Dental charges when exempt for wisdom tooth removal?

Jo_R_2

Hi all

I went to the dentist last week and need to have a wisdom tooth out. I had to pay a referral fee of about £44, and a couple of days later, I got a letter from another dental practice asking me to phone them to arrange a consultation re: having the tooth out.

I'm a bit confused: when I spoke to the dentist, he said it was a simple procedure and he'd refer me to the hospital, asking if I was exempt from paying charges (I am as I have a tax credits exemption certificate.)

I appear to have completely misunderstood: I can't work out why I have been referred to another dental practice when the dentist said I'd have it done at the hospital, and I'm concerned now I've been misled and I might end up having to pay out more.

Can anyone tell me, is this referral fee usual practice for exempt patients, and is this usual practice to have a wisdom tooth removed?:eek: I'm watching the pennies as it is and £44's an awful lot of money, and I didn't anticipate possibly having to shell out more!

alison999

its not normal, phone your practice and find out whats going on. if you are exempt from paying nhs charges and are being treated on the nhs, you shouldnt have to pay A PENNy, because you are exempt.

woozywendy

You do not pay anything when you have an exemption certificate. Even if you pay NHS and your dentist refers you to another dentist you only have to pay your own dentist. I looked this up on the NHS dentist costs but cannot remember the leaflet number at the moment, will try to find it.

alison999

woozywendy wrote: »

You do not pay anything when you have an exemption certificate. Even if you pay NHS and your dentist refers you to another dentist you only have to pay your own dentist. I looked this up on the NHS dentist costs but cannot remember the leaflet number at the moment, will try to find it.

thats not strictly true it depeds what youre being referred for

Oldernotwiser

Some people have wisdom teeth out under local anaesthetic at a dentist's surgery, others have a general anaesthetic at a hospital. I don't know the reasons for this as I've known both occur within the same area.

Toothsmith

PCTs can sometimes have an arrangement with specialist dentists, or even ordinary dentists 'with a special interest' in something like oral surgery.

These pracices do the easier jobs to take the pressure of the hospital services who do the more complicated stuff.

This should all work under NHS rules though, and be free to exempt patients right the way through. There are no 'referral charges' anywhere in the NHS system.

Jo_R_2

Toothsmith wrote: »

PCTs can sometimes have an arrangement with specialist dentists, or even ordinary dentists 'with a special interest' in something like oral surgery.

These pracices do the easier jobs to take the pressure of the hospital services who do the more complicated stuff.

This should all work under NHS rules though, and be free to exempt patients right the way through. There are no 'referral charges' anywhere in the NHS system.

So... I've been charged for something I shouldn't have then... Didn't want to go in all guns blazing today before I understood exactly what I was saying. Thing is, I paid the charge at the time because of how the dentist explained it to me, I thought I had to to get it done.

Not too happy about it now I've found this out!