I've just paid £200 for dental treatment, was a NHS dentist, not anymore?

sunni

Hi

I was at the dentist today for a filling. This has been my third visit. I firstly got a check-up, x-rays and this is the third and last filling I had to get done.

I nearly had a heart attack when I asked how much I owe so far? My dentist was NHS but apparently now there not, I wasn't aware of this and was never informed!

Anyhow, I paid for my treatment costs so far at £200 and have to go back to get treatment done on a crown which apparently will cost £280 and I'm really annoyed at this as I never paid charges like this before?

:mad:

red_bertie

Hi sunni

Check back later and I'm sure you will find Toothsmith will reply to your post.
He does seem to be having to help a lots of posters these days, so be patient. I reckon the BDA should give him an award.

RB

Toothsmith

You really should have been given some sort of an idea on the treatment cost before you started. Ideally in the way of a written estimate.

If this hasn't happened then you could have grounds for a complaint.

Technically, it is your responsibility to check your treatment is NHS if that's what you thought it was, but in this day and age it really is a bit remiss of the practice not to inform you of likely treatement costs before starting out on it.

sunni

Toothsmith wrote: »

You really should have been given some sort of an idea on the treatment cost before you started. Ideally in the way of a written estimate.

If this hasn't happened then you could have grounds for a complaint.

Technically, it is your responsibility to check your treatment is NHS if that's what you thought it was, but in this day and age it really is a bit remiss of the practice not to inform you of likely treatement costs before starting out on it.

Hi Toothsmith, no I wasn't given any treatment costs before I started. The reason I didn't ask was I still understood it was NHS dentist? I was just told today that they no longer are due to recent changes. Anyway, not much I do really but did not expect those charges! Thanks for the advice.

alison999

had you been to the practice before? if so, how long ago was it? if theyve recently changed its very strange that they didnt tell you when you phoned.

sunni

alison999 wrote: »

had you been to the practice before? if so, how long ago was it? if theyve recently changed its very strange that they didnt tell you when you phoned.

It's been over a year since I was at the practice and no I wasn't informed of any changes at all. :mad:

Toothsmith

How much over a year?

It's likely they didn't think you were a patient anymore.

If I wrote a letter to every single person who has ever crossed my threshold when I changed things, it would clog p the local mail office! And cost a fortune.

They probably just wrote to the ones who came regularly.

alison999

although i think the practice is wrong for not giving him a estimate, i think that you need to take a bit of personal responsibility here. you wouldnt go shopping and just pick up whatever you wanted without looking at the cost, so why do it at the dentist?

Toothsmith

alison999 wrote: »

although i think the practice is wrong for not giving him a estimate, i think that you need to take a bit of personal responsibility here. you wouldnt go shopping and just pick up whatever you wanted without looking at the cost, so why do it at the dentist?

Unless you were in the 'Pound Shop'

alison999

Toothsmith wrote: »

Unless you were in the 'Pound Shop'

lol. i cant believe how many patients complain though, at the cost of a nhs exam. i understand its a lot of money i wouldnt want to pay it, but if your finances are that stretched then i dont understand why they dont ask?

lisap4123

Can I ask a bit of advice please on a similar theme. I went to my dentist as half my tooth broke off (it was one with a filling in) when biting an overcooked peice of bacon (like stone it was). Im not keen on my dentist as for 2 years I was a mature student finishing off my degree and didn't pay for my NHS treatment. He is very pleasant and gentle but I asked about the possibility of having a silver filling replaced with a white one. I dont think he was impressed. He was still pleasant but mentioned that it was people like me who were bleeding the system dry. I was a bit taken aback. He said it wast worth being an NHS dentist and he didnt know what the future held. I also said my gums bled sometimes when brushing. He said I had a bit of receding, but there was nothing that could be done and I should buy a soft brush and not to bush to hard as I was wearing away the enamel. I havent been back since. Now i've finished my MSc and am working again FT. When I broke my tooth I admit that I was pleased that my old dentist agreed to see me for an emergency appt as I hadnt been back in over a year. I went today. He was as pleasant as ever but I still felt like cattle really having been dealt with by him. I explained what happened, and he looked at the damage. He started doing things in my mouth and didnt even tell me what he was doing. With mouth open I tried to muffle out the words' what are you doing' and he said he was making my tooth more comfortable - he put on a white filling substance on the side and cap of the broken tooth to protect it. After he said it needed a cap and to book back in for the work with reception. I said I had dental insurance and he asked how much I paid. I said (£8.50 pm) with Tesco) and he didnt say anything and just said 'see you soon'.
Reception said the next appt for me to have the cap done was Mid june !! They asked me to pay as an NHS appt £16.95, although I asked to be treated as private as I had dental accident insurance that would cover me for private treatment. They said I had to have my emergency appt as NHS (I was in and out of the chair within 5 mins!). I asked how much the cap was and they said £193 (I think) on NHS. I said again I wanted private treatment (my dentist does both NHS and Private). The girl went and checked with the dentist, came back out and said £250 on private for the cap. I asked what the difference was and she said as private I would get a longer appt and the dentist would take more time over making sure the cap fitted well, and it was a better quality cap. Is this true???? I had made an appt for Mid-May to join another practice as I just dont have any faith in my current dentist. If they will treat my fractured tooth and do the cap I will go there instead. But will they be the same - is this normal for dental practices?? Am I being unreasonable in feeling like this - am I expecting too much??? What should I do ??? I would really appreciate some opinions on this from other peoples experiences as patients and from TS as a professional. Thanks