NHS or private dentist ?

samuela66

Toothsmith wrote: »

If that was the full conversation, then I would try a different dentist.

It's up to them to explain what they meant, and if they're not very good at it, then I would suggest customer service is not their strong point and you should try somewhere else.

Were you an NHS patient at your last dentist (Paying the NHS fees) or did you pay privately?

Why did you call this particular dentist? Was it recommended to you? Or just picked because it was the closest, or first in yellow pages?

I would get some recommendations from people around you as to which dentist to go to. If you do get recommendations for this one, then I would call them back and see if you can get them to explain if they are taking on any new patients at all, or just not NHS ones.

They should be able to give you an accurate guide as to the cost of your initial appointment, and an indication of costs of cleanings, fillings etc.

Another thing I would recommend when choosing a new dentist is to actually make the effort to visit the place to make your first appointment. It will give you a much better idea of the place, and you'll see if they justify their prices.

I think I was paying NHS prices I filled a form each time I went looked like an NHS form.
I can't bear it when people don't explain what they mean just because they understand I did ask her what the difference was and you could tell she thought I was stupid, so as the other person said, if I can get in on NHS its a lot cheaper than paying a private dentist (any ideas how much more??)
I was just looking on yell.com thats how I came across it.
Thanks for the replies..
Sam:D

elsien

see if this is any more use to you
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/h_nhs_dental_treatment.pdf

LondonDiva

elsien wrote: »

A lot of NHS dentists are now only taking children, or those entitled to free treatment.

No they are not. Any NHS dentist must accept anyone requiring NHS treatment.

They are not able to pick and choose between children, unwaged etc. The only reasonable criteria would be if there was a limit in their budget for the year and they had to choose between offering treatment to a regular attender v a one off person. Even in that situation, they must operate a waitign list and tell you when you will be seen. If the above is not happening, please contact the PCT's PALS.

elsien wrote: »

You need to phone up your local health authority, who should be able to give you a list of dentists who are accepting people on the NHS,

www.nhs.uk then put in your appropriate postcode for the local PCT or even details of local dentists. You can register with any NHS dentist, so ask work colleagues or relatives for their recomendations, always the best way.

elsien wrote: »

although be aware that in many areas, all the NHS lists are full.

If you live in London or a lot of the big cities, there is a lot of unused capacity but many patients not registering because 'there are no NHS dentists'. Well have you actually tried to register with the four 5 minutes away from you? no, but I know there aren't any, so I didn't bother to try'. however, in some areas they are struggling to attract dentists to the new !!!!py contract.

Toothsmith

There are still some 'kids only' NHS contracts out there London.

Come Aprill 2009 that door will be closed.

LondonDiva

True!!!! we do actually have one out of 48 odd contracts forgot:o

buttttt we've also got most of the others trying to slip that into conversations with patients when it looks like remotely complicated work, so I use my standard line of check with the PCT with patients as soem of them can tell bad porkies:D

Toothsmith

Surely not!!