Do You Really Need To Pay £xxx's for Dental Work?

Nicki

Wow this turned sour pretty fast.

Actually you do often get better treatment and different options if you see a doctor or dentist privately. Some examples are Pap smears for women who have symptoms but don’t meet the NHS arbitrary age limit for this routine and cheap test, or white fillings, and more aesthetically pleasing dentistry options rather than just what is necessary to maintain basic dental health.

I haven’t noticed any of the dentists on this forum having a pro- private agenda. I have however seen them advise on what approaches are available on the NHS and which are only available on a private basis and on how the NHS contract works.

I see my own (private) dentist regularly but have also had good advice on a couple of occasions on this forum from all 3 of the regular dentists so hope they aren’t feeling that no one appreciates their posts or that the views expressed by a few on this thread are commonly held

Toothsmith

fred246 wrote: »

I think you will find lots of people 'go private' when there is no logic whatsoever. Some people seem to think you get different doctors and dentists when you go private. Actually you do - you get the greedy ones.

This post doesn't even agree with the one you made 2 posts earlier!

So you now see a 'greedy' dentist do you? Not one who you feel has just made the move in order to offer a better level of care than the state will pay for?

And it's not just 'Tories' who want the NHS off the State books - all shades do! I went private under Nu Labour in the 90s. They were just as anti-NHS, particularly when it came to dentistry!

Does anyone else remember Tony Blair's "anyone who wants to will be able to see an NHS dentist in 2 years" that was made at a Labour Party conference a couple of years after I'd gone private due to their complete inaction on the problems. Two years after that - the situation had got worse,not better. Patients queuing round the block to register with an NHS dentist in Scarborough!

fred246

My private dentist told me that he sees half as many patients as an NHS dentist would see but he charges them twice as much. So he gets paid the same for half the work. The fear is that if they all go private the poor will be left without basic dental cover.
I was talking to an NHS consultant who was saying that she didn't do private work because she preferred being with her family in the evening to money grabbing at the private hospital. A private consultant is no better than an NHS consultant. It's just the private ones are the ones who want the extra dosh. A private surgeon is also more likely to recommend a private operation as that is a good money making opportunity.

Saffythecat

I’m in Scotland so the NHS system works a wee bit differently, but I am an NHS patient in a surgery which is mainly private - I’ve been going there since I was a child but they occasionally take on NHS patients still.

My dentist is excellent, and I trust her 100%. I have had quite a few issues over the last 18 months due to developing bruxism, and she has been so kind and patient. (I’d gone about 15 years with just six monthly checks and no treatment needed, but have more than made up for it lately!) I could pay for private treatment if I wanted it with my own dentist (eg cosmetic work) or if I needed to see the hygienist, but the standard of care I receive as an NHS patient is fantastic.

welshdent

I'm an NHS dentist. I hate the system. I don't know any dentists that like the system we have. A system introduced in the same manner as the junior doctors contract. A contract forced on the profession as a means of cost cutting by central government. That government was a labour one. Just saying.

Undervalued

welshdent wrote: »

I'm an NHS dentist. I hate the system. I don't know any dentists that like the system we have. A system introduced in the same manner as the junior doctors contract. A contract forced on the profession as a means of cost cutting by central government. That government was a labour one. Just saying.

So why do you work in it then? (Serious question)

In another thread you mention that you have additional training and qualifications in specialised root canal work. Presumably you therefore also have the additional expensive equipment?

You also say in the other thread that, in effect, the NHS doesn't pay at all for root canal treatment although it should be provided if the dentist feels it is within their competence?

I'm lost....

Red-Squirrel_2

Nicki wrote: »

Actually you do often get better treatment and different options if you see a doctor or dentist privately. Some examples are Pap smears for women who have symptoms but don’t meet the NHS arbitrary age limit for this routine and cheap test

Women with symptoms are entitled to whatever tests and treatment they need on the NHS.

Red-Squirrel_2

Toothsmith wrote: »

So you now see a 'greedy' dentist do you? Not one who you feel has just made the move in order to offer a better level of care than the state will pay for?

Unfortunately they've also made the choice to only offer their care to people with a certain level of disposable income, not to everybody who needs it.

brook2jack

Actually many areas will not let dentists run restricted NHS contracts eg seeing children and unwaged on NHS everyone else private.

So most dentists have to chose all NHS or all private.

Red-Squirrel_2

brook2jack wrote: »

Actually many areas will not let dentists run restricted NHS contracts eg seeing children and unwaged on NHS everyone else private.

So most dentists have to chose all NHS or all private.

If they make the choice to go all private, I don't think they should pretend its for the benefit of patients though, as Toothsmith seemed to be trying to suggest.