NHS Dental Scam?

GirlFromMars_2

They will have given you a copy of the form you signed when you paid for and consented to the treatment, that will indicate the treatment they are planning. They will have charged you in advance for the treatment that you agreed to, which may well be having the molar removed if you aren't having it crowned.

If a cleaning is medically necessary, then they will do it and cannot charge you for it. If you choose to have the crown, they will have to do the cleaning they deem necessary as part of the NHS cost.

r_i_c

GirlFromMars wrote: »

They will have given you a copy of the form you signed when you paid for and consented to the treatment, that will indicate the treatment they are planning. They will have charged you in advance for the treatment that you agreed to, which may well be having the molar removed if you aren't having it crowned.

If a cleaning is medically necessary, then they will do it and cannot charge you for it. If you choose to have the crown, they will have to do the cleaning they deem necessary as part of the NHS cost.

Thanks, the dentist said "If you want me to crown the tooth you will have to book an appointment with the hygiene team first". Then she added, "They are not NHS"

The boxes ticked on the consent form are:

Diagnosis:
Examination
Photos

Treatment:
Permanent fillings & sealant restorations.

Was wondering (a) how can they achieve 'filling/restoration' without crowning the molar and (b) if they can achieve what is stated, why crown the tooth at all?

And (c) can I have the tooth crowned at a later date, ie. when I can afford it?

Also (d) what about this 'hygiene team' business. Am I actually going to have to face down the dentist and tell her to scale the teeth professionally because it's your job. I do hope not.

GirlFromMars_2

r_i_c wrote: »

Thanks, the dentist said "If you want me to crown the tooth you will have to book an appointment with the hygiene team first". Then she added, "They are not NHS"

The boxes ticked on the consent form are:

Diagnosis:
Examination
Photos

Treatment:
Permanent fillings & sealant restorations.

Was wondering (a) how can they achieve 'filling/restoration' without crowning the molar and (b) if they can achieve what is stated, why crown the tooth at all?

And (c) can I have the tooth crowned at a later date, ie. when I can afford it?

Also (d) what about this 'hygiene team' business. Am I actually going to have to face down the dentist and tell her to scale the teeth professionally because it's your job. I do hope not.

Ok, so the Band 2 is because either they already gave you fillings, or they are planning to give you fillings - do you have an appointment arranged for that? The appointment to carry out the treatment is already paid for, you won't have to pay again.

So far as I know (I'm not a dentist!) a filling instead of a crown would only be a temporary measure. And yes, they should be able to do the crown at a later date, assuming they put in a temporary filling instead of just pulling your tooth.

You may have to point out to the dentist that they can't force you to go for an unnecessary cleaning. If this comes up again I would just say something simple along the lines of "If the cleaning is medically necessary, then it is covered as part of my NHS treatment. If the cleaning is not medically necessary, then I do not need it to proceed with treatment. Please continue my treatment without it."

Have you applied for income related JSA? If you don't have savings or a working partner, you may well be entitled to IR-JSA and would receive free NHS dental treatment.

r_i_c

GirlFromMars wrote: »

Ok, so the Band 2 is because either they already gave you fillings, or they are planning to give you fillings - do you have an appointment arranged for that? The appointment to carry out the treatment is already paid for, you won't have to pay again.

Thank goodness for that :A No, I've had no fillings.

So far as I know (I'm not a dentist!) a filling instead of a crown would only be a temporary measure. And yes, they should be able to do the crown at a later date, assuming they put in a temporary filling instead of just pulling your tooth.

The x-ray showed the root as healthy, there's no need to pull the tooth. I guess that's why crowning it came up.

You may have to point out to the dentist that they can't force you to go for an unnecessary cleaning. If this comes up again I would just say something simple along the lines of "If the cleaning is medically necessary, then it is covered as part of my NHS treatment. If the cleaning is not medically necessary, then I do not need it to proceed with treatment. Please continue my treatment without it."

That could be interesting - they're quite well-heeled round here - she's probably never had anyone say something like that to her in her life before. As long as she isn't rushed off for a cuppa by one of her numerous young girl assistants and replaced with http://www.drbradhylan.com/blog1/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/AV-37-1228768613.jpg

Have you applied for income related JSA? If you don't have savings or a working partner, you may well be entitled to IR-JSA and would receive free NHS dental treatment.

I'm pretty certain I am contributions-based but the DWP still haven't written to me, so I can't be 100% certain.

GirlFromMars_2

Did you apply for Income Related JSA? Are you likely to be entitled, or do you have too high savings etc?

r_i_c

GirlFromMars wrote: »

Did you apply for Income Related JSA? Are you likely to be entitled, or do you have too high savings etc?

.

Thanks, I was registered with the DWP as a carer for 18 months so I have enough NICs over that period to be contributions-based for 6 months, but please correct me if I am in error.

With this knowledge I would have applied for JSA(C) online.

I have practically nothing in the way of savings and won't exactly know what my financial situation is until probate is granted. Even after I did all the number crunching for them, HMRC said the Probate Registry would take between 6 to 8 weeks to process the paperwork. I am in for a very long haul, I will be on the edge of my seat to see if what funds I have managed to scrape together will last out this period. Next, I have to suffer the JSA 'in arrears' which will also make things difficult for me in terms of seeing how I can or cannot cope on the limited amount coming in. I had successfully applied for Council Tax relief but they are now complaining that my carer's allowance has run out - so the DWP haven't notified the local authority that I have opened a claim for JSA.

You know, I sometimes wonder why we pay council tax towards central and local government IT provision, they seem only to use computers as convenient surfaces to boil kettles on. DWP could notify my local council of my JSA claim in a digital nth of a second, but that isn't good enough for them. First DWP have to write and post me a letter confirming my claim, then I have to pop out, photocopy that and attach the photocopy to a letter that I then have to write to my local council. Life possibly proceeded at a swifter pace when buses and trams were pulled by horses.

GirlFromMars_2

Yes, I understand you're entitled to Conts-JSA, but if you're also entitled to Income Related-JSA which gives you access to additional Income Related benefits, like Free Prescriptions, Council Tax Relief, and Free Dental care, you should be on IR-JSA.

Conts JSA doesn't automatically entitle you to Council Tax Relief, you will have to fill out income forms for them if you wish to continue to receive it along with Conts JSA. It would be easier to just apply for IR-JSA which will passport you to the other benefits.

synapse321

Do you have a PALS team in your area?

Patient advice and liaison services

Give them a ring

r_i_c

Thanks but gosh am I confused now :-| How can someone be entitled to contributions and income based JSA at the same time? As far as I have been informed, I would be on contribution-based (non-means tested) JSA for 6 months then when that expires, go over to income-based (means-tested) JSA.

Neither the CAB not the JCP have suggested I would go on income related JSA.

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for some sort of formal, written DWP contact so that I definitely know what I'm on.

PALS - do you mean these people please - and in the context of dental care I guess, as opposed to which benefit I am on?

http://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/trust/quality/pals.htm

Thanks again

GirlFromMars_2

Ok, my mistake, apparently you can only claim income based once your Conts based has run out, or if you have mortgage costs or a partner. Which is stupid!

But, you can claim for the health care costs separately. http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/nhs-low-income-scheme.aspx this should entitle you to everything an Income Based JSA. You should also be able to claim back the dental costs you have already paid.