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Paying for the dentist

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
not sure whether this should be in health or not...

okay at the moment i dont have an NHS dentist. i havent had one for 3 years since i went to work in spain for 9 months and my old dentist took me off the register. i've tried for absolutely ages to get another dentist. im desparately in need of a few fillings and stuff like that, but its almost impossible to find one. there are none in my surrounding area.

anyway 3 times in the past couple of months i've had to use the emergency dentist service because of severe toothache (all in one tooth). each time i use it they send me to the same dentist (at my request because its nearest to me, and, i have a phobia of them and this one guy they send me to, is really good at calming nervous patients down). each time i go i have to pay £45 which they say is 'the cost for seeing the dentist, and for any treatment you may need'.

whenever i ring the emergency dentist up they always ask me if i work, which i do. i guess this is to work out whether i have to pay for the dentist. the only thing is, i DO work, but i only have 24 contract hours a week. it doesnt amount to very much pay and i really cant afford to keep paying £45 for every single trip i make to the dentist :(

everytime i go, to the good dentist, i ask him if hes taking on new patients (i practically begged him last time?!) and he always says that they're only allowed to take patients on through the emergency dentist service. ie, i should keep ringing up the service and complaining of toothache then they will send me to him each time. but that means that every time i have 1 filling i have to pay £45, and i think i need at least 3, i just cant afford that everytime?!

okay so sorry this is a bit long basically i want to ask. is there anything that can contribute towards the cost of paying for the dentist. AND, if i was just a normal NHS patient on his books, is that how much it'd be? £45 for each filling? or would it be £45 for whatever work needs to be carried out?

also does anybody know how to get a dentist when theres none available :( im honestly frustrated and so upset about this, its like, i know i need work doing and i dont want all my teeth to fall out before im 30 but i just cant get anyone to do it! is going private really expensive? i tried looking at dental insurance plans but i dont really understand them. heeeelp! :crying:

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Scary knows a lot about dentists.

    Saying you need to be constantly reffered for emergency treatment to get on his books sounds, to me, a load of fucking crap. He should have a waiting list, then when one of his patients moves etc the next on the list takes their place, like my dentists did for Leigh when we moved here. Sounds like he's trying to make money off you. If you're registed with a dentist you'd get all your fillings done for a flat rate, currently £46.50p

    http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_096617

    If you need help with costs, get an HC1 form.

    http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Medicinespharmacyandindustry/Prescriptions/DH_099280
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    When I go to the Dentist for a check up I pay about £15 if I need treatment then that price goes up to about £45 depending on what it is. But just for a check up or just to see the dentist (without having work) 'm sure it should only be £15!

    I found this which might be useful :)
    http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/health/help_with_health_costs.htm
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    sorry for taking over your thread but i was actually going to ask a question about dentists tonight!!! may as well post it in here :p

    ive been trying to get an nhs dentist for a while now. my dad has managed to get me on the one back home that i was at 5 years ago. i didn't realise i was still registered there.

    anyway, i think i need a few fillings but theres no way im getting silver ones. i know the nhs doesn't cover white fillings. i was just wondering though...how much (just a rough estimate) would they charge me for them? i think i need a few fillings :( im going there next week and im scared about how much the work is going to cost.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Scary does indeed know a lot about dentists, and Scary unfortunately has a massive project deadline so is kind of tight on time and suffering from a dead brain by the time she gets to a computer for forums.

    Charging.NHS dental charges

    The three NHS charge bands are listed below.

    * Band 1 £16.50 - this charge includes an examination, diagnosis, and preventive advice. If necessary, it also includes X-rays, scale and polish, and planning for further treatment.
    * Band 2 £45.60 - this charge includes all the necessary treatment that is covered by the £16.50 charge, plus additional treatment, such as fillings, root canal treatment, or extractions.
    * Band 3 £198.00 - this charge includes all the necessary treatment that is covered by the £16.50 and £45.60 charges, plus more complex procedures, such as crowns, dentures, and bridges.

    (from http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1781.aspx?CategoryID=74&SubCategoryID=74 )

    Turns out trying to do it off the top of my head isn't too successful.

    Further details also on that link.

    The new contract is a bit of a mess, and one feature is means that Dentists no longer have lists any more. From an NHS point of view, you're their patient for that course of treatment and then no longer. There's a certain provision for returning to the same place for check ups but that's about it.

    Getting routine work done on an emergency basis obviously isn't the way forward, as you pay a premium for the short notice treatment.

    Your local PCT have a duty to find you an NHS dentist. If you can't find anywhere else to start, call NHS direct, they are an information service as well as an advice service.

