Two NHS Band 1 dental charges in one week

Kirsty_Lou

Hi guys...

I'm looking for some advice on NHS dental charges. I've had to attend my dentist twice this week, and I've been charged the Band 1 charge each time.
I visited on Monday for a check up, was told all was fine, had my S&P and was on my way. Charged £19.70.

Yesterday one of my teeth cracked around a filling. Went back to the dentist today and he did a small restoration. Again charged £19.70.

Should I have been charged twice in a week? I'm just wondering, mostly out of interest really as I don't begrudge my lovely dentist the extra £20 ☺

brook2jack

The first was a band one charge .

The second was a band four charge for an emergency treatment which, coincidentally , is the same as a band one charge.

You are lucky, they would have been quite entitled to charge you a band three charge which would have been more than two band one treatments.

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/nhs-dental-band-charges.aspx?CategoryID=74

FBaby

The second was a band four charge for an emergency treatment which, coincidentally , is the same as a band one charge.

How are you sure of this?

A similar thing happened to me. Had a check up which took about 30 seconds (really!). A couple of days later, had appointment with orthodontist who said they could see a small crack that needed filling. Went to dentist and made a normal (not emergency) appointment and was charged again.

I raised this with the practice manager and her response was that the dentist said that the crack must have happened during these two days and therefore the second appointment did constitute new treatment. Considering how quick the check up was, I think there is a much higher chance that she missed it. I was going to file a complaint, but have too much of a busy life and couldn't be bothered. Instead I've asked to have another dentist at the practice and I am much happier with my care.

Kirsty_Lou

I know a Band 4 and a Band 1 charge are the same amount... however I'm not sure that I should've been charged a Band 3, as I haven't received any Band 3 treatments, just an examination and a minor restoration. Not that it matters, I've no plan to dispute the charges, I was just asking out of interest.

I do feel like my examination on Monday was quite rushed, but overall I'm happy with my care. Thanks for your replies guys 🖒

brook2jack

A band one treatment does not include a filling , neither does it cover subsequent repeat visits to check things over.

You cannot send off two claims for a band one check up , so quickly, to the dental business services , they will reject the second claim, but an emergency band four claim can be sent.

If a filling is done it can either be charged as a band two treatment , or if it is emergency treatment then it can be charged as a band four emergency treatment . http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/dentists/Pages/nhs-dental-charges.aspx

brook2jack

Kirsty_Lou wrote: »

I know a Band 4 and a Band 1 charge are the same amount... however I'm not sure that I should've been charged a Band 3, as I haven't received any Band 3 treatments, just an examination and a minor restoration. Not that it matters, I've no plan to dispute the charges, I was just asking out of interest.

I do feel like my examination on Monday was quite rushed, but overall I'm happy with my care. Thanks for your replies guys 🖒

Pardon me , typing quickly, it would have been band two , which is more expensive than a band one and four combined.

A small filling , or twenty large fillings are all costed under band two, it doesn't matter the size.

Under band four emergency treatment a filling can be provided , again of any size.


To put into context the total amount the dental practice would have received for both treatments is around £48. A dental practice in a cheap area will cost from £140 per hour per surgery to run. It gets no other funding other than what is earned from treatments.

Before tax , expenses , indemnity , training costs, insurances etc the dentist will have earned around £15 for both the appointments combined.

Working on the NHS in dentist means the dentist works on a treadmill that has to continually generate income to cover expenses and unfortunately that means they have to be quick.