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Teeth
Dec 17, 2023 18:27:41 GMT
Post by moonraker on Dec 17, 2023 18:27:41 GMT
I'm convinced it already happens in BUPA hospitals, where you go in for one thing and, before you know it, every consultant would like you to see another consultant too, along the corridor, just to eliminate x... while the insurance bill rockets skywards... My experience of two private hospitals is that one accepts a quote to see the consultant, but nothing is said of the hospital charging for use of its equipment, resulting in two separate invoices, with the charge for the equipment being more than the consultant's fee.
On Tuesday I'm seeing a gastroenterologist at a private hospital and in March have a booking at the local NHS hospital with a haematologist. Both consultants work at the same private hospital and at the same NHS hospital.
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ozboy
Member of DD Central
Mine's a Large One! (Snigger, snigger .......)
Posts: 3,168 
Likes: 4,859
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Post by ozboy on Dec 17, 2023 23:57:29 GMT
NHS dentistry is now a sick joke here in Wales. None available and most patients have no choice but to go private. My son-in-law has a tooth needs filling, but it's apparently beyond the skillset of his private dentist. It has a curved root, so he needs a specialist... at £1,600. For a single tooth. And it would be expected to last just 6-8 years. But because it's apparently in thinner bone, the dentist won't extract it either - the same specialist has to do that, for a mere £600, if he can't afford option A. With the appalling demise in NHS dentistry, we are fast returning to the days of licensed bandits in a mask. I hope he is not in any pain while this all gets sorted out. I've been there many times before. If its a "root" filling that needs doing the issue is both time and skill. I had one or two "root canal treatments" as they like to call it, done by my private dentist here some here ago. I found out he had skipped some key parts of the procedure (rubber dam not used for example) and it took him a total of an hour and a half. That is actually quick. In an ideal world the procedure would be carried out by an endodontist taking around 60 minutes _per root_ and using a dental microscope. That's where the money comes in. I have since had this done by a proper endo (not a general dentist) and have had very good results. What annoys me most about the UK is that even if you do go private, the service is often still c rap. If you don't live in a big city where is your nearest specialist endodontist ? Even then they might practice out of a crappy semi detached house. Why can't a few dentists group together and build a really decent purpose built dental clinic with all facilities and specialities. We really are moving towards the 3rd worldAnd with the past and current rates of uncontrolled "Asylum Seekers" arriving daily, that is guaranteed. I have dug my bunker and have my tin hat on. 
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Teeth
Dec 18, 2023 0:21:15 GMT
Post by bernythedolt on Dec 18, 2023 0:21:15 GMT
He's had some terrible pain from it (and I remember that misery well myself!), but now thankfully quelled down with a temporary filling, pending this further treatment. Like all professions, it's pretty much luck of the draw whether you get a good practitioner or a mediocre one, irrespective of NHS or private. I've been lucky and the half dozen RCTs I've had over the years, performed by two different dentists and one by an endodontist (curved root), all appear to be satisfactory over time. What strikes me about paying your private dentist a fixed monthly contract fee is that it's very much in his interest to lean towards "you need to pay for a specialist" at any opportunity, because he is thereby relieved of having to do that work himself, yet still gets paid his same regular fee. When we are all forced private and there's no other option, it wouldn't surprise me to see this "outsourcing to a mate specialist - at your cost, obviously" on the increase. I'm convinced it already happens in BUPA hospitals, where you go in for one thing and, before you know it, every consultant would like you to see another consultant too, along the corridor, just to eliminate x... while the insurance bill rockets skywards... My dentist is private but its a fee for a regular check up and a fee for the hygienist. Extra for additional treatment, which has generally been just Xrays every two years. For wisdom teeth I was referred to NHS hospital. They have also offered to refer to NHS for other problems, so far not necessary as far as I'm concerned. I know that Denplan offers two payment schemes, the more expensive one I'm on, where one monthly fee covers check-ups, hygienist, x-rays and most treatments, and a lower cost PAYG scheme, where you pay for most of those services as used. That's interesting that your private dentist has offered referral to the NHS. I wasn't aware they could do that, but it makes sense. Neither my private dentist, nor son-in-law's, offered referral to NHS for the expensive treatments that we needed outside their skillset. It's something I'll enquire further about, because I've paid NI all my working life and feel the NHS should be there as a safety net for the times one's private dentist cannot manage. Rather than being held over a barrel and forced to shell out big money for a private procedure, perhaps a patient can ask to be treated by an NHS hospital dentist at that point? I am clueless as to what we're entitled to, so I just stumped up the cash for my expensive procedure years ago, but it's a lot dearer now and not everyone can afford to.
