To think dentists can charge what they like

[SameoldsameOldagain]

Is anybody on Denplan Care? I have tried to sign up to it, and have been put on the border of two categories; I am only 1 point into the higher one. There are different sections where the dentist puts a score for each thing. The section on plaque he has scored quite highly, but I don't have alot. I have also been scored quite highly for gingervitis which I don't think is as bad, and this heals. I am booked into see the hygienist who will take care of the plaque I do have, and the last time my gums were like this, it was from over brushing/flossing too hard and they healed quickly and were deemed healthy within a short space of time. I have asked if after those two things are taken care of can the dentist remove some points from those two categories and move me into the lower one, and then I will sign up. He has said no, because I have crowns, and high risk of getting plaque around them etc. The chart is what you have now, I don't understand how they can do that, and mark you for gingervitia indefinitely that can go away. I could, i and only 1 point over. Is it right that i should be marked this, even when it goes away? Anybody have any experience of this? It is so confusing!

I have been crying, and so upset, because I have had nothing but problems with dentists charging a fortune, and finally thought I had found a good one! I have always taken care of my teeth, but have been unlucky with other factors.

Of course they can. My sister works in the profession and the dentists are very wealthy.

Those plans are a bit of a scam anyway. It’s not like a healthcare insurance policy where you pay a monthly premium and then if you need eg cancer treatment or an operation, it’s covered. The cost a fortune and cover a small percentage of the cost of any treatment you need.

I sometimes don't think they realise how devastating it can be for the patient, who has to fork out all of this money. However, the categories thing seems wrong to me, who do I query this with? I really want to join, but believe once I take care of these issues they should be able to put me in the category down; at this point I would sign up.

No, I think you're thinking of Denplan Essentials. This one is Denplan Care; it covers all treatment apart from lab fees.

Of course private dentists can, the same as any other profession.

Does denplan not have set rules though? How can they mark the categories different to what they should? I don't understand.

Nobody wants to work at a loss: if the dentist thinks you’re more likely to require more treatment at a higher value, then of course they’re going to want to put you onto a higher cost plan. If they felt sorry for all the customers who were devastated at having to pay so much and gave them plans which didn’t cover the treatment they’d likely need, they’d eventually go out of business.

Can you not just go to the hygienist? Our dentist has a separate hygienist, paid separately £40 a session, usually 3x year.

Yes they can, they're private businesses. Working as a dentist is actually quite pricey when you factor in all of the liability insurances, on going training and the fact some goes into the clinic itself for running costs. Insurance companies, of which Denplan is, are notoriously wriggly to try and avoid paying out. Can you find a different dentist? We have several here, all vary quite wildly in prices and plans.

Yes, I understand this, but he has selected the correct categories for the other things I have had done, they are in separate sub categories, have already been allocated points to identify risk. Gingervitis is a separate category, and so is plaque. When either one of those is taken care of, my points would lower . They add all of the points given for each of these little sub categories at the end, this total tells you what main category you are in. I am 1 point ove in the main category (think category 90-150, and I am 91. Surely this cannot be right? How can they say it won't lower if you don't have the level on those two subcategories?

Nobody else does denplan care, just pointless denplan essentials. The dentist I was going was great, but top expense, and too far away. It is frustrating.

This is just how insurance works: it looks at current risk, not what the risk might be if certain factors were different. Have the issues the dentist has identified as putting you just into the higher category addressed now, then you can be reassessed for the dental plan.

Yes I can, I am doing this. I have booked in to see the hygienist so they can then deem me orally fit to join the plan. I wanted the insurance because I have had work done which I want to safeguard.

I just don't understand how they can still say that they will keep the score for plaque you don't have, or gingervitis when it will be healed and is only mild at present.

Yes exactly. I am literally one point into the higher category. I am going to have any plaque I do have taken care of (can't see much at all), and the mild gingervitis taken care of, and heal etc. They are saying even when this has happened the points in those two sub categories will remain the same. Surely they can't do that. They have rightly rated me high in some of the other areas, bit now can they something you don't have, when you have had it taken care of?