problems his next step (if in England) is to contact the PCT.

The total cost of nhs treatment in England including a denture is around £207. Different charges and systems apply Wales, Scotland and NI.

brook2jack

A patient can withdraw consent at any time.
The form he signed should detail what the treatment is but doesn't commit him to treatment.
The problem is you are doing this third hand and don't know what was discussed in the surgery. If your boyfriend was told dentures aren't offered on the nhs that is incorrect but it is true the simplest and less cosmetic choice will be the one offered on the nhs.