Dental charge

[notoripofff]

Son (10) sees NHS dentist. An NHS orthodontist wrote to dentist saying he needed teeth/gums cleaned before any work for braces could be carried out. Dentist wants to charge £35-60 for their private hygenist working in same practice. Is this right?

I think all dental hygienists are private now - certainly the one at my practice had to change, a year or two ago.

I thought cleaning i.e. scale and polish was a band 1 treatment anyway?

I have to pay for a scale and polish but it is normally about £14

Hygienists are all private (always have been) - I pay £45 for a half hour with the hygienist. However as part of your check up your dentist can do a scale and polish for free (although since the practice I go to has a hygienist I think they direct those that pay NHS charges to her), my friend who doesn't pay for her NHS work gets one at each check up, but my Dc and me never do.

If your child is having their orthodontic work done on the NHS I think that the dentist should do it.

Putting my head above the parapet here, should the orthodontist do it or the dentist? The dentist won't get paid for doing it, neither would the orthodontist. If you have to pay then I would use that as a good lesson for DS to keep things spotless (much harder and very very important when braces are on) and not need to spend the money again. Gum disease is totally preventable using good oral hygiene techniques so get your money's worth and get the hygienist to show him everything about cleaning.

The dentist does get paid or NHS dentists would be working for nothing. I believe the dentist should do it as in the past our dentists have always done the scale and polish in the banded treatment. Nowadays this seems to be palmed off to the hygenist for extra dosh. Incidently the dentist appointments as a result last under 5 minutes at a standard checkup.

I'm afraid you're wrong. The dentist will have Bern paid for doing the check up (1 UDA) he will not get any more funding for doing the clean. You can thank the government for the dental contract, not the dentist. Under the old contract, the dentist would have been paid for doing the scale and polish as well. I can't think of many professions who will do extra work for free...?

Bern=been

You are also wrong in saying gum disease is entirely preventable. Have you ever heard of the word hereditary?

Clearly got out of bed the wrong side didn't you. Even hereditary gum disease is controllable with good oral hygiene measures. I would be shocked to see periodontal disease in a 10 year old, usually early onset periodontal disease usually sets in at puberty and I would be positively gobsmacked to see this disease in someone about to embark on orthodontic treatment.

Can you tell me the difference between gum disease and periodontal disease?

Why is it that there is always someone prepared to be confrontational on topics like this? I'm only trying to help using my professional knowledge, if you'd rather I didn't then please let me know and I shall Foxtrot Oscar.

Your so called professional knowledge can't distinguish between "entirely preventable" and "controllable". Do you suggest all doctors etc... charge for any extra work they have to do with children as well, GOD help us if people like you are put in charge of the purse strings.

One last point before I let you continue with your rant. NHS dentists are self employed, they pay for everything from the rent or mortgage on the building to the tissues you wipe your nose with. Drs have their premises paid for by the NHS. Dentistry is a business, not a charity now run along and get annoyed at someone else.

On Mumsnet we can do without arrogont, obnoxious people trying to justify their so called proffesion at the expense of our children who we will protect and stand up for whatever it takes. I take it you don't get out/get invited out much.

notoripoff if anyone on thie thread is being arrogant and obnoxious, it's you, and not DentistNotHereToBeJudged who is politley explaining why the dentist has made the call he has on this issue.

You don't have to like the fee, but you don't have to be unpleasant to people who are trying to be helpful in explaining it.