Dentists – private versus NHS
Discussion
I have maintained my NHS dentist rights by regular visits. I was doing this to avoid having to pay for private treatment but after a recent conversation I now question that choice. As it was told to me private dentistry is only slightly more expensive but the service and what is made available to private patients is far better?
Can anyone explain the cost and service differences
Thanks in advance
Can anyone explain the cost and service differences
Thanks in advance
Average private price first and NHS price is the 2nd price. N/A means that you cannot get these treatments on the NHS (Mostly cosmetic dentistry).
Apiectomy £387 £198
Braces-Metal £1174 £198
Bridge £557 N/A
Cancellation fee £32 N/A
Dental Crown-Gold £417 £198
Dental Examination £43 £16.2
Dentures-Full £564 £198
First Consultation £54 £16.2
Hygiene Clean £61 N/A
Implants £1272 N/A
Large Tooth Filling-Non-white £101 £44.6
Root canal £376 £198
Sedated tooth removal £142 £44.6
Small tooth filling-Non-white £77 £44.6
Tooth Extraction £98 N/A
Tooth Scale and Polish £45 £16.2
Veneer £342 N/A
Whitening £304 N/A
Wisdom tooth extraction £177 N/A
X-ray £28 £16.2
Apiectomy £387 £198
Braces-Metal £1174 £198
Bridge £557 N/A
Cancellation fee £32 N/A
Dental Crown-Gold £417 £198
Dental Examination £43 £16.2
Dentures-Full £564 £198
First Consultation £54 £16.2
Hygiene Clean £61 N/A
Implants £1272 N/A
Large Tooth Filling-Non-white £101 £44.6
Root canal £376 £198
Sedated tooth removal £142 £44.6
Small tooth filling-Non-white £77 £44.6
Tooth Extraction £98 N/A
Tooth Scale and Polish £45 £16.2
Veneer £342 N/A
Whitening £304 N/A
Wisdom tooth extraction £177 N/A
X-ray £28 £16.2
My nominally NHS dentist charged me £400 for a root canal in February. This afternoon that £400 was effectively pissed into wind when he extracted the now broken-in-half molar - "it happens sometimes". He told me he'd take money off the £2200 bill for an implant if I liked. My reaction was sufficiently blunt for him to waive the extraction fee!
I'm really surprised the NHS fee is as high as £200 for root canal. Not because it's not justified (very important treatment) but just considering the pricing structure.4
Mind you, it's a misery for a dentist in France to do such a complex and important treatment: €82 (£71 as non-prosthetic private dentistry is not allowed here).
Mind you, it's a misery for a dentist in France to do such a complex and important treatment: €82 (£71 as non-prosthetic private dentistry is not allowed here).
My current dentist is very good (the person).
When I joined they were NHS but they converted to private. Their private prices are not THAT steep - unlike some other horror stories I have heard of.
Obvioously you get exactly the same person doing the work. The only difference is that it costs more and that they can do more treatments than you would get on the NHS.
And to add, when I was NHS I was given the option of going private for extra treatment if I wanted to. I was also given the option to go back to an NHS hospital for a wisdom tooth extraction if I wanted.
When I joined they were NHS but they converted to private. Their private prices are not THAT steep - unlike some other horror stories I have heard of.
Obvioously you get exactly the same person doing the work. The only difference is that it costs more and that they can do more treatments than you would get on the NHS.
And to add, when I was NHS I was given the option of going private for extra treatment if I wanted to. I was also given the option to go back to an NHS hospital for a wisdom tooth extraction if I wanted.
have you looked into denplan or similar insurance schemes?
many years ago, my dentist went private and offered a denplan scheme. cost was based on condition of teeth (mine are softer than chalk, contain more metal than the mint...)
cost per month is £19 ish
i see the hygienist every 3 months; no charge
i see the dentist every 6 months; no charge
fillings; no charge
x-rays; no charge
crown; £50 (lab fees only)
works out cheaper for me, but maybe not everyone
many years ago, my dentist went private and offered a denplan scheme. cost was based on condition of teeth (mine are softer than chalk, contain more metal than the mint...)
cost per month is £19 ish
i see the hygienist every 3 months; no charge
i see the dentist every 6 months; no charge
fillings; no charge
x-rays; no charge
crown; £50 (lab fees only)
works out cheaper for me, but maybe not everyone
A bit misleading. The materials used by NHS dentists is of inferior quality to those used by private dentists. Also a private patient gets a lot longer to spend with the dentist than in the NHS, who tend to pack patients in so they can make comptetetive levels of income, unlike the private dentist who can afford to take the time.
968 said:
A bit misleading. The materials used by NHS dentists is of inferior quality to those used by private dentists. Also a private patient gets a lot longer to spend with the dentist than in the NHS, who tend to pack patients in so they can make comptetetive levels of income, unlike the private dentist who can afford to take the time.
Is this why, even with a 10am appointment, I never get seen on time?After living in America with their superior dental care, our family couldn't go back to the somewhat poor NHS dentists around here. Admittedly we went once, but I spent literally 1 minute in the chair before she decided everything was fine for the next 6(12?) months.
The private dentist we use could tell what work had been done on my father in America, and what work was done by the NHS quite easily. There was a huge difference in the quality of work (apparently).
The private dentist we use could tell what work had been done on my father in America, and what work was done by the NHS quite easily. There was a huge difference in the quality of work (apparently).
motco said:
My nominally NHS dentist charged me £400 for a root canal in February. This afternoon that £400 was effectively pissed into wind when he extracted the now broken-in-half molar - "it happens sometimes". He told me he'd take money off the £2200 bill for an implant if I liked. My reaction was sufficiently blunt for him to waive the extraction fee!
Similar happened to me except first root canal/crown was by an nhs dentist (barnet dental practice) when I was a student then second root canal with a guy near harley street, then ceramic crown on same tooth by a private dentist (watford dentist - tooth was cracked I think but he filed it down to fit the crown). Few months later the tooth was still painful when biting down so I had the £600 crown removed and it was determined the tooth was cracked so needed extraction (aesthetics in hatfield - he wriggled it about not pulled, loads of blood, needed stitches). The socket became infected so the dentist put me on the waiting list for the nhs hospital dentist, no appointment and it cleared up in 4 months. I changed dentist a lot but every time I felt like I was ripped off by a complete moron, now I'm with a good dentist in belsize park.CanadianScot said:
After living in America with their superior dental care, our family couldn't go back to the somewhat poor NHS dentists around here. Admittedly we went once, but I spent literally 1 minute in the chair before she decided everything was fine for the next 6(12?) months.
The private dentist we use could tell what work had been done on my father in America, and what work was done by the NHS quite easily. There was a huge difference in the quality of work (apparently).
I've seen American stuff too...no better than British I'm afraid. I was expecting some superb work. Sorry but dont agree!The private dentist we use could tell what work had been done on my father in America, and what work was done by the NHS quite easily. There was a huge difference in the quality of work (apparently).
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