Dentists

Herbalus

My wife's latest dentist invoice is £96, roughly split between an examination and scaling. I'm not sure whether I find this outrageously expensive (hence the rant) or whether this is simply what a dentist costs these days. And apparently the cheeky guy said the picture he took of her teeth was free like it was a great deal!!

Because I don't go to the dentists myself (precisely because you go in for a normal check-up and leave with a £100 bill), I have no idea quite why my wife has been charged this much when the nhs website says £19 covers the cost of examination and scaling treatment. Or is it different if this is a private dentists? What's the difference between the two?

I still can't believe that most people have £100 spare to go to the dentists every six months...

enfield_freddy

nhs
private


guess the difference , there is a small clue in those two words

stevemLS

Your wife plainly had private treatment.

The cost of a Band 1 course of treatment on the NHS is currently £18.80.

This does not represent what the NHS pays to the dentist, which varies.

In exactly the same way as you pay a standard prescription charge of £8.20 on the NHS whereas the drugs if you had a private prescription could cost anything from pennies to £000s.

£96 for a private exam, scale and polish and at least one x-ray doesn't sound beyond the pale.

DaveTheMus

Herbalus wrote: »

I don't go to the dentists myself

Maybe Halitosis would be a more appropriate username...

Hermione_Granger

DaveTheMus wrote: »

Maybe Halitosis would be a more appropriate username...

There is no reason at all why not visiting a dentist on a regular basis must automatically lead to halitosis or any other similar condition.

Provided good oral and dental hygiene is practiced, keeping a healthy mouth is something that can be accomplished without having to fork out for scheduled checks provided that professional help was sought as and when required.

dodger1

Herbalus wrote: »

My wife's latest dentist invoice is £96, roughly split between an examination and scaling. I'm not sure whether I find this outrageously expensive (hence the rant) or whether this is simply what a dentist costs these days. And apparently the cheeky guy said the picture he took of her teeth was free like it was a great deal!!

Because I don't go to the dentists myself (precisely because you go in for a normal check-up and leave with a £100 bill), I have no idea quite why my wife has been charged this much when the nhs website says £19 covers the cost of examination and scaling treatment. Or is it different if this is a private dentists? What's the difference between the two?

I still can't believe that most people have £100 spare to go to the dentists every six months...

That's expensive if split between the two procedures. My private dentist charges me £18.45 for a check up.

With regard to £100 every six months, well most people who look after their teeth will not need a scale and polish that regularly unless the dentist is fleecing them.

Sharon87

Last time I went dentist (a couple years ago, I should really go again soon...) It was around £19 for a check up and £50 for the private hygienist to descale and polish. Maybe your wife's dentist is split up like that, but the descale and polish costs more?

dodger1

Just got back from my six months check up. Check up is now £19.20, I didn't need a scale and polish but the price is £20.15. That's it until 14th October.

philatio

My (private) dentist changed hands last year and the prices are now more than double what they were.
£35 for a checkup. £50 for a scale and polish. £10 per x-ray.
3 re-fillings which I'm pretty sure didn't really need doing - £300+

Suffice to say I've just signed up to an NHS dentist instead.

Takeaway_Addict

My private dentist is about £38 for a check up and worth every penny after a poor experience with the NHS.

pinkshoes

When I go for my NHS check up, I always get asked if I would like to book an appointment with the hygienist. This would then be at private prices, as my dentist offers so many NHS places, them also sees private patients.

Your wife has clearly not registered herself as an NHS patient, and visited the dentist as a private patient.