Dentist charges (Merged)

Frodshaw

Just need a bit of guidance on dentist charges. I had to visit my dentist as an emergency when I had pain in a tooth. On examination the dentist decided I had a bad filling which needed removing and advised that I should also have root canal treatment. I had the necessary prep treatment which included a temporary filling and given an appointment for 6 months later to complete the treatment as this was the earliest I could be seen. ( I live in a small town in Scotland with only one dentist surgery).I paid the charge due.  The pain returned after the anesthetic wore off but not badly until several days later when I had to had another emergency appointment because of pain. The dentist redid the work and muttered something about there sometimes being residual nerve material which gets missed. I paid the charge again. Again the pain didn't really settle and I contacted the dentist again. This time I was prescribed antibiotics over the phone for a possible abscess. I collected these from the chemist and completed the course. The pain settled for a few days but then returned several days after I had finished the antibiotics. Today I have been back to the dentist and had exactly the same work done with yet another temporary filling. I have had to pay the charge yet again. My question is ' Do I have to keep paying to have the same work done numerous times?' 

TELLIT01

It seems unreasonable to have to pay for the same work to be repeated.  One additional session on the same tooth may be considered acceptable as it would be possible to miss some problem material on the first treatment, although it shouldn't.

Is this an NHS dentist or private? I'm guessing private as NHS has set charges for treatment.

elsien

Is it the same dentist each time or a different one?

Frodshaw

This is a NHS dentist and the same dentist at each visit. I am working and not in receipt of any benefits therefore I have to pay  a percentage of the charge which I understand is 80% of the full cost and NHS pay the rest. My other concern is that even if the pain settles this time, I don't think a temporary filling will last  until June next year and if it doesn't will I have to keep paying every time it fails and until I complete my treatment?

Undervalued

Frodshaw said:

This is a NHS dentist and the same dentist at each visit. I am working and not in receipt of any benefits therefore I have to pay  a percentage of the charge which I understand is 80% of the full cost and NHS pay the rest. My other concern is that even if the pain settles this time, I don't think a temporary filling will last  until June next year and if it doesn't will I have to keep paying every time it fails and until I complete my treatment?

You may well be better reposting this on the Health and Beauty board section of this forum where a couple of very helpful dentists regularly respond.

For the benefit of anybody who doesn't know, NHS dental charges in Scotland are significantly different to the rest of the UK.

jon81uk

No idea on Scotland, but in England all work comes with a 12 month guarentee BUT it does not cover temporary treatment.
What if my NHS dental treatment goes wrong? - NHS

marcia_

  If an NHS dentist you should not have been paying each time 

"If, within 2 calendar months of completing a course of treatment, you need more treatment from the same or a lower charge band, such as another filling, you do not have to pay anything extra."

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-much-will-i-pay-for-nhs-dental-treatment/

Exodi

marcia_ said:

  If an NHS dentist you should not have been paying each time 

"If, within 2 calendar months of completing a course of treatment, you need more treatment from the same or a lower charge band, such as another filling, you do not have to pay anything extra."

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-much-will-i-pay-for-nhs-dental-treatment/

As has been noted, OP is in Scotland so I'm not so sure that applies.

6 month waiting list for a root canal is depressing to read though, especially if the OP is picking up 80% of the cost as they mention.

I'd be tempted to just get it done privately if I were the OP.

elsien

The OP could always go back to the practice and ask them to explain why it is a new charge each time and ask if they could direct him to the relevant guidance? Putting the ball back in their court as it were. 

born_again

marcia_ said:

  If an NHS dentist you should not have been paying each time 

"If, within 2 calendar months of completing a course of treatment, you need more treatment from the same or a lower charge band, such as another filling, you do not have to pay anything extra."

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-much-will-i-pay-for-nhs-dental-treatment/

Ignoring the Scotland part, just replying to above.

Op was having emergency treatment. So drop further down your link.
So would take it that each appointment was a new emergency one, even though for the same issue.

How much will I be charged?

An urgent dental treatment will cost £26.80, unless you're entitled to free NHS dental treatment.

If you're asked to come back for further treatment, this will be considered to be a separate course of non-urgent treatment.

If you're not entitled to free NHS dental treatment, you'll have to pay the relevant charge for the new course of treatment.

Ask the dentist what the treatment will cost and if you can have a treatment plan.

Frodshaw

Just need a bit of guidance on dentist charges. I had to visit my NHS dentist as an emergency when I had pain in a tooth. On examination the dentist decided I had a bad filling which needed removing and advised that I should also have root canal treatment. I had the necessary prep treatment which included a temporary filling and given an appointment for 6 months later to complete the treatment as this was the earliest I could be seen. ( I live in a small town in Scotland with only one dentist surgery).I paid the charge due.  The pain returned after the anesthetic wore off but not badly until several days later when I had to had another emergency appointment because of pain. The dentist redid the work and muttered something about there sometimes being residual nerve material which gets missed. I paid the charge again. Again the pain didn't really settle and I contacted the dentist again. This time I was prescribed antibiotics over the phone for a possible abscess. I collected these from the chemist and completed the course. The pain settled for a few days but then returned several days after I had finished the antibiotics. Today I have been back to the dentist and had exactly the same work done with yet another temporary filling. I have had to pay the charge yet again. My question is ' Do I have to keep paying to have the same work done numerous times?'