To think that this private dentist should have made me aware! Bit long Sorry

[cuteboots]

Ok so over the weekend massive amounts of pain with my back tooth to the point where I had to go to the dentist today. This particular dentist I used to go to about 3 years ago but had a denplan scheme. So anyway in I trot they asked me to fill out a form as I havent been for awhile. No further questions asked about payment and before I know it 2 of them are carrying out the and root canal filling. Upon strolling down to reception I get hit with a bill for £417!! Part of me thinks I should have asked but was in so much pain it just didnt enter my head and part of me thinks they should have done the bloody work without checking!! Your thoughts please?

spuddy that was wrong surgical extractions with stitches have always been part of NHS and still are

if you offer NHS dentistry at all ( and of course you do not have to) you have to offer the whole range of treatments it is illegal to say I do extractions and dentures on NHS but crowns and root fillings are private and that is still true in all 4 parts of UK
, also you can not mix private and NHS treatment on same tooth ie NHS root canal but private white crown on top if patient wants private white filling on top root canal would have to be private too or filling above to remain NHS would have to be NHS too
an NHS extraction that requires stitches or some bone removal is more expensive than simple extraction on NHS ( apart from england which has band system)

I worked in scotland before ML so not so sure of english rules in all cases but i do know for sure that the dentist can not start doing NHS treatment and because it gets complex decide its private

sarah-yes you can mix nhs and private, ie- have an nhs root filling and a private crown. 3 of my patients are coming in tomorrow to have private crowns put on nhs root filled teeth.

It sounds about right tbh for a private dentist.

I think Sarah might mean you can't have both at the same appointment?

I have always had white fillings - which i thought were private - on NHS root canals. I am very confused about dentistry.

I have been caught out before when going for a check up, and the dentist says 'shall i give them a clean?' which i say yes to thinking you got a clean on the NHS. Then asked to pay for a private clean when i go to reception.

My dentist did root canal work on me as an emergency just before Xmas the year before last. When I went back to have the second lot three weeks later he informed me the tooth had cracked beyond repair and whipped it out there and then. He then presented me with a bill for £600 - £300 for the RC work and £300 for extraction!

The pain of seeing the bill as bad as the work done!

the cost of private dentistry is shocking! Are there any NHS practices near where you all live or work?? I would pass out if I was presented with a bill of £300 for an extraction..

Complain!

I have a story that might make you feel like you are not the only one that's been taken advantage of. Quite a few years ago - and not the dentist I'm with now - I needed a filling. Was quite scared about going to the dentist, and the dentist knew this which maybe explains why he was able to get away with the the following ruse - I needed a filling and was offered a choice of a standard filling at £40 or a super duper filling (still silver) that used a super strong adhesive that meant this filling would never fall out. I fell for the blarney and paid....£250. To this day I can't believe I was such a fool.

RichPetunia that would be a bonded amalgam, not generally available on the NHS IME and under some circumstances the last chance a tooth has of having a filling. Not a con, just different treatment. Has it fallen out?

Sarah mixing is now allowed in England. rhondajean Under the old regulations if you were to have a tooth treated, the treatment had to be either all private or all NHS. Now you can pick & mix. I would personally rather pay for RCT than the crown if it was on a molar because I think the money would be better spent! Maybe that's just the standard of RCT I see at the OOH clinic I work at!!

OP, I would definitely advise that you write to the practice. If you go to the complaints service without exhausting the in house complaints procedure, they will almost certainly refer you back to the practice.

Confused about the reference to Denplan? If you are still paying for Denplan why didn't it cover some of the treatment? Did you stop paying? And you have my sympathy for the pain, I had the same six months ago and was necking painkillers like there was no tomorrow. The sweet relief when it was fixed! And only £1100.

Grumpy I did say was a bit rusty about english regulations; but you were not allowed to mix, still can not in scotland

I think with Denplan you are still supposed to see dentist regularly you can not just keep paying and turn up 3 years later with loads of stuff to be done, it is in the agreement somewhere that you pay x amount but you must go for regular maintenace, as check ups scales etc are included in denplan bot ssure why you had not been

also strongly advise yuo follow Grumpy advise and wriyte to practice as generally I do not think GDC are that happy with being first port of call for complaints unless very serious like assault, also it will be much faster,

if you aare definitely an NHS patient everything should be NHS unless you are told very precisely in advance that it is not, sometimes this is a chairside discussion as if you are removing decay and it is much deeper and goes to nerve so not just a filling I would stop and say so saying this will not be a straightforward filling the decay is too deep, you will need root canal in order to save tooth, in most cases that would been a temporary filling and then another appointment later to do RC. but like any other area sometimes the initial treatment plan has to be changed as it is no longer feasible once treatment starts

Grumpy am I right in saying though in England you still can not say to a NHS patient oh we don't do RCT or whatever on the NHS that you have to offer all NHS treatment that is necessary ( not cosmetic stuff)?

That does sound a lot for one root canal - I'd ask for a breakdown of the costs.

However, you have been saved an extraction. Sounds like nothing when you're fairly young, and it's only a back tooth, but every extracted tooth causes problems as you'll have an unopposed tooth opposite which will start to grow into the space. Believe me, every tooth saved early on is an investment worth every penny.

In about 30 years time you might be glad that tooth is still there to secure a bridge or denture!

(I speak from long and painful ongoing experience!:()

Spuddybean

You were robbed! NHS dentists can not remove the tooth on the NHS & stitch you up privately. The whole procedure would have come under the heading of a surgical extraction (on the NHS that includes stitches if necc) My thinking is, that they charged you for the root canal that they started too. Even tho 300 pounds is well over NHS root canal prices.

Bastards! (And that comes from a dental nurse!)

They waived the fee in the end I am glad they did, the reason they wanted it in cash was because they knew they were robbing you. That way (paying cash) you had no come back, i.e. couldn't cancel the cheque/transaction, complain to visa etc.

op did you find out what is was you signed whilst all bleary eyed and in pain?

I know Sarah, I thought I remembered you were in Scotland? You can't say that in most instances unless the RCT is complex, (retreat, perforations, curved roots etc) when you can self refer privately if you don't hold an extended contract (think dwsi) or you can out refer to private specialist.

I think if they were not upfront about the costs, it's only reasonable for you to be able to pay in instalments.

I am looking for a new dentist as trusted old one gone back to Germany.
I am getting scared. Dentistry seem such a matter of opinion [diagnosis/treatment/ cost] I shall find it hard to trust another dentist.My old dentist gave me my old notes [last 10 years] and 2x lots of xray [covering 4 years] - should I give these to new dentist before appointment [got one in mind poor thing!]. Should I give note outlining fears so I don't jabber on at appointment? [eg fear of jabby thing, stained areas on teeth that look dodgy but touch wood stable- always looked dodgy. Real fear there as young dentist 20 years ago jabbed at them ferociously and said I needed 3x fillings. Cried in chair as he was so rough and later cancelled appt and went to another dentist. 20 years later- those teeth 'on watch' but no fillings].
Sorry to go on!!!