Calling Toothsmith

shameless-about-money

Toothsmith wrote: »

I think you misunderstood me.

Crowns and dentures are certainly available on the NHS.

Bridgework would be too if it could be shown to be necessary.

The problem with bridgework is that a denture would do the same job (Fill the gaps) and is loads cheaper to provide, hence it is very difficult to argue that a bridge is the 'necessary' thing rather than just the 'preferred option'.

Yes, I understand, thanks!!

shameless-about-money

gerturdeanna wrote: »

Thanks Toothsmith!! I'll phone the dentist tomorrow!! Do you know also if you have to pay upfront or is it pay as you go?

Thanks again

You pay when the treatment is finished - well you do at my NHS Dentist!

The story from Klare above makes me wonder about some of these "NHS" Dentists sometimes!

Toothsmith

gerturdeanna wrote: »

Thanks Toothsmith!! I'll phone the dentist tomorrow!! Do you know also if you have to pay upfront or is it pay as you go?

Thanks again

The dentist is quite within his rights to ask for all the money upfront though, and can refuse treatment until it is paid.

Toothsmith

shameless-about-money wrote: »

The story from Klare above makes me wonder about some of these "NHS" Dentists sometimes!

Same here.

The NHS contract as it's written is practically unworkable though.

My choice was to have nothing to do with it. I understand that some of my colleagues weren't in the same position as me though, and probably work in more challenging areas.

I do resent a contract that has my colleagues acting against the law in order to stay in business though.

And those that are just using it to 'attract' patients that they can then lie to in order to make more money I really resent. If they want to be private dentists,they should be honest private dentists, and not hide behind the NHS.

Tomthumb

Toothy, thank you so much for your reply - you are fab and lovely to take the time to help, I really do appreciate it! (I won't grin as I look like a haggardy witch at the moment!)

Penny-Pincher!!

Toothsmith...may I ask a question? I have different illnesses and due to these my teeth have weakened a great deal. Last year one of the large side bottom teeth came out. I have heard about having a bridge done...are these worth it and would I be able to get on the NHS as I am on a qualifying benefit It doesnt really matter with chewing etc but I am just gutted as my teeth have always been great and didnt have my first filling till 3 years ago.

Sorry to hijack the thread.

PP
xx

gerturdeanna

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

Sorry to hijack the thread.

PP
xx

No sorry needed. It's an open forum!!! (I would insert smilie but they're not worjking for me!!)

klare_2

thanks toothsmith,
I didnt think what they were telling me was right so I will be phoning them today and if i dont get the answer I want will then be phoning the PCT, have just remembered they also tried telling me that I owed them the £15 for the first visit and I looked on the dental practice charges on the NHS and they shouldnt have charged me seperately for that either! tutut,,, they are being very naughty indeed!!

Toothsmith

klare wrote: »

have just remembered they also tried telling me that I owed them the £15 for the first visit and I looked on the dental practice charges on the NHS and they shouldnt have charged me seperately for that either! tutut,,, they are being very naughty indeed!!

That bit actually isn't naughty at all!

Once they've done the check up, they can ask for the £15.50 charge - just in case you don't turn up again.

Once they've done a filling they can then ask for the difference to make it up to the £42.40 band 2 charge, and once labwork has been done they can get the balance up to £189.

What they CAN'T do is charge £15.50 at the check up, then an EXTRA £42.40 at the filling (Worse if they do it for EVERY filling!!) and an EXTRA £189 for each crown or gold filling or denture.

That is very naughty indeed.

Toothsmith

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

Toothsmith...may I ask a question? I have different illnesses and due to these my teeth have weakened a great deal. Last year one of the large side bottom teeth came out. I have heard about having a bridge done...are these worth it and would I be able to get on the NHS as I am on a qualifying benefit It doesnt really matter with chewing etc but I am just gutted as my teeth have always been great and didnt have my first filling till 3 years ago.

Sorry to hijack the thread.

PP
xx

I didn't know we had teeth in our large side bottoms!

Seriously, if you've only lost one tooth, there is very little reason to replace it from any health point of view, which means it will not be replaced on the NHS.

Even getting a bridge done privately would not be in your best interests at the moment, as with your teeth going downhill so rapidly, doing anything to the teeth either side of the gap will only weaken them and make them more prone to decay.

What the priority should be with you is finding out exactly why your teeth are going so bad so quickly?

Once the teeth are formed, nothing will affect the structure of them, so the haven't 'become weak'.

Something has either changed with your diet, or something has affected your saliva. (Or rather the amount of it you produce.)

Both of these things could be a result of medications. Of corse, illnesses affect people psycologically as well, and it could be due to an increase in comfort food.

There is far more to analysing all this than we could possibly go into here but as I said, sorting out the reasons for the change in your dental health is the major priority for you, rather than firefighting the damage.