Free dental care question - maternity leave (probably requires a dentist to answer!)

Counting_Pennies_2

I wonder if you can help.

I am currently receiving the free NHS dental cover as my child is a few months old.

When I visited my dentist last month I was told my tooth was dead and there is nothing I can do except wait for it to give me problems and then have it replaced. First with a denture and then have a permanent one fitted which will cost approx £2000. (it is a front tooth so definitely want to have the best quality replacement). I have been told it could be a month or two or a couple of years

My question is would this treatment be part of my free NHS cover if I had it done now while I am still under the maternity exemption or would I have to pay this huge figure regardless.

Many thanks

Spendless

I needed replacement crowns on my teeth, when I was nearly at the end of my maternity exemption certificate. I queried with the dentist about this cos the treatment was booked for after my child turned 1 but she said because she had said I needed the work doing whilst I was still exempt I wouldn't pay. this is nearly 7 years ago now so things may be different now.

tiamai_d

The certificate runs out when baby turns one year old.

As for the treatment, I would do as the lady above did, and ask your dentist. He will be paid either way. If he refuses to do this procedure 'on the NHS', then I would probably find myself with an awful lot of toothache over the next few months.... May be underhand, but you pay your taxes!

Oh, but, when it comes to a replacement tooth, you may have to pay privately as NHS may only cover a denture. A permant replacement could be viewed as 'Cosmetic'.

I think it would depend on your dentist.

Also, is this your first child? If so, make sure you apply for Child tax credit. Depending on your income, you may be entitled to an NHS exemption certificate (even if you are not entitled to much tax credits, which was what we found a few years ago). That would solve the problem entirely.

Toothsmith

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

I wonder if you can help.

I am currently receiving the free NHS dental cover as my child is a few months old.

When I visited my dentist last month I was told my tooth was dead and there is nothing I can do except wait for it to give me problems and then have it replaced. First with a denture and then have a permanent one fitted which will cost approx £2000. (it is a front tooth so definitely want to have the best quality replacement). I have been told it could be a month or two or a couple of years

My question is would this treatment be part of my free NHS cover if I had it done now while I am still under the maternity exemption or would I have to pay this huge figure regardless.

Many thanks

There are many things wrong here, and if this is definitely what you have been told, then I would make a complaint to the local PCT.

If the tooth is dead, then unless there are exceptional circumstances, it is a straightforward and routine proceedure to root fill it, which should mean that it remains trouble free for many years. This is available on the nHS to an NHS patient, and if you are exempt from charges, then it will mean it is free to you.

Waiting for the tooth to hurt is not best practice (What if you're on holiday?)

Waiting for it to hurt, then removing it and replacing it with an implant (This is what I'm guessing they're talking about) with a private charge of £2k (Implants aren't available on the NHS, so there will be no help with costs) is verging on the 'cowboy'.

I would go back and ask if there is anything they can do to prevent problems from occuring with this tooth. Ask why a root filling cannot be done (If it can be done but only privately, they are breaking the terms of their NHS contract and again - a complaint should be made). If they repeat that the ONLY option is to wait for it to hurt, remove it and pay £2000 for an implant to replace it, then get another dentist and consult a solicitor!