NHS Dental costs

robowen

I can't find any guidelines as to what is deemed necessary and covered by the NHS charges.

It is obvious that I would find my case 'necessary treatment' and should be under the NHS charges which would come to £384 in total.

Like the other post said, prevention is better than cure, and certainly in my case If I don't get this treatment done soon, it could lead to further complications which would definitely be covered by the NHS.

I just don't want to wait till then....I hate going to the dentist !

Teerah

crunchy_with_ketchup wrote:

BTW if you don't like capitation are you suggesting the opposite, and wouldn't that put dentists out of business in a big way? ;-)

Capitation payments do of course form part of a dentists income but by far the majority of payment comes from pay per item fees. Thus the emphasis is certainly not on prevention. With the current treadmill-like system there is much less time devoted to prevention than treatment since it is the treatment that pays the bills at the end of the day. It is of course desirable to spend more time on prevention but without adequate remuneration for this approach it is difficult to see any major changes in the forseeable future.

I think ultimately, if NHS dentistry is to exist longterm, it is probable that the only people who are able to avail of free or subsidised dentistry will be those who are currently exempt. Everyone else will need to pay slightly more. Otherwise dentistry will become entirely private in my opinion.

Teerah

robowen wrote:

I can't find any guidelines as to what is deemed necessary and covered by the NHS charges.

Hi robowen

necessary dental treatment usually falls far short of that which is perhaps the most desirable or the most aesthetically pleasing option. For example, I am assuming that you have at least one tooth missing due to the bridge quote? In this case, the most desirable option for you is the bridge. The least expensive option which would replace the missing tooth and make you dentally fit again would be a plastic denture. As you can see there is a big difference in desirability.

Toothsmith

robowen wrote:

I can't find any guidelines as to what is deemed necessary and covered by the NHS charges

That's part of the problem - For us as well

robowen wrote:

If I don't get this treatment done soon, it could lead to further complications which would definitely be covered by the NHS.

Like a full mouth clearence and full dentures

That's what NHS dentistry mainly provided when it was set up in '47.

The problems set in as soon as they started making the same funding cover all the more complicated stuff.

robowen

At the moment, the tooth is still in place. The dentist has had many goes at saving it, and taken many ££££££, unfortunately the root is weak and decayed and the crown on top comes off regularly.

In order to repair this tooth, the dentist wants to destroy 2 perfectly good teeth either side to make this bridge. She seemed happy to do it on the NHS.
I asked for an implant, which naturally she said I'd have to go private.

The specialist looked me over and thought about how much he could get out of me. He started at around £2200, then knocked a £100 off this and £100 off that right in front of me, then it went down to £1900, then £1700 and then £1600, this being conveniently the amount I told him earlier I was expecting.

So, then it's back to local dentist again, who has now changed her mind and wants £750 ......... and they call us plumbers !! lol

suppose I'll have to bite the bullet !!

Teerah

Have you asked your dentist why the change from NHS to private treatment plan?

Teerah

robowen wrote:

I asked for an implant, which naturally she said I'd have to go private.

Implants are only available on the NHS for exceptional cases, eg some trauma or surgery cases. Otherwise, they are always a private option

robowen

Teerah wrote:

Implants are only available on the NHS for exceptional cases, eg some trauma or surgery cases. Otherwise, they are always a private option

I meant to say "I asked about implants", I knew I would have to have it done privately.
My dentist, thought implants would be £500-£750 !! She told me how expensive they were. This shows you that, we were looking at a bridge for less than this amount, which can only mean, she expected it done on the NHS.

The receptionist refused to put me through to her, to ask about this quote. So, I'll have to wait for the next appointment.

Teerah

I think thats your best bet robowen, wait until your next appointment and discuss the costs and treatments fully with your dentist until you are happy with what the quotes entail. Dont go ahead until you are fully happy! And I'm really confused as to why your dentist thought implants would cost only 500-700 pounds?!