Dental charges for student

frames1_uk

I sent off for a form HC1 for help with dental charges for my uni student daughter who lives in student accommodation. Was surprised when it came back saying she has too much disposable income to qualify.
All she has is her student loan and maintenance grant. No other income whatsoever and her accommodation is over £100 a week.
Anyone know of any other schemes to help students with dental fees?

Ed-1

frames1_uk wrote: »

I sent off for a form HC1 for help with dental charges for my uni student daughter who lives in student accommodation. Was surprised when it came back saying she has too much disposable income to qualify.
All she has is her student loan and maintenance grant. No other income whatsoever and her accommodation is over £100 a week.
Anyone know of any other schemes to help students with dental fees?

I'm afraid it looks like you'll have to cough up for the odd dentist appointment/treatment. Of course it's easy to say that! I was in the same boat in my 1st year and didn't get free dental care. Since, I've had about a dozen appointments for check-ups and treatment, and the cost certainly esculates! Not much you can do unfortunately.

How much does the maintenance loan + maintenance grant come to?

Florasaurus

As far as I know university students don't qualify for free dental care or free prescriptions, we just have to cough up (pun not intended) for it unless you get your prescriptions in Wales then they're free *evil laugh*

There was a show on Channel 4 (I think) about getting as much for free as possible, can't for the life of me remember what it was called!! But the guy said that if you're willing to get your dental treatment done by students then it's usually free. I think there's a list of practising universities on there: http://dentalschoolscouncil.ac.uk/ you could try one of them?? There's always a professor there so it's not just the student on their own and they tend to have a couple years experience.

Hope this helps

englishrose19

yep, I (my Mum) pay too.

I think it's only £18 or so though, which isn't bad.

Masomnia

Not at a lot you can do unfortunately, other than as mentioned check whether there are student dentists in your area doing work for free.

If it's any consolation, I'm informed by a dentist friend of mine that for the majority of people, as long as they brush their teeth twice a day and go easy on the sugar/acid food and drink, there should be no need to see a dentist more than once every two years.

GoldenShadow

Masomnia wrote: »

Not at a lot you can do unfortunately, other than as mentioned check whether there are student dentists in your area doing work for free.

If it's any consolation, I'm informed by a dentist friend of mine that for the majority of people, as long as they brush their teeth twice a day and go easy on the sugar/acid food and drink, there should be no need to see a dentist more than once every two years.

My Mum is a dental hygienist and this is very true. The problem is, the majority of people don't have amazing teeth and its relatively rare to find people who can go two years because of the work they already have. With the nature of my Mum's job (one can of fizzy drink every other week max until I was 16 ish and could do what I wanted etc!) and the have you brushed your teeth I'll check if you haven't constantly growing up, mine aren't bad and I am told a one to two year basis is fine.

£18 is really expensive when you're a student though! I only get my haircut once a year as I'm way too tight to spend £20 just for a trim which takes them less than 10 mins! I had my first eye test in January for about five years and discovered I need glasses as well Too easy to be that bit more MSE and cut your nose off to spite your face!

I'd encourage her to set money aside if possible and encourage her to go, just because sadly people (like my OH) avoid going to the dentist and for a lot of people it does allow cavities/warning signs of cavities to go unnoticed.

michelle8790

Here's a link to the dental school's list Without the gaps.

http:// ww w.dentalschoolscouncil . ac . uk/ uk_dental_schools_list. htm

frames1_uk

thanks all, filling for daughter on Friday, so that'll be £46 she will pay, that is a heck of a lot for a struggling student, think the benefits system really does need a shake up... oh yes, it is being!

ladyinneed

I always get my hair cut at the local college.
Great students and a friendly atmosphere.

There is always someone on hand to make sure things go as they should do. I started doing this to cut costs...I even take the children there now.
Though this now doesn't work out too cheap as they also give me a back massage and sometimes I get my nails done. Still a fraction of the price you'd pay on the high street. The 7 years I've been going, I've never once had a bad job, though my youngest did get a very severe fringe once.

Never looked at the Dental thing. My local surgery has a payment plan. I pop in once a month and pay a tenner so when and if I need anything done it's covered. I usually get a couple of months free as thankfully don't need much. (Odd X-ray but comes to no extra work, just extra cost :mad:)
My friend gets her car serviced but they college students (12yr old fiesta)

Every little helps!

3v3

frames1_uk wrote: »

I sent off for a form HC1 for help with dental charges for my uni student daughter who lives in student accommodation. Was surprised when it came back saying she has too much disposable income to qualify.
All she has is her student loan and maintenance grant. No other income whatsoever and her accommodation is over £100 a week.
Anyone know of any other schemes to help students with dental fees?

Other 'schemes' might be, she gets a part time job (on or off campus) to supplement her loans?
Or, perhaps she can do some work/jobs for you when she's home which you could pay her for and she could put that towards her dental costs?

Does she have an NUS card? This will give her discounts in all sorts of places so she isn't paying full whack for other items.

Racheya

Unfortunately I've had to go through extensive treatment while at Uni and yeah, HC1 form doesn't get you anything. All I can say is that I hope she hasn't got as bad teeth as I do and, be aware that if you get prescribed Mouthwash and Toothpaste... just buy your own! It may be 'extra fluoride' but paying £15 for a bit of toothpaste and mouthwash is not fun - I learned that the hard way.