NHS dental treatment: when is a treatment "completed"?

libretto

Hoping there's someone here who understands the detail of the NHS dental contract or can point me to the detailed wording.

I went to the dentist back in December 2021 with a big cavity in my wisdom tooth and the one next to it. Dentist referred me to a specialist to have the wisdom tooth extracted, which I had done in January 2022 and was then sent back to my own dentist to have the neighbouring one filled.

Then my dentist left, and the practice hasn't been able to recruit or hang onto one since, so today I finally got my follow-up appointment. Apart from the bad news being that the next tooth has deteriorated to the point it will now have to be removed as well, I was told my previous course of treatment had been closed because it was more than 2 months ago and I had to pay for a new Band 2 treatment at £70.70.

On the NHS web site it says "Depending on what you need to have done, you should only ever be asked to pay one charge for each completed course of treatment, even if you need to visit your dentist more than once to finish it. A course of treatment is completed when the treatment listed in your treatment plan has been provided in full." (https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/dental-costs/understanding-nhs-dental-charges/ )

I believe today's appointment was part of the previous course of treatment that hadn't been completed, having been rescheduled (repeatedly) since February 2022, as the treatment I started hasn't been been provided in full. Am I right or is my dental practice?

mda99das

Those impacted wisdom tooth cases are very difficult to treat. You need the gum to heal over and shrink back to allow better access. Courses of treatment should be completed within 2 months.  This will be a new oral health assessment and your dentist will be able to advise you on the treatment required and costs.

brook2jack2

It also it also has to be said that the course of treatment has to be completed by the dentist who started it . Dentists are self employed and have no connection to each other, other than if they work in the same practice they pay 50% or more to the practice to use the surgery and staff. 

The practice would not be allowed to keep a course of treatment open this long as it spans several contract years , but also it is different dentists carrying out the treatment and as it is so long you will need another check up and treatment plan as other things may also have changed.