Dental Charges

[Prudie]

Today I went to the dentist for the first time in years (serious hatred). The estimate for the immediate work I need doing is £1000. It's no surprise people don't go, I mean a £1000, that's beyond the reach of many. How can that be justified?

[Buenchico]

That sounds like private treatment as those figures certainly don't tie up with the NHS charges:
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/dentists/Pages/nhs-dental-charges.aspx

[emmie]

our dental practice charges 50 pounds for half an hour with the hygienist

[Prudie]

It's a mixture Chris, one thing (a bridge) he said could only be done privately @ £700+.It's hard to argue when you're a bag of nerves.

[Tilly2]

Prudie, maybe if you had gone more often, then you wouldn't need so much work doing.

[Tilly2]

Sorry, that sounds really snotty. It was not meant to be. I could have put it better.

[emmie]

a close friend always looked after his dental hygiene, was meticulous, then one day his dentist told him that he teeth were about to go the way of the do do, some form of infection, he had to pay a small fortune to get it put right. and that was over thirty years ago,

[Buenchico]

Find a different dentists, Prudie!

Bridges are included in the scale of charges in my link, with the entire course of work charged at £219.

[Prudie]

Well it's just one missing tooth with both either side fine but no root for a crown. He said on NHS I could get a tooth on a plate (denture, no thanks) or a bridge privately.
Tilly I know, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[Old_Geezer]

Look on it as foresight for the future.

It's a lot in one go but if you have bridgework, well it doesn't come cheap.

My woman says my dentist charges me far to much, but it's a case of what one priorities in life, isn't it. Health is important to me, including trying to keep what teeth I have.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Just paid £600 to save a molar..3 hours in the chair...a result of shoddy NHS work...but its cheaper than an implant at £2.5k.There are still some good NHS dentists but they are a rare breed.My bloke charges £55 for a filling but you will be in the chair for 45 mins as opposed to 10 mins on the NHS.

[smoneybags]

We used Denplan- they do an initial assessment and what you pay is worked out accordingly. I pay £15 a month and it's worth every penny. I get hygienist visits every three months and the dentist every six months and priority for emergency treatment, all with no extra cost.

[888]

A few weeks ago I read in the DM (possibly on the letters page) that everyone was entitled to a NHS dentist and if you asked, e.g. an MP, you'd be provided with one. How does this work out? We've been loyal to our dentist over the years and now they've retired we're stuck, as all the handy, local ones won't accept us, even on a waiting list.

[Prudie]

A point I was going to make 888, lots of people wait for months and months to get taken on as NHS patients so this idea it's freely available and you won't pay more than £219 is tosh. Even my own 'inlaws' who had been NHS patients at the same dentist for years were told by him that he would only be doing private from now on.

[jno]

Tilly's right. I put off going for years, but it meant mroe work needed doing when I finally did go. And in fact things had got much worse then they needed to, meaning the work required was more extensive, and expensive, than it might have been.

Put it this way, if you avoided dentistry for 10 years, then it's costing you £100 a year.

[Buenchico]

>>>lots of people wait for months and months to get taken on as NHS patients

Here in Suffolk most NHS dentists have banners outside which invite immediate new registrations. Further their are NHS posters all over the place (such as at railway stations) telling people that they can easily get NHS dental treatment and providing relevant contact details. A great deal of money has been invested bring in dentists from Asia and Eastern Europe and it seems to be paying off.

[jno]

these immigrants, they come over here and steal all our teeth...

[Buenchico]

LOL @ Jno!