Dentist Query ... correct advice?

brook2jack

There is no such thing any more (since 2006) as registration with a nhs dentist, so you can never assume you will be seen as an nhs patient at a practice you were a patient of many years ago. If you want nhs treatment ask BEFORE booking a first appointment. You have been seen as a private patient , not as a nhs patient so the dentist is not obliged to offer you nhs treatment, indeed the practice web site says they are not taking on nhs patients.

A complicated extraction of a wisdom tooth (surgical extraction) is now deemed on the nhs to be a specialist service and needs to be referred to a hospital, dental hospital or nhs oral surgery specialist clinic.

Treatment of gum disease is ,in theory, available on the NHS but in practice will be alot less extensive than private treatment.

You can go to another practice if you want NHS treatment you do not have to have treatment at this practice,you need to acertain before youbook it is a nhs check up you are booking. From the sound of it you may well be referred on for the extraction and the dentist ,not a hygienist, will probably provide treatment.

Anon

Thank you, I think you are all indeed correct and I have been seen as a private patient and advised from that perspective - that is my important lesson for not going to the dentist regularly. It seems since my last visit they have changed somewhat and I assumed they would be NHS and may offer additional private services, but actually this one is now mainly private.
Important (£50 so far) lesson.

I think starting again may be the best option financially- It appears from NHS choices that if I can get accepted the price of treatment is capped for a course of treatment and if the treatment he suggested is required it would appear to work out cheaper - Can I assume that if treatment is required then they have to do it (to a quality standard)/arrange for it to be done at the dental hospital?

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/dentists/Pages/your-dentist-visit.aspx

As I signed the treatment plan estimate, as mentioned above in haste, is it a contract or just a plan and my plan may change (ie can I just cancel?).

Many thanks

Anon

brook2jack

You are not comitted to the treatment plan,you do not need to go ahead.

Bear in mind no two dentists treatment plans will be identical and there will be things that can be offered privately that will not be offered on the nhs.

If you need referral for the tooth extraction you will be referred and put on the waiting list.

If you have gum problems the important thing is to

A stop smoking if you do

B start flossing /using tepebrushes

C keep regular check ups.

Bear in mind there is no such thing as registration with a nhs dentist any more. You are only registered during a course of treatment. Outside of that time a practice is not obliged to see you on the nhs even if you have toothache. If it is important to you to be seen as an nhs patient always check before you make the appointment. There is no such thing as a nhs dentist, just dentists who offer nhs treatment and the amount of people they can treat is limited each year. So do not assume that because a practice sees nhs patients you will also be seen as one.

bod1467

Sort-of on topic ... my dentist switched to being a private practice a few years ago. We started an insurance type plan with Denplan which includes 4 hygienist checks (including scale and polish) per year and 2 dentist check-ups per year, plus all treatments required. (We only pay extra for any lab work, such as getting a crown made - the sizing and fitting work at the dentists is included).

Works out at about £16 per person per month. Children in full-time education are free.

brook2jack

The problem with denplan is you have to be dentally fit to join, so work has to be done first.

Also it has different levels of payment according to how much work you have had done in the past, so someone with alot of fillings , crowns and gum problems will pay more than someone who has had little done over the years.

helphelphelphelp

I will need a crown replaced and bridgework done, My dentist said if it was done under the NHS it would be in the surgery, but if I went private I could have a general anaesthetic. Since there is very little tooth to remove, I have gone for private as I didnt want to be awake during the procedure. The work would cost quite a few hundred, however, BUPA dental care for companies ignores all existing conditions. Is there anyway you could sign up for this?

Anon

As an update, I have managed to secure an appointment at a nearby Dentist for an NHS check up next month (before I am due to see the current dentist again). I will therefore see what they say - apparently around £17.50 for a check up, descale/polish and x-rays for the first appointment. I confirmed that this was NHS at least four times in the conversation so am willing to gamble another £17.50 to get a second opinion/possibly open up NHS options.

Anon