Is My Dentist ripping me off?

red0209

Just a quick query as to whether this is the correct way to charge me:

I was suffering from toothache, so made an appointment with my NHS dentist and was diagnosed with an abscess that would need a root canal and then a crown fitted. I was charged £18.80 (Band 1) for the initial appointment, and then when I went back for the next appointment I was charged £222.50 (Band 3) as well.

The NHS website says that Band 3 "covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures, bridges and other laboratory work." Surely I should have been charged £203.70 the second time, the difference between what I'd already paid and Band 3? Is it right to pay for Band 1 and Band 3 for the same course of treatment for the same tooth?

brook2jack

There is a fourth band for emergency treatment which attracts the same charge as band one, it is a stand alone charge , so you have been correctly charged for an emergency appointment £18.80 and now correctly charged for a treatment which will include a root treatment and crown. http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/dentists/Pages/nhs-dental-charges.aspx

Toothsmith

flashtash wrote: »

attended my dentist 6 months ago for a check up and he gave me the all clear with no work done at all to my teeth, when I went back into the reception the girl tried to charge me £10.60 I told her I had no treatment done and she actually looked shocked, she said didn't the dentist even scale or polish them and I said no she then went into his room and when she came back out she apologized.It made me think that it appears to be standard practice for this dentist to scale and polish your teeth whether you want it done or not. Some of my friends have told me the dentist has went ahead with the scale and polish on them without asking.is this right? anyway 2 days ago I went back for another check up. Everything was fine he said, then he said I am just going to scrape the back of these 2 teeth (took him about 10 seconds) back into reception the girl charged me £10.60 I then asked her how much was a scale and polish, she replied £10.60,i told her I only had 2 teeth scraped and no polish so how is it still £10.60 she just gazed at me .I paid it and walked out. Didn't want to make scene as the place was busy

So for nearly charging you £10.60 once, but correcting themselves and apologising - and then (correctly) charging you £10.60 6 whole months later - this place is 'Ripping you off'?

The phrase 'get a life' springs to mind!!!

justme111

Toothsmith wrote: »

So for nearly charging you £10.60 once, but correcting themselves and apologising - and then (correctly) charging you £10.60 6 whole months later - this place is 'Ripping you off'?

The phrase 'get a life' springs to mind!!!

Or red0209 who was lucky to get appointment with his dentist , lucky that the dentist did not condemn the tooth for extraction , going to have root canal and the crown for £220, is still unhappy and questioning the emergency charge.