Huzzah for dentists!

[Leaway2]

You pay towards the cost with dentistry unless you are one of the many who get free treatment,, same as prescription charges

I need an implant ideally...2k

I hear what you are saying but my comment "why national health treatment costs so much" still stands as you point out (2K). If you needed a plate in you head or false leg, would you have to pay for it?

 

[vickster]

£2K isn't NHS, that's private. They don't do implants on the NHS (except maybe at a teaching hospital post trauma or similar I guess)

The plate in head or false leg are likely essential, an implant of a molar right at the back less so. I'd rather limited NHS funds cover important treatment than what is essentially a cosmetic tooth

Standard NHS treatment isn't too costly IMO

 

[Leaway2]

The plate in head or false leg are likely essential, an implant of a molar right at the back less so. I'd rather limited NHS funds cover important treatment than what is essentially a cosmetic tooth

Sorry we will have to agree to disagree on that. Eating is an essential function. being able to chew properly being part of that. Even if it was for "cosmetic" purposes only, having teeth missing must be a huge blow to confidence.
It is strange that dentistry appears to be a separate part of the NHS and people just expect to pay.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

My god there's a lot in here I could have done without reading!

 

[lesley_x]

Sorry we will have to agree to disagree on that. Eating is an essential function. being able to chew properly being part of that. Even if it was for "cosmetic" purposes only, having teeth missing must be a huge blow to confidence.
It is strange that dentistry appears to be a separate part of the NHS and people just expect to pay.

Most dental disease is entirely preventable, that's probably why.

Also it is priced very fairly. To do a one surface filling on the nhs I make about £2. Your dentist does not get what you pay. Or for example if you get a crown on the nhs, gross pay is about £130, minus £60 for lab fees is £70, boss takes 50% for materials leaving me with £35. I then pay tax on that which leaves me roughly £25. This is of course referring to Scotland. The English/UDA system is even worse.

 

[welsh dragon]

While i agree with you on the point of most dentsl diseases being preventable, a lot of things ie accidents, cosmetic surgery etc is also prevenrable. People have boob jobs on the nhs simply to boost confidence, yet they aren't charged. Also people do find it difficult to find nhs dentists in certain areas. I do think there is a case for dentists to be paid a wage just like Dr's are regardless of the cost of the treatment and I dont understand why things are different from them than doctor's. Maybe there is a good reason but I can't see it.

 

[Leaway2]

Most dental disease is entirely preventable, that's probably why.

Also it is priced very fairly. To do a one surface filling on the nhs I make about £2. Your dentist does not get what you pay. Or for example if you get a crown on the nhs, gross pay is about £130, minus £60 for lab fees is £70, boss takes 50% for materials leaving me with £35. I then pay tax on that which leaves me roughly £25. This is of course referring to Scotland. The English/UDA system is even worse.

Sport injuries, are also treated but "may" be considered preventable, injuries caused by foolish behaviour. Some people may even claim that cycling injuries fall into this category
I have no problem with the costs, which may be fair, but I refer to my false leg statement. Dentistry is either NHS or not.

 

[lesley_x]

Sport injuries, are also treated but "may" be considered preventable, injuries caused by foolish behaviour. Some people may even claim that cycling injuries fall into this category
I have no problem with the costs, which may be fair, but I refer to my false leg statement. Dentistry is either NHS or not.

Sports injuries are accidents, not quite the same.

Dental disease is more like something caused by smoking, alcohol or poor diet, or obesity... Say, heart disease, lung disease etc. The difference is that no one's really going to die if they can't afford dental treatment. If the NHS put a price on treatment that is entirely 'self inflicted', people would drop like flies, they wouldn't be able to afford it. There would be outrage. Imagine someone rocks up needing a bypass due to 50 years of wilful neglect of their body and is told... You'll need to pay £10,000 for your operation. Most of the population could not pay that. But someone comes in to me needing a filling, we charge them a fiver. Big difference.

Dental disease is not (generally) life threatening in the same way systemic diseases are. For most people it can be prevented entirely by brushing your teeth and consuming less sugar. The NHS pays 20% of all your already low costs. I think it's a fair deal, personally. I'd rather pay a small amount for my dental work than covering costs of someone else who wilfully neglects their oral health through taxes. The cost to the NHS if they covered everything would be unthinkable.

It does, however, infuriate me that I have to pay privately for my medication for autoimmune disease (£32 pm + doctors fees!) when those with addictions to drugs/alcohol get it in far higher doses for free...

 

[Leaway2]

Sports injuries are accidents, not quite the same.

Dental disease is more like something caused by smoking, alcohol or poor diet, or obesity... Say, heart disease, lung disease etc. The difference is that no one's really going to die if they can't afford dental treatment. If the NHS put a price on treatment that is entirely 'self inflicted', people would drop like flies, they wouldn't be able to afford it. There would be outrage. Imagine someone rocks up needing a bypass due to 50 years of wilful neglect of their body and is told... You'll need to pay £10,000 for your operation. Most of the population could not pay that. But someone comes in to me needing a filling, we charge them a fiver. Big difference.

Dental disease is not (generally) life threatening in the same way systemic diseases are. For most people it can be prevented entirely by brushing your teeth and consuming less sugar. The NHS pays 20% of all your already low costs. I think it's a fair deal, personally. I'd rather pay a small amount for my dental work than covering costs of someone else who wilfully neglects their oral health through taxes. The cost to the NHS if they covered everything would be unthinkable.

It does, however, infuriate me that I have to pay privately for my medication for autoimmune disease (£32 pm + doctors fees!) when those with addictions to drugs/alcohol get it in far higher doses for free...

You pick the life threatening diseases and compare them to dental problems. No one would disagree. There are however many other less serious problems that are treated on the HNS.
The poster above had a tooth knocked out in an accident as example.
Many people would argue that it is your choice to play football. If you break your leg its your fault.

 

[Andrew_P]

You don't see many poor Dentists though, so a bit shocked at the £2 profit on a surface filling, how many of those in an hour? Not much more than minimum wage?

 

[vickster]

There are however many other less serious problems that are treated on the HNS.
The poster above had a tooth knocked out in an accident as example.

Like? Manflu?

Much of the population get free NHS dental care.

 

[Leaway2]

Like? Manflu?

Much of the population get free NHS dental care.

Manflu is life threatening, my GF's if she does not look after me, make broth, sing soft kitty etc.

Vickster, I am an old socialist who believes passionately in the NHS and a health care for all.