Dentist Overcharge

knightstyle

I was told a scale and polish was not covered by the NHS service and would be charged as extra to any treatment.  So I always decline the offer and just have regular NHS treatment.

ElefantEd

Deleted_User said:

ElefantEd said:

Well that's odd because I did, a month or so ago, and have an ordinary check up next week.

Maybe your practice has enough capacity and resources to offer routine NHS work easily. My practice is working through backlog and can only offer limited spaces. Friends in work from different area cant get seen either on the NHS for routine treatment. 

Right, so rather than saying "in Scotland" you should have said "in my area".

[Deleted User]

ElefantEd said:

Deleted_User said:

ElefantEd said:

Well that's odd because I did, a month or so ago, and have an ordinary check up next week.

Maybe your practice has enough capacity and resources to offer routine NHS work easily. My practice is working through backlog and can only offer limited spaces. Friends in work from different area cant get seen either on the NHS for routine treatment. 

Right, so rather than saying "in Scotland" you should have said "in my area".

Well no as i genuinely believed this to be the case as your the first person I have heard that was able to easily get this service hence why I asked in the first place. Subsequently after reading your response I changed my view point on it to area. 

I didn’t double down on my view point that you could not get treatment in Scotland or dismiss your answer as being wrong. 

Sorry I didn’t construct my initial post perfectly as so not to confuse or upset anyone of a sensitive nature or required them to read such a post 

IvanOpinion

I had a root filling done last month

dinglebert

ElefantEd said:

Well that's odd because I did, a month or so ago, and have an ordinary check up next week.

I can't either.   They phoned to cancel my what would normally be 6 month checkup but in this case would have been 12 months last week.  I did point out I need a filling replaced but unless its causing pain its a no go for getting it done

ElefantEd

My dentist (which is in fact, MyDentist) sent a reassuring text before my appointment saying that normal check-ups were perfectly ok under Scottish Covid rules. This is on their website. So it seems that different areas/different dentists are able to cope with practical arrangements, or maybe have staff off or something. But in theory there's nothing stopping you having a filling done if you need it.

DENTAL CARE DURING COVID-19

Our practices are open for NHS and private dental treatments and you should continue to attend all pre-booked dental appointments. If you have a new enquiry, please call us in the first instance and only attend practices in person if you have an appointment. In our practices, please wear a face covering, attend alone if possible and arrive on time for appointments. Do not attend if you, or anyone you live with, has symptoms of Covid-19, has tested positive, or has been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test & Trace or their school.

[Deleted User]

ElefantEd said:

My dentist (which is in fact, MyDentist) sent a reassuring text before my appointment saying that normal check-ups were perfectly ok under Scottish Covid rules. This is on their website. So it seems that different areas/different dentists are able to cope with practical arrangements, or maybe have staff off or something. But in theory there's nothing stopping you having a filling done if you need it.

DENTAL CARE DURING COVID-19

Our practices are open for NHS and private dental treatments and you should continue to attend all pre-booked dental appointments. If you have a new enquiry, please call us in the first instance and only attend practices in person if you have an appointment. In our practices, please wear a face covering, attend alone if possible and arrive on time for appointments. Do not attend if you, or anyone you live with, has symptoms of Covid-19, has tested positive, or has been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test & Trace or their school.

Yes in theory you could get a filling done if you switch dentist practice that has a place for you or even going private but thats not always easy or cost effective for many people.  

Torry_Quine

The dentist I go to I'd taking on new NHS patients

MalMonroe

Undervalued said:

MalMonroe said:

pampam said:

I think my Dentist is bending the rules?

 Each time I visit for a check up he checks my teeth then tells me to make an appointment with the Hygienist for a scale and polish.

 This ends up costing me £65.20. I think it should be £23.80 as stated in the details below taken from the NHS website.

Band 1 course of treatment – £23.80 This covers an examination, diagnosis (including X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if clinically needed, and preventative care such as the application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant if appropriate.
Band 2 course of treatment – £65.20 This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or removal of teeth but not more complex items covered by Band 3.

You are right. Scale and polish is in Band 1. You are not being charged correctly. This dentist isn't bending the rules, he's ripping you off.

I think you should challenge your dentist about this incorrect charging and if it were me, I'd ask for my money back.

Surely you shouldn't need a scale and polish EVERY time you have a check up?? 

Don't forget that no matter what your dentist tells you to do, you always have the option to say "no thank you, I don't think that's necessary right now".

And I'd be looking around for a more honest dentist too.

Only if the work is clinically necessary to treat existing gum disease. Otherwise, if cosmetic or even "prudent preventative work" it is not included on the NHS (rightly or wrongly) so can be offered as a optional extra privately.

But it didn't sound as if anything was explained to this OP. And nothing was mentioned about a private optional extra. My friend always seems to need a 'deep clean' every time she visits the dentist (which is the same as mine and I don't need deep cleans) and is told to make an appointment with the hygienist for an NHS treatment. It costs her £23.80 and she is charged correctly.

That wasn't the OP's point, though. She said she was being charged at band 2 for a hygienist appointment and that, as she rightly pointed out, was wrong. It should be under Band 1, £23.80. There was no mention of it being a private appointment and she should have been charged the lower price. OP thought her dentist was 'bending the rules' and I agree.

zzyzx1221

That wasn't the OP's point, though. She said she was being charged at band 2 for a hygienist appointment and that, as she rightly pointed out, was wrong. It should be under Band 1, £23.80. There was no mention of it being a private appointment and she should have been charged the lower price. OP thought her dentist was 'bending the rules' and I agree.

There was no mention of it being an NHS appointment either.