My Dentist the Friendly Assassin

[Thomk]

I had a very interesting conversation with my dentist today. To cut a long story short he insists that teeth cleaning should come under Band 2 in the scale of NHS dental charges and not Band 1. When I told him that £48 was not affordable for me and I would be prepared to have them cleaned under band 1 (£17.50) he said that they had 2 different types of clean and that I should have band 2 (deeper and under the gums no less) and that he did not think band 1 cleaning was required. In fact he refused to do cleaning and polishing under Band 1.

The truth is that they always charge £48 at that surgery as far as I can tell and never do cleaning/scaling/polishing under band 1.
BTW I have no issues with my teeth which are healthy and well cleaned, this is a purely prophylactic measure which the surgery INSISTS upon before considering other treatments.

Any dentists out there who can shed some light on this? Is he acting fairly or tinkering at the edges of legality.

This is what Band 1 should cover:

• Band 1 course of treatment – £17.50 This covers an examination, diagnosis (including X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if needed, and application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant.

• If your dentist recommends a scale and polish, it should be provided under the NHS (Band 1, £17.50), whether it is done by a dentist or a hygienist. If your dentist says a scale and polish is not clinically necessary but you want one anyway, you will have to pay to have it privately. An NHS scale and polish should be carried out as thoroughly as a private one.

 

[Archie_tect]

[scurries off to check receipts...]

 

[fossyant]

Never need mine doing, nor does my dentist insist. He's obviously down on targets.

 

[gavintc]

I think you will find the price of lift tickets in the 3 valleys has gone up this year - he does need to cover his essential expenses. £48 is so much nicer a figure than a mere £17.50.

 

[Beebo]

I go private, a clean and polish is only £35. Fillings cost £95 though.

I have the deep clean under the gums with an ultra sonic tool, it bloody hurts!

 

[2Loose]

I tend to have my gums scraped out (for want of a better phrase) by the hygenist when I go in to the usual dentist for a normal checkup, which means that both treatments count as one visit costing £48. Much more bearable than two seperate visits costing 48+17.

 

[DiddlyDodds]

When in was with the NHS dentist it was ever cpl of years they would do the scale and polish thing , now i have a private dentist (through work) they say i need it ever 6 months at £38.00 each time on top of the £68.00 for the check up.

 

[martint235]

My old NHS dentist used to insist on me visiting a hygienist in his practice every 3 months at a cost of £35. If I didn't agree to do this, I was told I'd be taken off his lists. I told him he didn't need to bother as I'd be leaving. I also mentioned I personally know the Chief Dental Officer (well I taught him how to use his laptop anyway!). Hasn't made a bit of difference, he's still ripping patients off.

My new dentist sticks rigourously to the NHS payment structure.

 

[snorri]

My NHS dentist has never mentioned cleaning or polishing when I go to see him for my annual check. He did suggest a few years ago that I might like to go Private, this would enable him to spend much more time on my case. I said I was quite happy with the present service and he has never mentioned it again.

 

[Maz]

I think I paid £30-something for my last clean and polish from the hygienist. I sometimes phone to cancel my appointment and they normally ask why. I tell them I can't afford it.

 

[mark st1]

My dentist wears a stetson a leather waistcoat chaps and has spurs on his boots. He ties his stallion up outside the surgery next to all the others out there. Crooks the lot of them.

 

[postman]

I left a private dentist because i could not afford the costs.He tried to get me to fix one tooth for a cost of over £250 crown work if i remember.I told him my postmans wage was just a bit more than that.So pull it out.
It was from here that i got a lead into a NHS practise.I forget (sorry)who it was,but you have saved me loads of money.

 

[Amack]

My dentist wears a stetson a leather waistcoat chaps and has spurs on his boots. He ties his stallion up outside the surgery next to all the others out there. Crooks the lot of them.

I think you've got your costumes mixed up there!

 

[Maz]

My dentist wears a stetson a leather waistcoat chaps and has spurs on his boots. He ties his stallion up outside the surgery next to all the others out there. Crooks the lot of them.

Is that you in the chair?

 

[MossCommuter]

I fell for this over a number of years when I moved to NHS from private; each bi annual visit to the dentist was followed by a visit to the hygienist. After a few times I made a quip that this NHS treatment was dearer than my old private insurance and was told " oh, I'm not NHS, I am private". On the subsequent visit to the dentist when she said to follow up with the hygienist I asked if in the dentist's opinion I needed the cleaning and was told, 'yes'. 'In that case then it's covered in the band 1 charge isn't it?'

The dentist has done it ever since.

It's a scam!