    You may well not be able to see the guy you've seen so far, but if you can manage him, mind over matter, you'll be ok with someone else. New leaf and you'll be just fine with dentistry. You should be able to get all the fillings done for band 2 pricing.

    Hope that helps, do ask more specific questions, as I said, brain is dead....
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    sorry for taking over your thread but i was actually going to ask a question about dentists tonight!!! may as well post it in here :p

    ive been trying to get an nhs dentist for a while now. my dad has managed to get me on the one back home that i was at 5 years ago. i didn't realise i was still registered there.

    anyway, i think i need a few fillings but theres no way im getting silver ones. i know the nhs doesn't cover white fillings. i was just wondering though...how much (just a rough estimate) would they charge me for them? i think i need a few fillings :( im going there next week and im scared about how much the work is going to cost.


    I didn't know they still had silver fillings. My parents told me to ask when I had a filling, just in case, and my dentist looked at me like I was a whack job and said they don't even offer anything that isn't tooth colored (I think there are a couple different kinds?). I heard they aren't as durable though as silver. I should have asked if they did gold :p
    [/useless]
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Last time i had a quote for a white filling i think it was about £200 - i've not got it done yet as i'm waiting till i qualify for free dental care - though i know I can't get it done in white on the NHS........
  • Indrid ColdIndrid Cold Posts: 16,688 Skive's The Limit
    I didn't know they still had silver fillings. My parents told me to ask when I had a filling, just in case, and my dentist looked at me like I was a whack job and said they don't even offer anything that isn't tooth colored (I think there are a couple different kinds?). I heard they aren't as durable though as silver. I should have asked if they did gold :p
    [/useless]
    My dentist kind of reacted the same way when I asked years ago.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I so need to go to the dentist but I SO can't afford £45 :(.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Check up is £16.50

    It's also worth checking out the low income forms (HC11 I think it is).
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Check up is £16.50

    It's also worth checking out the low income forms (HC11 I think it is).
    How much is plaque removal though? I have a shitton of it on my bottom teeth. I need my teeth straightening at some point too.

    Eugh eugh eugh.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru

    # Band 1 £16.50 - this charge includes an examination, diagnosis, and preventive advice. If necessary, it also includes X-rays, scale and polish, and planning for further treatment.

    Scale & polish is plaque removal.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Scale & polish is plaque removal.
    Oooooh.

    Now to find a dentist :|.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Wyetry wrote: »
    Last time i had a quote for a white filling i think it was about £200 - i've not got it done yet as i'm waiting till i qualify for free dental care - though i know I can't get it done in white on the NHS........

    seriously? :|

    i think i need quite a few. oh poop.

    ah well, work needs doing. im guessing this is what next months pay is going to be paying for :grump:

    its an nhs dentist so maybe they'll be nice with the private fees for white fillings. i doubt it though, lol.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    the last filling i had, im not sure if its exactly white the stuff he put in put its definitely not silver or black! you cant tell iv got a filling there and he only charged me the normal NHS price.

    i dont think they do those horrible black fillings anymore :/ at least i dont think so.

    to everyone else thank you very much. i rang up to speak to the dentist reception about it and iv found out the reason iv been having to pay £45 each time is that because, i need quite a bit of work doing, and under the emergency dentist referral scheme they can only see me twice. and two appointments isnt enough to sort out all the stuff i need doing. so, when they take on patients (which is next month, I SO hope i get taken on!) il pay £45 and they'll do all my stuff that need doing as a regular patient. which will be much better.

    contemplating getting one of those HC1 forms but i dont know whether it'd be worth it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Black? Are they just old silver ones? Never even heard of those. Whats it made from? Random internet websites seem to use it synonomously with silver. I'm so intriguiged!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I decided to go private when I went recently. It cost £58 for a check up, including x rays. I didn't need anything doing thankfully so I don't know how much fillings etc would be. Did go and see the hygenist though and that was about £34 I think.. So, I think I'm just gonna do that every six months, although the dentist did say once a year should be fine.

    Vaguely considering Denplan though - not entirely sure how it works but think you pay about £15 a month and that covers everything.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    the last filling i had, im not sure if its exactly white the stuff he put in put its definitely not silver or black! you cant tell iv got a filling there and he only charged me the normal NHS price.

    i dont think they do those horrible black fillings anymore :/ at least i dont think so.

    really? mmmm, will have to ask when im there then :)

    just don't wanna come out looking like a metal mouth. i *know* for sure i need a filling on one of my front-ish teeth (well its to the side but it can be seen) so i dont want it to be noticable!

    good luck getting on register hun!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    NHS does white fillings in obviously visible places, just not everywhere.

    HC1 forms are well worth doing if you're likely to qualify.
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