NHS or private dentist ?

Miroslav

I'm hoping one of our resident dentists can give me some feedback here.

This is the situation.

I have been signed off work for medical reasons, but hope to get back to work soon. I am getting a very small income p/w and have various debts. I am not a big spender however, don't smoke/drink etc etc, but money is limited.

I have an NHS dentist that I acquired in October, but have read that private dentists offer a superior quality service.

As I type, an abcess as again re-appeared in the same place, for the 6th time in 5 months. I am in agony.

The first time, a lady dentist extracted a crown citing this as the reason for my problems (3th tooth back from the front (not including front) - upper left)

The 2nd time, I met a very rude dentist, who told me, i'd need another crown drilled through the back of to sort the issue. He told me that in the meantime, any re-occurence, I could always, pop it with a fork :eek:

These were both emergency dentists, at my local dental centre.

When I first saw my NHS dentist, he done some work for me, but didn't want to do any more than he had too, telling me the hole in the back of my tooth next to my front one (upper right) was nothing to worry about, so he left it.

He said the abcess situation, he would sort out if it got worse, at my next appointment, which is in 3 weeks time (26th) The cause now appears to be the tooth next to the front one (upper left) which he says he may have to extract! I don't want a gap! It leaves a very nasty swelling in my upper mouth.

My teeth are not white, although people say they are not as bad as I think, and my confidence is badly affected by them. My former NHS dentist, gave me non white crowns at the front to match my other teeth - they don't really.

I've had mouth problems all my life - ulcers are usually present, despite my decent diet and daily brushing/flossing/mouthwash etc etc.

Basically, I need to go on some kind of dental plan and get to a private dentist, sometime soon, to sort my mouth out.

The problem is, I have no idea what kind of plan would suit me best, how much per month, how to claim, do I pay the bill, then get re-imbursed, will the dentist let me pay over time? I've no idea how it works as have only ever had NHS, and when I paid, I just paid all in one go, but was working then. No idea how soon after starting a plan, I am covered.

It seems I need something done every 6 months (or less with this abcess!)

I need to repair all the poor NHS work that I have had done. I appreciate it will take time, but want a quality service and if I can get a good plan on a pay monthly basis, that will cover alot of the fees I would need to pay privately, then I will do it.

Basically, is it wise I switch to private? My income is very low.........should I get as much as I can out of NHS for now (Abcess) then move over to Private to start the cosmetic work?

Thanks

Toothsmith

The 'emergency dentist' you've seen is, I assume part of an Access Centre. Centres that were set up to give some illusion of NHS 'care' in areas where it was very limited. They are little more than sticking plasters, and you're not going to get anything more than a patch-up there.

There are 'proper' NHS dentists out there who may well be a lot better experience than the access centre. There are still some good NHS practices out there despite the restrictions they have to cope with.

More than a 'private' or 'NHS' dentist, I would suggest what you need most of all is a 'consistant' dentist. A place you can go where you will see the same dentist each time, so that a proper long-term plan can be put into place, followed up on, and reviewed.

I would guess that you are far more likely to find such a practice in the private sector rather than the NHS.

As for funding it, there's no way round the fact it will cost you some money.

The monthly schemes such as Denplan require you to be dentally fit before you join, as they are really deigned to keep on top of things rather than to fix things up in the first place.

I am not an expert on the HSA sort of cash plans, but I believe that you can start subscribing to them regardless of your dental condition, and start claiming pretty quickly too. Maybe someone else could confirm this.

The problem with them is that the annual limits can be quite low relative to what you have to spend if you have quite a lot of work required at the start.

Another possibility is that some dentists have low-cost or even 0% finance packages available for courses of dental treatment. Although you will have to pay it all, it might be more convienient to have a regular monthly amount that you can account for in your budget.

Have a good look round and visit the potential practices. Get price guides, and assess the level of service that you will get for what cost at each practice.

There is quite a range of prices within the private sector. Find a practice that suits you, and go for it.

Good luck.

Miroslav

Toothsmith wrote:

The 'emergency dentist' you've seen is, I assume part of an Access Centre. Centres that were set up to give some illusion of NHS 'care' in areas where it was very limited. They are little more than sticking plasters, and you're not going to get anything more than a patch-up there.

There are 'proper' NHS dentists out there who may well be a lot better experience than the access centre. There are still some good NHS practices out there despite the restrictions they have to cope with.

More than a 'private' or 'NHS' dentist, I would suggest what you need most of all is a 'consistant' dentist. A place you can go where you will see the same dentist each time, so that a proper long-term plan can be put into place, followed up on, and reviewed.

I would guess that you are far more likely to find such a practice in the private sector rather than the NHS.

As for funding it, there's no way round the fact it will cost you some money.

The monthly schemes such as Denplan require you to be dentally fit before you join, as they are really deigned to keep on top of things rather than to fix things up in the first place.

I am not an expert on the HSA sort of cash plans, but I believe that you can start subscribing to them regardless of your dental condition, and start claiming pretty quickly too. Maybe someone else could confirm this.

The problem with them is that the annual limits can be quite low relative to what you have to spend if you have quite a lot of work required at the start.

