LCWRA and quoted £850 for a crown.

Kris35

I bit down on a ruddy olive stone a while ago and have a cracked tooth. On NHS I can get a nice silver crown for nothing but if I want a whitish one then it's £850. Obvs I can't afford that. I asked whether he could take the tooth out and he said he wouldn't advise that because the teeth around it will start collapsing in or whatever. I need a filling on the other side and that's £175 for a white one - do you have to pay these prices on benefits does anyone know?

Kris35

On the Which website it says that for a silver filling it's:

• NHS price: Band 2 £73.50
• Private price: £90 to £140

For a white filling it's:

• NHS price: Band 2 £73.50
• Private price: £100 to £180

The dentist told me that if I had a silver filling and crown it would be free?

itsthelittlethings

Maybe you're exempt from dental charges because of being on UC/ ESA?

FlorayG

If you are on benefits, they will only pay for the cheapest option

Kris35

itsthelittlethings said:

Maybe you're exempt from dental charges because of being on UC/ ESA?

I asked him and he said no I'm not. 

Emmia

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/what-dental-services-are-available-on-the-nhs/

So it looks like the white filling on a back tooth and a white crown would only be offered privately by your dentist, so the band 2 charge isn't relevant - that's a private fee.

But I don't understand how the crown would be free, unless your benefits exempt you - a silver crown on the NHS is a band 3 treatment costing £319.10.

itsthelittlethings

You should get your treatment free depending on what benefits you're on. However they won't cover a white crown, only a silver one on the NHS.

Spoonie_Turtle

For UC you have to have earnings below the relevant threshold in the previous full assessment period to be exempt from NHS dental charges

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-dental-costs/free-nhs-dental-treatment

Universal Credit

If you’re getting Universal Credit, your entitlement to free NHS dental treatment depends on your earnings for the most recent assessment period. You’re entitled if your earnings during that period were:

• £435 or less
• £935 or less if your Universal Credit includes an element for either a child, or limited capability for work

‘Most recent assessment period’ means the assessment period that ended immediately before the date you claimed free NHS dental treatment. It runs for a calendar month.

If you claim Universal Credit as a couple, the earnings limit applies to the joint income of you and your partner.

Kris35

ST, thanks. So I get more than that every month but it includes my monthly rent, too. Would you know if the £935 figure includes my rent money? 

poppy12345

The figures are earnings and not your actual UC payments. 

Kris35

Ok thanks, let me go and work this out.