Dentist - Sharp Practise ?
Discussion
Hi,
Every NHS Dentist I've ever used has asked for me to sign a blank NHS form - as this has always been the way for 30+ years I've never questioned it however it seems a bit dodgy to me.
My last visit I went to have a broken tooth looked at - I haven't had a check up for 2 years.
He put a temporary crown on and took a mould for a permanent one - took perhaps 15 mins.
I asked about a check up and maybe the Hygienist - he said we'll do it next time and I looked at the form and it had those and the crown on.
So I went for the crown to be fitted today - took less than 15 mins and he had a quick "dremel" around a few front teeth.
I asked do I need another appointment for the check up / hygienist and he said - no I've just done it !
Really ? Inside 15mins for a crown fitting, check up and "hygienist" surely that isn't realistic ?
Every NHS Dentist I've ever used has asked for me to sign a blank NHS form - as this has always been the way for 30+ years I've never questioned it however it seems a bit dodgy to me.
My last visit I went to have a broken tooth looked at - I haven't had a check up for 2 years.
He put a temporary crown on and took a mould for a permanent one - took perhaps 15 mins.
I asked about a check up and maybe the Hygienist - he said we'll do it next time and I looked at the form and it had those and the crown on.
So I went for the crown to be fitted today - took less than 15 mins and he had a quick "dremel" around a few front teeth.
I asked do I need another appointment for the check up / hygienist and he said - no I've just done it !
Really ? Inside 15mins for a crown fitting, check up and "hygienist" surely that isn't realistic ?
There are just so many variables to consider, one could look at it from another angle and say what a great, efficient service provided in a short time thus allowing the OP to get on with his business.
The NHS is a fixed price system for the dentist and patient so the NHS will not be screwed, however the more efficient the dentist is the more fixed price work they can do
Jim
The NHS is a fixed price system for the dentist and patient so the NHS will not be screwed, however the more efficient the dentist is the more fixed price work they can do
Jim
Edited by retreat on Tuesday 19th November 20:50
As I am on a student medical placement with the NHS at the moment, and hoping that the NHS will be my employers at the end of it - and so despite it being taxpayer's money, I also have a vested interest in the public health service not being ripped off.
It's in a bad enough state as it is, and if there is fraudulent use of public money, that's just not fair.
If you were hard enough and public-spirited enough, you might want to explore this and maybe take it a little further?
Just for reference - I attend a private dentist who is absolutely fabulous in every way. They are careful, considerate and highly professional - and as far as my limited medical knowledge goes, they haven't ever tried to pull a fast one on me or my family and have never tried to recommend work that didn't need doing.
For example, I am a little OCD with my teeth and for quite a while now I have been having a hygenist appointment every 3 months. I love the 'just deep-cleaned' look and feeling on my teeth - despite looking after them well at home with a Sonicare brush and an army of different-shaped flossing tools.
My hygienist has said to me on more than one occasion that I really don't need to be coming in every 3 months as my teeth are perfect, and she persuaded me this time to extend it to 5 (my OCD just couldn't accept 6, lol!)
Anyway, with regard to timings - a check-up normally takes my dentist about 25 minutes. He goes over every single tooth with his pick and a mirror, very carefully, finishing up with a careful palpation of my mandible and lower jaw for lumps, swellings and abnormalities etc. and for that I am charged £45.
The hygienist normally takes a little longer. She starts with the sonic water jet and blasts everything (and I ask her to get it right up under my gums too - painful for most people but weirdly I like it and it ensures that there is no plaque under my gums).
Then she goes round with the metal scrapers.
Then she finishes any other little areas with a bit of floss, and then does an electric polish.
Total time about 40 minutes, cost £49.
Hope this all helps!
It's in a bad enough state as it is, and if there is fraudulent use of public money, that's just not fair.
If you were hard enough and public-spirited enough, you might want to explore this and maybe take it a little further?
Just for reference - I attend a private dentist who is absolutely fabulous in every way. They are careful, considerate and highly professional - and as far as my limited medical knowledge goes, they haven't ever tried to pull a fast one on me or my family and have never tried to recommend work that didn't need doing.
For example, I am a little OCD with my teeth and for quite a while now I have been having a hygenist appointment every 3 months. I love the 'just deep-cleaned' look and feeling on my teeth - despite looking after them well at home with a Sonicare brush and an army of different-shaped flossing tools.
My hygienist has said to me on more than one occasion that I really don't need to be coming in every 3 months as my teeth are perfect, and she persuaded me this time to extend it to 5 (my OCD just couldn't accept 6, lol!)
Anyway, with regard to timings - a check-up normally takes my dentist about 25 minutes. He goes over every single tooth with his pick and a mirror, very carefully, finishing up with a careful palpation of my mandible and lower jaw for lumps, swellings and abnormalities etc. and for that I am charged £45.
The hygienist normally takes a little longer. She starts with the sonic water jet and blasts everything (and I ask her to get it right up under my gums too - painful for most people but weirdly I like it and it ensures that there is no plaque under my gums).
Then she goes round with the metal scrapers.
Then she finishes any other little areas with a bit of floss, and then does an electric polish.
Total time about 40 minutes, cost £49.
Hope this all helps!
[quote=Ray Luxury-Yacht]As I am on a student medical placement with the NHS at the moment, and hoping that the NHS will be my employers at the end of it - and so despite it being taxpayer's money, I also have a vested interest in the public health service not being ripped off.
It's in a bad enough state as it is, and if there is fraudulent use of public money, that's just not fair.
If you were hard enough and public-spirited enough, you might want to explore this and maybe take it a little further?
There's more than a fair bit of assumption in there
General Dental funding is very different to general NHS funding and to explain would take forever but the patient (if they pay) pays for almost all of their treatment, the state contributing only a small proportion.
I would suggest that looking into PFI deals the last government did would yield more of a rip off than the OPs treatment taking 15 mins.
Come to think of it, how much did the failed NHS computer system cost...
I'm rambling OT but you see my point
Totally agree with everything else re private dentistry
It's in a bad enough state as it is, and if there is fraudulent use of public money, that's just not fair.
If you were hard enough and public-spirited enough, you might want to explore this and maybe take it a little further?
There's more than a fair bit of assumption in there
General Dental funding is very different to general NHS funding and to explain would take forever but the patient (if they pay) pays for almost all of their treatment, the state contributing only a small proportion.
I would suggest that looking into PFI deals the last government did would yield more of a rip off than the OPs treatment taking 15 mins.
Come to think of it, how much did the failed NHS computer system cost...
I'm rambling OT but you see my point
Totally agree with everything else re private dentistry
Edited by retreat on Tuesday 19th November 21:16
I see what you mean,
I would agree with Ray (the second part!)
Have you been with the dentist long?
It 's all about trust and I would suggest that as you 're asking the question you really know the answer to that question
Every case is different and some dentists are quicker than others and some jobs are easier than others, if you are an obliging patient it can be quicker still!
Last week I had a similar scenario which took me an hour to prep the tooth and take the impressions and 30 mins to fit the inlay. However I am quite slow,
Seriously, go on recommendation and find someone you trust,
Jim
I would agree with Ray (the second part!)
Have you been with the dentist long?
It 's all about trust and I would suggest that as you 're asking the question you really know the answer to that question
Every case is different and some dentists are quicker than others and some jobs are easier than others, if you are an obliging patient it can be quicker still!
Last week I had a similar scenario which took me an hour to prep the tooth and take the impressions and 30 mins to fit the inlay. However I am quite slow,
Seriously, go on recommendation and find someone you trust,
Jim
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