Private v. NHS Dentist

Undervalued

I'd be most grateful for any advice from the very helpful dentists who post here (or anybody else come to that)!

I'm in my mid fifties and have always used an NHS dentist. My teeth are in reasonable order but with lots of fillings. Until about ten years ago I would happily have recommended my dentist to anybody but since then I feel it has gone downhill in lots of ways. In particular he seemed unable to understand my extreme sensitivity making any attempt at scaling absolute agony. After my last visit a year or so ago I vowed not to return. Interestingly I understand he has now retired and somebody else will be taking over the premises.

I had wondered if I would get better service from a private practice and, if so, I would be willing to pay for Denplan or similar.

I looked at a few websites and opted to visit a local, private only, practice with two dentists. They offered a "free" initial assessment although I had to pay for four "necessary" X-Rays (£30). Interestingly two teeth I had minor concerns about were pronounced OK but they apparently detected problems under two other existing fillings, which need attention before I could move onto a monthly plan, although not immediately urgent. I was certainly not aware of any problem with either.

I was quoted about £380 including a full scale and polish (over two sessions with anaesthetic).

Despite my best efforts I could only get a vague assurance that, once this was done, I could get onto Denplan or similar. Equally I couldn't get a firm monthly price, only "probably in one of the middle bands", maybe around £30.

In most respects I was comfortable with the person I saw and, as best I could judge, with the practice although somehow I was expecting more. Had they been NHS I would certainly have gone with them but I was uncertain exactly what extra I would be getting for the substantial cost.

In more cynical moments I've wondered if there was a policy to find some work to do before moving to insurance! Presumably with somebody middle aged with lots of fillings there must always be some that debatably need attention? I'm not suggesting there was no medical need but there must presumably be grey areas?

Short of repeating this process at other surgeries how do I make a decision. Most seem to want to charge for an initial assessment - is this normal?

Finally, do I have a right to a copy of these X-Rays as I paid for them? If so, would another dentist accept them or insist on taking their own.

Many thanks.

brook2jack

X rays are difficult to copy if they are not digital. You can ask if it's possible to have a copy but there may be a charge if its possible. All notes and records belong to a practice although a patient is entitled to a copy where possible, and x rays can be difficult to copy.

All dentists will have different opinions about treatment as dentistry is not an exact science, give three dentists one patient and you will get four different treatment plans.

Most if not all dentists will charge for an initial assesment for say denplan and a patient has to be dentally fit before bieng taken on.

The best way to find a good dentist is by recommendation, ask friends, family etc, Websites are absolutely no indicator of quality of dentistry. Look at toothsmiths signature for tips on finding a practice.

Undervalued

brook2jack wrote: »

X rays are difficult to copy if they are not digital. You can ask if it's possible to have a copy but there may be a charge if its possible. All notes and records belong to a practice although a patient is entitled to a copy where possible, and x rays can be difficult to copy.

All dentists will have different opinions about treatment as dentistry is not an exact science, give three dentists one patient and you will get four different treatment plans.

Most if not all dentists will charge for an initial assesment for say denplan and a patient has to be dentally fit before bieng taken on.

The best way to find a good dentist is by recommendation, ask friends, family etc, Websites are absolutely no indicator of quality of dentistry. Look at toothsmiths signature for tips on finding a practice.

Many thanks.

The X-Rays were digital so presumably a .jpg or similar could be supplied easily?

None of my local friends use a private dentist, although several further away do but not in easy travelling range.

Two or three local friends use the same (now retired) dentist and are also considering options.

What I was trying to get a feel for is what extra benefits I should expect for the significant cost of going private?

Also, obviously I understand the need to be "dentally fit" before an insurance policy can be started. What I seemed unable to get was a firm assurance that if I had this work done nothing else would be needed and then exactly how much I would have to pay per month.

