NHS dentist - lab fee charges for cancelled dentures

luaive

Hi. I'm in wales and I'm lucky enough to have an nhs dentist, I work and don't receive any benefits so pay the nhs charges band A etc.

I had an issue where I lost a front tooth (right at the front where it was clearly visible), I was naturally stressing, and and having called my nhs dentist and explained the situation, was told they couldn't see me for a good few months.

I tried the nhs helpline which wasn't that helpful, so after many stressful phone calls around I got an appointment with a private dentist.

They couldn't do much but made me a temporary tooth to hide the gap until I could see my regular nhs dentist (made with some resin(?) which in fairness is still going) while at the private clinic they took an xray and showed me the severe bone loss, which I was shocked about because my appointments with my current dentist have been pretty much in and out, in the last year I've only had once where the dentist did a clean.

So a few months ago I went for the appointment with my nhs dentist, that I had made when I lost the tooth, the dentist poked around for about 5 mins, and said to make another appointment and there would be no charge for that day.

Flash forward a few months and I go back to my nhs dentist and was told I needed 3 of my front teeth removed (or 2 plus the fake one) and they would be replaced with immediate dentures. The front teeth remaining have a very very tiny bit of give, but nothing excessive, though I know the bone loss won't help. They took moulds of my top and bottom teeth and I paid £90 for that visit and rescheduled for June as dentist is on holiday for a few weeks.

Having had a few days (5 to be exact) to reflect, I felt like I should get a second opinion with a private dentist before going ahead with the extraction etc (I would like a second opinion with an nhs dentist due to cost, but they are rarer than hens teeth, as you probably know)

I rang my current nhs dentist and asked if they could pause making the dentures as I wanted to explore whether I had other options available, and was told as treatment had begun and the casts had been sent off that I would be liable for the lab charges, which I thought had been part of the £90 but apparently not.

I'm wondering if I should complain to my local health board or if 5 days really was enough time to warrant the charge?

I'm also worrying about seeing another dentist, I don't have a severe phobia but I do get stressed going to the dentist, I'm worried the private dentist won't be able to help either, and even though I've been going to a dentist regularly for years, that I will still end up with bulky nhs dentures.

Not sure there's an actual question here or perhaps someone has gone through similar, I haven't told anyone, not even my husband as I'm too embarrassed tbh, because when my tooth fell out he had a laugh with other people about it, when I wasn't going to tell anyone I personally knew 😐 Guess I just need somewhere to put my thoughts out....

Better?

Okell

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[Edit: plus you might be better advised posting here - Health & beauty MoneySaving — MoneySavingExpert Forum ]

luaive

Not sure about the punctuation though Okell, if you could point out where I'm missing please. Thanks in advance.

Yes, I wondered that I couldn't see how to choose which section to post in....I should have been born when slates and chalk were used lol.

Is there a way to transfer the post ? I just hit new post, and thought it would give me options on where to post. Hopefully a moderator will move it to the correct place😩

Just reported myself....

Hopefully it will have a new home soon....

born_again

You could contact local health board, although not sure they will do anything. As time to ask for a delay, was when you had the mould done. Understand why it was not.

As they would have been sent straight off to be made.

IOWJJBTM2025

Sorry for your teeth problems.

Sister-in-law is going through something similar with dentists.

She has already had to have an amount of work done and will require dentures top and bottom. She found an NHS dentist locally but there is a waiting list for NHS work. She has teeth missing and wants it sorting.

The dentist said that if she wanted to go via the NHS route she will have to wait a few months. However if she goes private with them they could start immediately. She asked them to start work - 4 appointments so far. Cost to date is not cheap. £4K already spent and not started the dentures yet. She is back again next week for more work and is very self conscious and does not go out.

Brother looked at taking her abroad to Turkey, but she was nervous enough already just going to a local dentist without being stuck in a foreign country.

Experience to date is that Private Dentist work is not cheap. Spoke to brother and he is thinking that it will be another £4K yet. Your work is not as extensive but private costs soon add up

If you have an NHS dentist willing to go the NHS route then it may be good to stick with it. Do you know what the charge will be from NHS Dentist yet? It may be cheaper. Also if you have a dentist that you are happy with it is good for the nerves.

Worried_fool

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81993438#Comment_81993438

Quick comment: going to Turkey for dental treatment is a terrible idea, unless you know exactly what you are doing. There are some excellent dentists there, with fees that are similar to private dentists in the UK. There are also some terrible dentists.

I have had good experiences seeing a dentist in Poland, but I have been extremely thorough about doing my homework.

knightstyle

I can't believe the plate costs that much!!!!

I have had a top plate with 6 teeth for over 70 yes 70 years.

I always go for a private metal plate and last year my new one cost £1100

I would not go for the NHS plastic ones if you can afford a metal one.

brook2jack2

The contract in Wales has recently changed and patients now have to pay for the laboratory fees as well as treatment fees.

You agreed to treatment , you presumably signed a treatment plan and work was started and sent to the laboratory so you are liable for the fee. The laboratory fees are capped by the Welsh government and are unbelievable cheap for the amount of work the highly trained and registered lab technician has to do .

https://www.gov.wales/nhs-dental-charges-and-exemptions

welshdent

as of april 1st the contract in Wales has changed and consequently you are responsible for paying lab fees. They are an unavoidable part of many dental procedures where a prosthesis is made and they do not go to the dentist. As the name suggests, they go to the lab making the item. Even if it hasnt been fully made, there are charges to construct items at different stages. A denture for example would typically require a lab to make a special impression tray, a "wax bite" to record where your jaws rest to be able to set up the teeth and then a try in stage in wax to make sure every thing fits where it should and the patient is happy with the appearance. Eaxh step requires someones labour to do it hence the lab fees add up even when you havent completed it. Historically and still in England, Scotland and NI - the dentist still pays this out of the fee the NHS provide for the treatment. That has always been a bone of contention on account the fee rarely covers the costs!