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Post by bracknellboy on Dec 18, 2023 8:19:09 GMT
My dentist is private but its a fee for a regular check up and a fee for the hygienist. Extra for additional treatment, which has generally been just Xrays every two years. For wisdom teeth I was referred to NHS hospital. They have also offered to refer to NHS for other problems, so far not necessary as far as I'm concerned. I know that Denplan offers two payment schemes, the more expensive one I'm on, where one monthly fee covers check-ups, hygienist, x-rays and most treatments, and a lower cost PAYG scheme, where you pay for most of those services as used. That's interesting that your private dentist has offered referral to the NHS. I wasn't aware they could do that, but it makes sense. Neither my private dentist, nor son-in-law's, offered referral to NHS for the expensive treatments that we needed outside their skillset. It's something I'll enquire further about, because I've paid NI all my working life and feel the NHS should be there as a safety net for the times one's private dentist cannot manage. Rather than being held over a barrel and forced to shell out big money for a private procedure, perhaps a patient can ask to be treated by an NHS hospital dentist at that point? I am clueless as to what we're entitled to, so I just stumped up the cash for my expensive procedure years ago, but it's a lot dearer now and not everyone can afford to. its now a few years ago, but I was referred by my (private) dentist to an NHS specialist for removal of a wisdom teeth. Interestingly, they were in some way 'aligned' with the practise and had regular sessions in the practise. TBF, at the time I think the practise had some general NHS patients as well. Possibly still do, but don't take on new ones. I've always found my dentist to be reluctant to suggest work which isn't absolutely necessary. It probably took 3 to 4 years of monitoring one tooth before finally taking the plunge to do some work on it. On the other hand, they were quick to refer to me to their inhouse specialist for a piece of work recently due to concern about potential complexity. Anyway, should stop writing this as I have an appointment in 20 minutes. At the dentist.
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agent69
Member of DD Central
Posts: 6,038
Likes: 4,436
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Teeth
Dec 18, 2023 8:50:36 GMT
Post by agent69 on Dec 18, 2023 8:50:36 GMT
For those struggling to find an NHS dentist, there is a place just around the corner from me offering free examinations.
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Post by overthehill on Dec 18, 2023 9:29:17 GMT
For those struggling to find an NHS dentist, there is a place just around the corner from me offering free examinations.
So its true, you always come home from Thailand with a smile on your face. I never realized dentists were behind it.
Do you live there now ?
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agent69
Member of DD Central
Posts: 6,038
Likes: 4,436
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Post by agent69 on Dec 18, 2023 14:16:44 GMT
So its true, you always come home from Thailand with a smile on your face. I never realized dentists were behind it.
Do you live there now ?
No, just passing through. Too hot to stay for ever (and I'd probably get fed up with the unbroken blue skies).
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mogish
Member of DD Central
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 527
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Teeth
Dec 20, 2023 16:39:22 GMT
via mobile
Post by mogish on Dec 20, 2023 16:39:22 GMT
Just been to the nhs dentist today.
Check ups were 3monthly, then 6months, now its annual and cant book in advance.
30 quid for scale(no polish)and minor filling.... is this what forum members are paying for NHS treatment?
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Teeth
Dec 25, 2023 11:58:53 GMT
Post by stevepn on Dec 25, 2023 11:58:53 GMT
One of my fillings cracked a couple of weeks ago and I had already booked in for a check up. I was told it was the tooth that was cracked and it would need a crown. I could go private for £700 or NHS at £306. It was the same person doing it whether it was private or NHS, the only difference was the composition of the crown. NHS dentists where I live are fine and still take NHS customers if they are local.
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mogish
Member of DD Central
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 527
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Teeth
Dec 27, 2023 16:43:47 GMT
via mobile
Post by mogish on Dec 27, 2023 16:43:47 GMT
One of my fillings cracked a couple of weeks ago and I had already booked in for a check up. I was told it was the tooth that was cracked and it would need a crown. I could go private for £700 or NHS at £306. It was the same person doing it whether it was private or NHS, the only difference was the composition of the crown. NHS dentists where I live are fine and still take NHS customers if they are local. Looks like I got a bargain then. I believe there is a max charge if 380 odd regardless of work if its nhs. You may as well get other stuff done. Get your moneys worth in true forum fashion 😁
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mah
Member of DD Central
Posts: 354
Likes: 386
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Teeth
Dec 31, 2023 15:47:26 GMT
Post by mah on Dec 31, 2023 15:47:26 GMT
Just been to the nhs dentist today. Check ups were 3monthly, then 6months, now its annual and cant book in advance. 30 quid for scale(no polish)and minor filling.... is this what forum members are paying for NHS treatment? Under NHS you pay fixed charges depending on which Band the Treatment falls :
£25.80 - Band 1 (Checks, X-Rays, Scaling, etc.)
£70.70 - Bands 1 + 2 (above + Fillings and Root Canals)
£306.80 - Bands 1 + 2 +3 (above + Crowns/Dentures/Bridges, etc.)
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michaelc
Member of DD Central
Say No To T.D.S.
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 2,977
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Teeth
Dec 31, 2023 16:01:42 GMT
Post by michaelc on Dec 31, 2023 16:01:42 GMT
Just been to the nhs dentist today. Check ups were 3monthly, then 6months, now its annual and cant book in advance. 30 quid for scale(no polish)and minor filling.... is this what forum members are paying for NHS treatment? Under NHS you pay fixed charges depending on which Band the Treatment falls :
£25.80 - Band 1 (Checks, X-Rays, Scaling, etc.)
£70.70 - Bands 1 + 2 (above + Fillings and Root Canals)
£306.80 - Bands 1 + 2 +3 (above + Crowns/Dentures/Bridges, etc.)
Its a shame these prices aren't topped up 200% by the NHS and the regular NHS medical prices (zero) topped up to 20% of the real charge by all those that can afford to pay. We might get better service then.
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