This was all too vague for my liking and left me wondering if "extras" would creep in or I would only be accepted at a higher band?

welshdent

Denplan Care is a maintenance plan so basically when you are agreed to be at that zeroed position of all obvious problems managed i.e. decay, broken fillings/crowns fixed, the dentist then agrees to maintain you and replace any broken restorations (not including lab fees), treat decay etc all as part of the maintenance plan i.e. no additional charges (not including lab fees). I believe you get cover from denplan for accidental injury, emergency insurance etc too. They are not the only scheme. DPass, practice plan spring to mind. There are also essentials packs which give you check ups, x rays and 2 scale and polishes a year but you pay for any necessary treatment on top. Most practices I know would do a discount on the private charge if you are on their scheme. Advantages are usually more time with the dentist, better materials, More aesthetic materials. No third party (the NHS) dictating what you can and can not have done for you.

Toothsmith

brook2jack wrote: »

X rays are difficult to copy if they are not digital.

I know this isn't a help board for dentists! - but I've taken to taking digital photos of radiographs on my viewer, and then emailing the photo off to new dentists, or specialists I'm referring to etc.

I also find if I'm unsure of something on a radiograph, taking a photo and blowing it up on my computer really helps!

brook2jack

I've done this but I wouldn't be happy to diagnose eg caries or caries free on a bitewing sent from a dentist I didn't know that had been scanned from a hard copy. On the other hand seeing the position of the id canal on a opg or bone levels yes.

I still prefer the image from a good wet film to digital but I'm getting closer to being ready to switch.

brook2jack

The thing you buy , above all , is time and the same dentist. The average NHS dentist will see forty or more patients in a day, private fifteen to twenty five. You should be able to develop a long term relationship with your dentist and have the time to make sure your concerns are addressed and your are informed well about your treatment.

You should be seeing a hygienist and have your cleaning techniques checked for how well you are flossing/using tepe brushes.

Obviously there is a much wider choice of materials, proceedures etc but any dentist should make your and their priority making you healthy enough so you don't need much doing.

arroli

We are with Denplan, pay a monthly fee of £31 for two adults, which covers 4 hygeinist visits and 2 dentist check ups each year, plus emergency treatment if needed.

We were with the same dentist as NHS patients before he changed to private, and we opted to stay with his practice.

As far as I know (unless there are different payment plans) we pay for any further treatment needed, fillings and extractions at the private cost (less I think 10% discount)

I believe we get preferential treatment, no waiting ages for appointments etc, but havent really noticed any different with actual treatment.

Undervalued

Thanks for the replies.....

I think my main concern is a feeling that I still do not have a definite cost for going forward. Perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough, but in conversations with the both the dentist and the receptionist they didn't seem willing to guarantee that the proposed treatment would be enough to get me onto an insurance scheme or tell me what the monthly cost would be.

I think I may contact them next week and tell them that I will only proceed if I am given clear answers and the insurance band is acceptable.

One further question.....

Once in a particular band for insurance, do you stay in that band for life (obviously the premiums will increase with inflation) or can you be moved higher if you have lots of claims?

Thanks again.

brook2jack

The problem is the bands in denplan are assesed by the number of points you score. Eg so many points for a White filling covering so many surfaces, for each root treated tooth, for the amount of gum disease.

So say your treatment needed was three fillings. If they turned out a bit bigger than the x rays indicated or one needed a root treatment or another a crown, then your assessment might easily take you into the next band.

Most dentists would then keep you on the same band , unless your mouth suddenly deteriorated, or you moved dentists after having alot of work done.

Undervalued

brook2jack wrote: »

So say your treatment needed was three fillings. If they turned out a bit bigger than the x rays indicated or one needed a root treatment or another a crown, then your assessment might easily take you into the next band.

So what you are saying is that the "free" assessment I had (about 30 mins) plus the X-Rays I paid for don't answer these questions? Potentially then I could end up paying for more than I have been quoted and / or have to pay more than "probably the middle band" as indicated.

Having run my own specialised business I can see both sides of it but it is not a good position as a client / patient.

A similar example.....

I've just had my car MOT. It passed but with several "advisories" and a fairly hard sell by the garage to book it in for work they suggested was necessary.

As it happens my car is looked after privately by a personal friend who was the workshop foreman at the main agent until he retired recently. I trust his advice implicitly. After looking he said the advisories were "complete *&%$" and nothing but an attempt to generate business. He told me that garages were wary of failing cars falsely as this could bounce back on them but this was a fairly safe way of conning the non-technical into paying for work.

Maybe I'm being paranoid but I wonder if this is the dental equivalent?