Dentist charges

[Mellow Matt]

I went to my NHS dentist for a checkup today and was charged the £17.00 I was expecting, but he wanted me to come back in a few days for another session with polishing and scaling etc (I think this is what other people refer to a hygienist session?), which would cost me another £30.

He said this is "in line" with the NHS but it would actually be private and therefore wouldn't cost me any more. But as far as I can see there are only 3 charges for the NHS, taken from the NHS website:

"Band 1 course of treatment – £17.00
This covers an examination, diagnosis (eg X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if needed, and application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant. If you require urgent care, even if your urgent treatment needs more than one appointment to complete, you will only need to pay one Band 1 charge.

Band 2 course of treatment – £47.00
This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or if your dentist needs to take out one or more of your teeth.

Band 3 course of treatment – £204.00
This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures and bridges"

So I guess he basically wants to charge me the band two price over 2 sessions, but I'm not getting any of the treatment mentioned in band 2, so should I have just got the scaling/polishing/whatever done in the checkup I went to today...?!

Thanks!

[Dennis99]

My dentist tried the "see a hygienist separately" trick some years ago, so many refused that they have gone back to the scale and polish within the 6 monthly check, adds about 5 minutes.

[fourfoldroot]

You are correct,the routine scale and polish is included in the band 1 treatment, even if you have to come back for it. He is charging you privately to see the hygienist to earn more money. To be fair the system is crap but he signed up for it so should adhere to the rules and regulations. You could report him to the PCT but he wont be your friend anymore and the last thing you want is for him to be fiddling with your sensitive parts after complaining!!

[Mellow Matt]

Thanks guys, just gave 'em a ring and managed to save myself £30

[BigAlinEmbra]

fourfoldroot said:

You are correct,the routine scale and polish is included in the band 1 treatment, even if you have to come back for it. He is charging you privately to see the hygienist to earn more money. To be fair the system is crap but he signed up for it so should adhere to the rules and regulations. You could report him to the PCT but he wont be your friend anymore and the last thing you want is for him to be fiddling with your sensitive parts after complaining!!

Of course this is what anonymous referrals to counterfraud services would come in handy.

http://www.nhscounterfraud.nhs.uk/noflash.html

If only there was a way you could grass naughty people up without them knowing it was you.

[Rach*]

I wish I could do a decent scale and polish, dietary advice, oral health instruction, smoking cessation, systemic health checks and the nice chat expected in 5 minutes.

[Mellow Matt]

Rach* said:

I wish I could do a decent scale and polish, dietary advice, oral health instruction, smoking cessation, systemic health checks and the nice chat expected in 5 minutes.

I bet being a dentist isn't all fun and games, but in my case I was only in there for 10-15 mins and I didn't get any of those things you've mentioned except some oral health instruction and a bit of chat.

I'm a bit pissed off that I've got to go back again to get the scale and polish, and even then I had to argue for that!

[Raverbaby]

My dentist tried the old "will I book you in for a hygienist appointment" a couple of years back, I went and was told how to floss & brush my teeth and was charged £25
Bit of a con IMO, told them I wouldn't be returning.
Got a check up, scale & polish yesterday, £10.20.

[wendyg]

Raverbaby said:

My dentist tried the old "will I book you in for a hygienist appointment" a couple of years back, I went and was told how to floss & brush my teeth and was charged £25
Bit of a con IMO, told them I wouldn't be returning.
Got a check up, scale & polish yesterday, £10.20.

£10.20????

I think you may have mistaken a proper clinical examination and scaling with 'some bloke with a blaster'
(Kidding) But even a basic NHS examination is £17

[wendyg]

Mellow Matt said:

I went to my NHS dentist for a checkup today and was charged the £17.00 I was expecting, but he wanted me to come back in a few days for another session with polishing and scaling etc (I think this is what other people refer to a hygienist session?), which would cost me another £30.

He said this is "in line" with the NHS but it would actually be private and therefore wouldn't cost me any more. But as far as I can see there are only 3 charges for the NHS, taken from the NHS website:

"Band 1 course of treatment – £17.00
This covers an examination, diagnosis (eg X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if needed, and application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant. If you require urgent care, even if your urgent treatment needs more than one appointment to complete, you will only need to pay one Band 1 charge.

Band 2 course of treatment – £47.00
This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or if your dentist needs to take out one or more of your teeth.

Band 3 course of treatment – £204.00
This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures and bridges"

So I guess he basically wants to charge me the band two price over 2 sessions, but I'm not getting any of the treatment mentioned in band 2, so should I have just got the scaling/polishing/whatever done in the checkup I went to today...?!

Thanks!

