Dentist didn't advise me of costs...help!

teddysmum

My dentist has an NHS band description and price list poster in the waiting room.

pamrleader

Not sure if mine does but I checked their website and it is on there. However, mouth guards aren't mentioned as a treatment option.

justme111

Ask them to show you what forms you signed and where does it specify nightguard on the signed form. If things are the way you say they would not have it or they would have it but with your signature done before dentist given you the treatment plan and both are big no-no, if you complaint to local NHS area team they would be in a big trouble. My guess is they know it and not going to push it. Then ask yourself what do you like at this dentist's.

pamrleader

Yes you are right. I will phone again in the morning as I won't get a chance to pop in before work...and I'll ask them if I signed a form. They will probably tell me to wait until the dentist is back in on Monday and then phone then. But I am sure the only thing I signed was the blue NHS declaration form when I first got there. I am sure I would have remembered had I seen the cost. Although you start doubting yourself in these situations.

But thanks for the advice. I'll report back once I have an answer!

brook2jack

It is a requirement that any NHS band two or band three treatment requires a fp17dc (an itemised estimate of costs) to be given and signed by the patient.

Many dentists provide bite guards privately as it can often be cheaper than the NHS cost , just about the only thing that is.

If you have not signed and got a copy of the fp17dc you may have several options as it is unlikely the lab work can be cancelled at this late date

Ask if it can be charged privately
Pay the NHS charge
Refuse to pay but accept you will probably not be able to be seen at the practice again .

If you have signed the fp17dc then you will have to pay.

Unfortunately there are so many pieces of paper etc to be filled out for NHS treatment it is very easy to forget the estimate on occasion.

Undervalued

brook2jack wrote: »

It is a requirement that any NHS band two or band three treatment requires a fp17dc (an itemised estimate of costs) to be given and signed by the patient.

Many dentists provide bite guards privately as it can often be cheaper than the NHS cost , just about the only thing that is.

If you have not signed and got a copy of the fp17dc you may have several options as it is unlikely the lab work can be cancelled at this late date

Ask if it can be charged privately
Pay the NHS charge
Refuse to pay but accept you will probably not be able to be seen at the practice again .

If you have signed the fp17dc then you will have to pay.

Unfortunately there are so many pieces of paper etc to be filled out for NHS treatment it is very easy to forget the estimate on occasion.

Assuming the OP has not signed the fp17dc form then, as I read what you are saying, the dentist is at fault?

Why then should the patient be disadvantaged (i.e refused further treatment) because the dentist didn't do their job properly?

Sorry but "too many forms" or the NHS is terrible to dentists just doesn't cut it. Either they should do their contracted job properly or not at all surely?

pamrleader

I, 100%, did not sign the fp17dc form.

I phoned the dentist again this morning to talk to another receptionist (I know the dentist is not in until Monday) just to see if I could get anymore clarification. The receptionist was surprised I didn't sign any form but told me she would put a note on my file and get the dentist to phone me on Monday.

I will refuse to pay. I know I could return in the future for check ups etc. But the whole ordeal has really put me off going there again.

Pop_Up_Pirate

pamrleader wrote: »

Ok thank you. Yes I would have thought I would have been given an indication of costs. I know it's my fault to an extent for not asking but surely the dentist has a duty to their patients to advise upfront of costs. I am going to phone my insurance in the morning to double check if it's definitely not covered. But even if it is, I feel so annoyed at the dentist for keeping me in the dark that I don't want to pay out of principal!

Your principle is damaging your teeth.
It really doesn't matter what you signed or didn't sign. If you need the guard to break your habit, then buy it and have nice teeth.

maddiemay

It would appear that you would really benefit from having the night guard, can you negotiate with the dentist to say pay the cost over 3 or 4 months, perhaps even 6. You really do not want to cause yourself problems for the future and if you go somewhere else the cost would be the same.

brook2jack

Undervalued wrote: »

Assuming the OP has not signed the fp17dc form then, as I read what you are saying, the dentist is at fault?

Why then should the patient be disadvantaged (i.e refused further treatment) because the dentist didn't do their job properly?

Sorry but "too many forms" or the NHS is terrible to dentists just doesn't cut it. Either they should do their contracted job properly or not at all surely?

The dentist noticed damage, suggested treatment , the op agreed and impressions were taken.

Yes the dentist was at fault not giving a quote , but op did not ask the cost of the treatment until a week later when it became clear that their insurance would not pay.

The work on the night guard would have already been started and , probably , finished. The dentist would now be liable for the laboratory costs etc.

The dentist may well offer to have the bite guard as a private treatment at a lesser cost. We and the OP don't know.

However OP has indicated they will refuse to pay "on principle".

The treatment is necessary , op agreed to it , they knew there would be a charge . The dentist did not inform them , but neither did op chase this up until a week later when it was too late to cancel the work.

If OP is refusing to pay anything and the dentist has paid the lab fees for the appliance which OP agreed was needed then the relationship between dentist and OP may have broken down . The treatment was agreed, op knew there was a cost but did not ask as they assumed it would be covered by their insurance. It was only when it became clear that the insurance would not cover the cost that op then asked about charges. There is blame on both sides.

Dentistry , even on the NHS , can seem expensive but in this case it can cost an awful lot more to fix the damage if advice is not followed.