Another possibility is that some dentists have low-cost or even 0% finance packages available for courses of dental treatment. Although you will have to pay it all, it might be more convienient to have a regular monthly amount that you can account for in your budget.

Have a good look round and visit the potential practices. Get price guides, and assess the level of service that you will get for what cost at each practice.

There is quite a range of prices within the private sector. Find a practice that suits you, and go for it.

Good luck.

Thanks Toothsmith.

I've just been to an emergency appointment and have come home complete with abscess still intact, as dentist did not want to drain it.

My usual dentist was not in today, so this chap decided to prescribe me Erythomycin and tell me the reason for the pain, is bad dental work I have had done before (at another NHS practice 5 years ago)

I'm still in agony

Anyway, the emergency dentist was indeed an access centre - this was the chap who told me to 'stick a fork' in my abscess and asked me if my allergy to penicillin was a 'real allergy'

I agree I need a permanent dentist, which I have, only he wasn't available today.

I looked at HSA, and it looks alright. May have to go at the highest rate though, as I expect a bit of work over the next few months.

I think Private will be the way to go, just because i'm fed up of being treated like a 3rd rate citizen by NHS dentists. I've never had a good one, at least not one I have seen more than once.

sabbykins

Toothsmith wrote:

I am not an expert on the HSA sort of cash plans, but I believe that you can start subscribing to them regardless of your dental condition, and start claiming pretty quickly too. Maybe someone else could confirm this.

I'm on HSA dental plan and i can confirm that you can claim for check ups (inc xrays, scale & polish etc) at 100% cash back immediately and with no pre check up required, and for Treatment after a 3 month qualifying period at 75% cash back. These are up to the max per year that your chosen level goes up to. I'm on level 2.

Heres the link to the table of benefits

KDH_2

Join HSA through Quidco and get £35 cashback

Miroslav

sabbykins wrote:

I'm on HSA dental plan and i can confirm that you can claim for check ups (inc xrays, scale & polish etc) at 100% cash back immediately and with no pre check up required, and for Treatment after a 3 month qualifying period at 75% cash back. These are up to the max per year that your chosen level goes up to. I'm on level 2.

Heres the link to the table of benefits

Thanks sabbykins, very useful info.

When treatment is done, do you have to pay, then HSA re-imburse you, or can it go straight through HSA?

Thanks

Miroslav

KDH wrote:

Join HSA through Quidco and get £35 cashback

Thanks, will look into it. Not used Quidco before.

sabbykins

Hi,
You have to pay for treatment yourself (which can be difficult i know) and then submit a receipt- which must have a breakdown of treatment & charges, your dentist will do this no prob, but you should let them know you need it for cashback and they will be helpful

HSA aim to deal with your claim within 2 days and you should have your money within about a week. I have already used them and they were great! No quibbles about the receipt and full amount was reimbursed no problems at all.

Also, it may be of interest for you to know that if you start off at say, level 1, and you decide you need a higher level of cover they can change your level with just a phone call. (This will probably re-set your 3 month qualifying period though) Useful if you want to go for a check up and get an estimate before you decide to go up a level or not.
Hope that made sense

SparkyG

I can also confirm that HSA are very good, and IMO offer value for money.

I recently changed to HSA from Boots, as I think the benefits are better.

Toothsmith's advice about getting consistent care from the SAME dentist I think is very important. I changed to a private dentist (deliberately choosing the practice owner) 5 years ago, as I was fed up with my teeth being messed up by a series of different NHS dentists who all had their own opinions on 'necessary' treatment:mad:

Best thing I ever did:j

Good luck
SparkyG

Miroslav

sabbykins wrote:

Hi,
You have to pay for treatment yourself (which can be difficult i know) and then submit a receipt- which must have a breakdown of treatment & charges, your dentist will do this no prob, but you should let them know you need it for cashback and they will be helpful

HSA aim to deal with your claim within 2 days and you should have your money within about a week. I have already used them and they were great! No quibbles about the receipt and full amount was reimbursed no problems at all.

Also, it may be of interest for you to know that if you start off at say, level 1, and you decide you need a higher level of cover they can change your level with just a phone call. (This will probably re-set your 3 month qualifying period though) Useful if you want to go for a check up and get an estimate before you decide to go up a level or not.
Hope that made sense

My dentist will love me when I suddenly start paying for more expensive treatment

They sound good, I should go for the free marks and spence vouchers on the ads.........or the £35 via Quidco.

Sounds sensible to start lower, then move up if need be

Thanks for all the info

Miroslav

SparkyG wrote:

I can also confirm that HSA are very good, and IMO offer value for money.

I recently changed to HSA from Boots, as I think the benefits are better.

Toothsmith's advice about getting consistent care from the SAME dentist I think is very important. I changed to a private dentist (deliberately choosing the practice owner) 5 years ago, as I was fed up with my teeth being messed up by a series of different NHS dentists who all had their own opinions on 'necessary' treatment:mad:

Best thing I ever did:j

Good luck
SparkyG

Sounds like I will have to go private, as like you, fed up with different dentists dithering and changing there minds.

I'm guessing Private surgery is better than priavte treatment in a surgery that also offers NHS......????