Dentists - how much?

[Hulababy]

We don't have a dentist yet. Moved here in September. DH knows of a dentist - a client - who does private appointments only, including for children, and he has made our first appointment with them. think it is in March.

Dh says it will be £120 for the 3 of us, including x-ray and teeth being cleaned, for this first appointment. Not sure if that is a one off and it will be different (i,e, more expensive) thereafter. This seems very reasonable for private to me; was expecting much more.

We haven't been to the dentist for 3 or 4 years now. No NHS dentists available before and always thought private would be really expensive. DD did have a dentist luckily as we got her into our local one, so she has been but not for a year. Bad mummy I know.

So, how much should we expect to pay for normal, regular dental work do you think?

our dentist list is:

£65 for new patient examination
£26 examination
£45 examination with dentist scaling
£90 out of hours appt
£95 emergency treatment
£65 for filling
£42 hygienist appt
£82+ white fillings
£195 root canals
£358 crowns

Thought kids were normally done as NHS rather than private although perhaps ours is different as she still has some NHS patients. We pay for Denplan which covers checkups, non-cosmetic work (fillings,scaling,wisdom teeth removal, xrays etc ), hygienist visits as often as needs be, emergency cover abroad etc. Approx £14 a month each for dh and I , on scale based upon initial assessment of the condition of our teeth. So £120 sounds reasonable as a one off but be prepared for them recommending more work.

Thanks for that.

Was going to enquire about some form of monthly plan.

DH did ask about NHS for DD, but it doesn't seem that is available here. Oh well. We have very little choice as there are no NHS dentists taking on patients anywhere near us!

our local denist who went private in May

£50 for new patient examination
£38 examination
£35 scale and polish
£45 emergency treatment
£45 - 75 filling
£60 - 90 white fillings
£120+ root canals
£300+ crowns

These lists of costs are excellent thanks Gives me a much better idea of what to expect. I am sure I will need extra treatment. Since having DD my gums bleed, although no infection there when checked. I know they will investigate further though.

i think the costs can be really variable in the private sector. at my last dentist, a check up was £30 (3 years ago) and I ended up paying over £1000 for 8 lots of treatment (root canal, crown, three lots of under the gum cleaning - really was as nice as it sounds). My current dentist sees some NHS and some private. My private check ups with him are £28, and I don't pay any more for a clean with the hygenist. Also was most impressed when needed anti-biotics for infection and they cost £6!.
So, depends methinks.
Also, personal irritant of mine: when you ring the dentist and say: my filling has fallen out and I need a new one. They book you in. You go to the appointment and discover it's a 15 minute, £30 session for the dentist to look into your mouth and say 'You need a replacement filling. Book an hour appointment'. I think that's not on and blatant profiteering. And it stinks when you're in pain. Personal rant over.

My gum bleed freely too, and my teeth are awkward spaced so have problems flossing. Now going to hygienist every 3 months so think I get my money's worth based on these costs!

If a dentist is private they don't have an nhs contract and therefore don't see anyone under the nhs. A dentist (currently) can choose how they work (ranging from 100% nhs to seeing selected groups under the nhs (those on benefits and children - occ pregnant/nursing mothers ie with children under a year old) to 100% private - and varying degrees inbetween). The prices on the nhs are fixed, whereas a private dentist "creates" his/her own price list and there is a huge variation in these. One word of advice, if going private get a written and dual signed (ie by you and the dentist) quote prior to embarking on a course of treatment. That way you know exactly what you are going to pay and they can't ask you for any more at the end (without having informed you of an increase during the course of treatment.)

Thanks chicagomum - good idea; will try and remember that.

Liz - I also struggle to use floss. Some of the tapes are okay, but mostly it gets stuck. Looks like the hygienist will be seeing me lots then!

ANother word of advice, most monthly plans are based on an initial assesment to determine your monthly payements (based oncondition of your mouth number of fillings crowns etc and condition of your gums) but also may need you to be "dentally fit" before you can sign up (that means you have to pay out of your own pocket to replace any fillings that need doing any new fills etc etc before you can join up).

this has just reminded me - DP needs to find a dentist. He has a huge hole and a crack in his tooth. And we have no money! Hope dentists accept credit cards..........................

Obviously it really depends on the area but we have found every dentist we have asked is willing to take the kids on as NHS patients if we sign up as private/Denplan patients. Might be worth having a ring round.