The truth about NHS dentistry
How much it should cost to visit your NHS dentist and how much it costs you in reality could be two very different figures. Moneywise TV asks why this is the case.
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Kids up to 16 and those on low incomes qualify for free NHS dentistry but the rest of us have to pay. But how much?
You will only have to pay one of three prices depending on the level of complexity of your treatment.
So if these charges are so straightforward why are so many of us confused about how much we should pay? Is it because we're being taken for a ride?
Many dentists offer private services alongside NHS care and will sometimes say they can only carry out certain treatments privately, which will invariably cost more. For example a scale and polish falls within band 1 treatment but many dentists will refer their patients on to a hygienist, costing around £50 a pop.
James: Should scale and polish be offered as an NHS service?
Dentists receive money from the state based on a points system. But vastly differing levels of treatment - in terms of time and cost accrue the same amount of points, making the system unpopular with dentists.
James: Could you explain why the current system is unbalanced? (ie a dentist will be paid the same to do six fillings and a root canal as one extraction?)
As a result some dentists use questionable tactics, known as gaming to make up their apparent shortfalls. Practices include splitting treatments up to get more money or even undertreating. Others choose not to offer NHS dentist services anymore.
James: Why have you stopped offering NHS dentistry services?
Like James, dentists don't have to offer NHS services, they can also choose to opt out if they argue they are losing money.
For us patients it's important to be backed up in knowledge: know what's included within the different bands and the price.
Remember that with any treatments within two months you won't have to pay more than the initial fee.
Ask your dentist to be upfront about charges - because we are no longer required to register with one practice, there's nothing stopping you going elsewhere.
When asked if my NHS dentist would polish my teeth, I was told the NHS did not provide this service, and the cost would be £200.
I visited my dentist & was told that i had some worn front teeth & that the dentist wanted to do some exploratory tests by taking impressions of my teeth & that i would have to wear a gadjet like brace , this was going to cost me £1037 ,this was before any treatment was given . after wearing this brace she could find what treatment was required & i would be charged accordingly when the treatment was given. I am an NHS patient & thought there was a cap on how much i had to pay.
could you please advise
It's ok saying there's nothing stopping you going elsewhere but there is a big problem with that, there are so few dentists taking on NHS patients that there is no choice anymore, there is only one dentist in my area taking on NHS and so I have to got there with my children I can't trail 6 kids on the bus miles away.
Over the 12 - 18 months up to February 2011 I received a dramatic reduction in the quality of mmy treatment from what had been a good NHS dentist with decades of experience. Some of this was due to [I believe] increasing dementia symptoms including mainly poor memory.
I was increasingly told that a]crowns, and b] a replacement bridge were not available on the NHS. I had the crowns on the NHS @ £1200 then discovered 3 months later that I was being charged Private rates for subsequent visits - without being informed!
His procrastination regarding replacing a bridge has meant my having 3 front teeth extracted, and having now to wear dentures.
Another tooth required extraction as had been repeatedly "bodged" and the crown replaced.
This is causing patients to become unwell and adding to the existing NHS expense.
Complaints to the dentist were ignored and denied. Primary Care Trust were not interested as I had complained 1st to the Practice even though it was them that told me to address the Practice in the first instance.
I now have an excellent Private dentist working his way through my mouth. Quite expensive but luckily I do have Insurance that has so far covered 2/3rds of the cost.
Finding this dentist was arduous and meant trips to and treatments from dentists that were rude [ALL of them] and 1 that patched up my bridge even though he had x-rayed the area.
Things can only get worse I feel if no-one will face up to the dentists doing the dirty on patients.
The only legal road may be Trading Standards and/or Small Claims.
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I really appreciate the lack of a transcript for those of us who can't watch the video. Really shows how much you care about your disabled readers; thanks, Moneywise.
Hi Tria,
There is a 'show transcript' button available directly below and to the left of the video. If you're unable to view it, please let us know.
Thanks,
Ian
Firstly, the dentist plans the treatment depending on your needs. If you ask for a "polish" and there's no clinical need in the dentist's view, you cannot have it under NHS meaning you need to pay privately. If you need a massive Scale and Polish to remove layers and layers o calcified plaque, requiring to spend a lot of time, to "educate" you to prevent the same happening etc , you will have to pay privately. Pooy guy has to make a living and £17.50 will not pay even his dental assistant's wages!
I prepaid for NHS dental treatment which was a filling. Just before my appointment my mother was taken ill & consequently died. Later I re-booked the appointment and then my father was in hospital so I cancelled again.
By the time I re-booked it was over 3 months and because of that I had to pay an extra £17. My dentist checked but they would not take any circumstances into consideration.
It's not really fair is it?
I've just had a check up, xrays, scale & polish, 3 teeth extracted and 3 new teeth added to my existing plate...........for £47 (the second band of charges) at Alpha Dental Studio, Great Ayton, North Yorkshire. Fantastic service and, as far as I know, they are taking on new NHS patients.
i went abroad and paid 500 pounds for a root canal, check up,scale and polish and vaneer.
don't stay in rip of britain.
I went private (denplan) after NHS dentist literally runied my smile - its the best direct debit I have and id give up all other luxury before giving up my denplan. My dentist has rebuilt my blue teeth (the metal fillings showed through the tooth) so I can chew again. Since I moved over I have not had a filling and my teeth are fine, yet when I left my NHS dentist it was because he wanted to fill 7 yes 7 more of my teeth. I simply did not need anything doing! Also on a side note my bad breath was cured by having the teeth rebuilt properly so they can be cleaned - amazing! Not to mention my children getting the same excellent service with the same dentist even though they are NHS. In my experience NHS was so very expensive for such poor treatment and denplan though not cheap encourages me to go very regularly with out any scary bills afterwards. Not paying for denplan was false economy for me.