Dentists Overcharging Patients

PurplePow

My dentist only charges the once, and depending on the band. The dentist often recommends visiting the hygienist, but the receptionist in the practise always states this it not an NHS treatment and I have to pay separate (they also have posters in the waiting room confirming this). I usually don't bother. Seems I have an honest dentist!

bod1467

brook2jack wrote: »

Bandings of treatment only came in in 2006 and only in England and Wales. Prior to then you would have paid per item of treatment and bandings would not have applied.

7 years ago was 2007/2008.

brook2jack

True but the poster said "in the past" they may have paid more than one charge. The point is banding is only in England and Wales and has only been present since April 2006.

Fosterdog

PurplePow wrote: »

My dentist only charges the once, and depending on the band. The dentist often recommends visiting the hygienist, but the receptionist in the practise always states this it not an NHS treatment and I have to pay separate (they also have posters in the waiting room confirming this). I usually don't bother. Seems I have an honest dentist!

Not really an honest dentist if it should be included in the cost of the band 1 payment you are already making.

I'm sure I've read before that seeing the hygienist is a private appointment and not covered but the dentist themselves should do the scale and polish included in the price.

brook2jack

A scale and polish is only included if clinically necessary ie for treatment of gum disease , it is not an automatic "right" if having a band one treatment. So eg smokers and tea / coffee drinkers with staining will not get a scale and polish on the nhs but can pay to see a hygienist privately.

bod1467

brook2jack wrote: »

True but the poster said "in the past" they may have paid more than one charge. The point is banding is only in England and Wales and has only been present since April 2006.

In which case you should have made it clear which part of the quoted post you were referencing.

Burnley_Lad

I am a dental receptionist, and I have stumbled across this thread accidentally....

I am a little confused when you say you only pay once.

When patient comes to me for their examination, I charge them £18.50 (band 1). If during the course of the examination, the dentist identifies that treatment that goes into band 2 is required, he/she will ask me to make another appointment for the treatment to be completed, either with him/herself or with a dental therapist. The remaining charge of £32.00 will need to be paid at the next appointment (£50.50 for band 2 treatment, minus the £18.50 already paid).

Are you saying that you are being charged £18.50 and then £50.50 i.e. £69.00?

BlueSkyFool

Yes Burnley Lad that is what I am saying, and Ive found out through friends, family and work colleagues this isn't an isolated case its been happening almost everywhere.

When I went in for a check up I was charged the £18.50 and then charged again the £50.50, when I confronted them about it they refunded me and refunded several people in the queue behind me then they had the nerve to blame it on an "oversight"... yeah sure Im not convinced.

geerex

brook2jack wrote: »

True but the poster said "in the past" they may have paid more than one charge. The point is banding is only in England and Wales and has only been present since April 2006.

Can anyone advise to what the situation in Scotland is?

brook2jack

In Scotland you still pay per item of treatment with a maximum per course of £340 ish. There are over 400 different items of treatment fees .

You do not have banding of treatment in Scotland or Northern Ireland which has a similar system to Scotland.