shocked by dental cost with a maternity exemption

[petiteHBB]

Hi,

I went to a local private clinic two days ago as a newly registered NHS patient with a maternity exemption card. After the examination, the dentist said 4 surfaces need to be filled and asked me if I'm breastfeeding (i said yes) and which material I prefer (white composite vs silver amalgam, I said white). Then I got a treatment plan indicating that two at the front cost £170 each and two at the back £198 each, so in total £736. I'm in London zone 3 btw.

I was shocked tbh and thought nhs needs to provide white fillings to breastfeeding women? (I have no problem paying for the extra cost for the white filling at nhs rate, but this seems to be entirely private). Does anyone know how it works? and is this the price I should pay?

Thanks a lot!

I would ask them. And get them to confirm whether they’re treating you as NHS or private, it isn’t clear.

FWIW my NHS dentist said the NHS will cover white at the front, but not the back. And tbf you need amalgam at the back as is much stronger.

You need to look up NICE guidelines re breastfeeding women, I certainly had root canal and then amalgam applied whilst I was feeding so I am not sure it’s standard to use white.

That's so shocking! I can't help with the guidelines but I got two white fillings free whilst breastfeeding this year!

Also mine were at the back right next to where my wisdom teeth were (they were impacted and growing wonky which caused the decay)

Nhs is capped you are being treated privately

Here’s the rules, basically the Dentist should use white unless there is a specific reason they need to use amalgam.

faq.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/knowledgebase/article/KA-02021/en-us

yeah this sounds like private prices.

nhs costs are done in bands, and everything that is put on the treatment plan is covered, so they wouldn’t be charging per filling, if all the fillings are on the same treatment plan.

I went to a local private clinic two days ago as a newly registered NHS patient with a maternity exemption card.

Does this clinic treat patients under the NHS? Just because you have a maternity exemption card doesn’t mean any dentist will treat you if they don’t offer NHS work.

My dentist has closed its books to NHS patients so even though I have a maternity exemption certificate I still have to pay.

Adding to what NoSquirrels said, and even if this clinic does treat some NHS patients, if their NHS list is full then they will be taking any new patients on as private - so a sign saying 'we treat NHS patients' doesn't mean they are taking on new NHS patients. There is a big shortage of NHS dentistry.

are you a private patient or an NHS patient? if it is a private clinic, your NHS exemption from payment will not apply and you will need to pay private charges.
Either way your dentist absolutely should not be using amalgam while you are breastfeeding and you should be offered an alternative material. The British Dental Association gives clear guidance. bda.org/amalgam

Our dentist will take on new NHS patients but always state that the first course of treatment will be private and then NHS rates after that. Could it be that as it's your first treatment that it's private and then you'll pay NHS rates afterwards?

Many thanks for all the replies, really helpful!

@AnIckabog @Matchingcollarandcuffs @NoSquirrels @nomeslice

I was registered as a new NHS patient and have waited for 2 months for this appointment because there was a long queue for NHS patients. The dentist said only the amalgam can be covered by NHS and the white filling is private. She knew I'm breastfeeding but didn't mention that the amalgam is not given to breastfeeding women by default and it gave me the impression that I should pay because I chose to use the cosmetic filling...

Oh that's so great! Did you have to ask for the white one or they offered it after knowing you're breastfeeding? and are you also in London?

@Notthereyet90 sorry i meant to reply to you :)
Oh that's so great! Did you have to ask for the white one or they offered it after knowing you're breastfeeding? and are you also in London?

Thanks for the reply. Ah good to know, yeah i thought i was treated as a private patient.

Hmmmm that's a shame. I find it difficult to find a dental clinic which accepts new NHS patients. I've tried several and only the one i visited said they accept it. But it seems that most service is still private.

It seems so :(

I would be more understanding if they told me that.

I don't know about guidelines for breastfeeding women but last time I needed a filling my dentist (who does both private and nhs) offered me the option of silver on the NHS or white as a private option. Pretty sure it was around £70 for the white although I'm not in London.

Thanks for the useful link about the nhs regulation!

Does it mean the white filling is offered to NHS patients without additional cost when being pregnant/breastfeeding with a maternity exemption?

Also wonder if there's a difference between the white filling used by NHS and private. would it be possible that the clinic only has the "better" material?

@Matchingcollarandcuffs @nomeslice

Definitely sounds like private rather than NHS. I've had loads of fillings and bits done as an NHS patient with maternity exemption and it's all been free

Thanks for the reply. It sounds similar to what i have experienced. I'm so confused about the dental care system

Thanks for the information. Can i ask if your fillings are also white?

I had some white ones done when I was pregnant and then recently I've had some silver ones done, I'm breastfeeding and still on maternity leave and they were all free.
I even got a £300 mouth guard made.
They never said anything about white fillings having to be paid for

NHS and private practices all pretty much use the same materials.

I work in dentistry and we offer white fillings for breastfeeding mothers due to the amalgam/mercury in a silver filling.

There is absolutely no way any dentist should be filling your teeth with amalgam on the front teeth. Anything past the smile line maybe. But the front teeth are covered on the NHS by white fillings. Don't be fooled into their money making schemes that dentist has!

That's definitely clinically appropriate being your front teeth!