Although to clarify, a simple scale and polish is included in the bsnd 1 charge, but if there are complex periodontal (gum) problems which require extended or multiple visits this would become band 2 £47.00. Assuming your BPE score were 2 or below that's fine, if any sextant scores 3 or more then it becomes the clinical judgement of the dentist as to whether a band 2 charge shoud apply. HTH

[car_era]

Dennis99 said:

My dentist tried the "see a hygienist separately" trick some years ago, so many refused that they have gone back to the scale and polish within the 6 monthly check, adds about 5 minutes.

Consider that the dentist is paying his hygienist in the region of £30 per hour to see 3 patients but in this current contract he is obliged to offer the patient a scale and polish for no additional money than he gets for just the check up. This is more likely the reason for him doing the cleaning himself and sacking the hygienist.

[number2]

Rach* said:

I wish I could do a decent scale and polish, dietary advice, oral health instruction, smoking cessation, systemic health checks and the nice chat expected in 5 minutes.

My hygienist spends almost an hour in my mouth

[Mellow Matt]

wendyg said:

Although to clarify, a simple scale and polish is included in the bsnd 1 charge, but if there are complex periodontal (gum) problems which require extended or multiple visits this would become band 2 £47.00. Assuming your BPE score were 2 or below that's fine, if any sextant scores 3 or more then it becomes the clinical judgement of the dentist as to whether a band 2 charge shoud apply. HTH

Thanks for the advice. What would be complex gum problems? He said I had a bit of swelling on one, but he wasn't worried about it at all. He didn't mention BPE or sextant scores?

[Rach*]

number2 said:

Rach* said:

I wish I could do a decent scale and polish, dietary advice, oral health instruction, smoking cessation, systemic health checks and the nice chat expected in 5 minutes.

My hygienist spends almost an hour in my mouth

Some of my patients are lucky enough to get an hour (or more) of my company

[wendyg]

Mellow Matt said:

wendyg said:

Although to clarify, a simple scale and polish is included in the bsnd 1 charge, but if there are complex periodontal (gum) problems which require extended or multiple visits this would become band 2 £47.00. Assuming your BPE score were 2 or below that's fine, if any sextant scores 3 or more then it becomes the clinical judgement of the dentist as to whether a band 2 charge shoud apply. HTH

Thanks for the advice. What would be complex gum problems? He said I had a bit of swelling on one, but he wasn't worried about it at all. He didn't mention BPE or sextant scores?

Basic gum screening usually involved using a blunt probe and gently feeling at the gumline to see if the gum has separated away from the tooth, and if so, to what extent, and also to see if there is calculus (tartar) under the surface. Mouth is divided into 6 sextants (upper right, upper front, upper left etc) and each is scored 0 to 4 with 0 being all healthy and 4 indicating gum separation and bone loss of more than 3.5mm. Any score of 2 or more indicate that scaling is required, 3 or more may indicate that more complex treatment is required.

Bear in mind that this is screening only, and has to be related to lots of other factors. For example, if I saw a score of 4 in a healthy non-smoking 25 year old with good oral hygiene then I would be very concerned. A score of 4 in a chain-smoking 70 year old diabetic whose rendezvous with a toothbrush is monthly rather than daily and I wouldn't raise an eyebrow.

Failing to screen for gum disease is a big no-no, so if your dentist didn't do one I'd be asking why.

[Raverbaby]

wendyg said:

Raverbaby said:

My dentist tried the old "will I book you in for a hygienist appointment" a couple of years back, I went and was told how to floss & brush my teeth and was charged £25
Bit of a con IMO, told them I wouldn't be returning.
Got a check up, scale & polish yesterday, £10.20.

£10.20????

I think you may have mistaken a proper clinical examination and scaling with 'some bloke with a blaster'
(Kidding) But even a basic NHS examination is £17

TBH I dont know why he's so cheap, fillings I've had done in the past have been under £20.
He's recently took over the practice, there are other dentists local so maybe there's competition for business.
Seems to be a pretty good dentist by all accounts.
I'm in Scotland so prices may be cheaper.

[MacGee]

Rach* said:

Some of my patients are lucky enough to get an hour (or more) of my company

bet its not on the Nash!!....MacDonalds worker would get paid more at that rate on the NHS,

Scotland have different fee structure to us normal people!!

[Rach*]

MacGee said:

Rach* said:

Some of my patients are lucky enough to get an hour (or more) of my company

bet its not on the Nash!!....MacDonalds worker would get paid more at that rate on the NHS,

Scotland have different fee structure to us normal people!!

Working on the nash :shudder: nope, all private hyg down here

[Soir]

Our dentist says 'you dont need a scale & polish' So no other option to pay for it with the hygenist.

Always assumed that was normal (con)? Can you insist on scale & polish as part of the £17.50?

[MacGee]

Only given if clinically necessary to achieve oral health! But then if offered privately why would you pay dollar for something that wasn't needed!