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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Dentist

23 replies

KatieWatie · 15/03/2011 09:49

This is going to sound a bit mercenary but I am sure I read somewhere once that dental treatment was free for pregnant people. How do I go about getting it?

I've got my 6-month check-up on 25th March and it'll only be £18 or so but I'd prefer to spend this on babygrows rather than a 2-minute click around my mouth with a spatula, really.

Do I just tell them at the dental reception, or do I have to do it through my doctors, or what? I've only filled in one form and that was for free prescriptions and they've never asked me who my dentist is.

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GeorginaI · 15/03/2011 10:27

Hey! The Maternity Exemption certificate, which is presumably the form you completed to get free prescriptions (did you get sent a card after you sent off your form, called 'NHS Prescription Charge Certificate'?) also entitles you to free NHS dental care while you are pregnant and for a year after the baby is born.

stegasaurus · 15/03/2011 10:31

I asked this question on here the other day. I asked at the dr surgery but they gave me the free prescription form and said they didn't know if it covered dentists too. I asked when I rang the dentist to make an appointment and the receptionist said just to tell them when I go for the appointment and they will make a note on my file. Apparently you don't need an official form or anything to prove you are pregnant (though I am 33 weeks so it is fairly obvious!). She could have told me wrong information though so maybe ring your dental surgery and ask them in case they have a different policy. I might take my hand-held notes along just in case they do ask for something to prove I am pregnant and when the baby is due.

Original poster

KatieWatie · 15/03/2011 10:39

Hi Georgina,
Thanks! Maybe I'm jumping the gun then, I haven't been sent the certificate/card yet.
Do I just take it to the dentist with me?

OP posts:

humanfraggle · 15/03/2011 10:39

I just showed the receptionist my NHS Expemtion card.

Most things are free - check-ups, fillings, etc are covered, but any 'out of the ordinary' work isn't - i.e. bridges, etc

Original poster

KatieWatie · 15/03/2011 10:41

Ah ok thanks Stegasaurus. The further along I get, the more disorganised everything seems to be.

What's to stop people just saying they're pregnant to get free treatment I wonder!

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Original poster

KatieWatie · 15/03/2011 10:43

I only handed in the form last Wednesday so maybe I'll get the certificate this week

When I read it it didn't say anything about dental treatment though...

OP posts:

WYorksLass · 15/03/2011 11:22

I received my maternity exemption card/certificate this week and the letter that came with it said it also covers dental treatment.

It hadn't arrived by the time i went to the dentist last week but i mentioned i was waiting for it and they were fine about it.

GeorginaI · 15/03/2011 14:02

I haven't been for a dental appt yet - although one is long overdue! - but as far as I know you just show them it once you're there. And it takes a couple of weeks for you to receive your card once you've sent off the form : )

ecuse · 15/03/2011 14:05

My dentist asked to see proof - it's the NHS prescription charge exemption card.

jasmine51 · 15/03/2011 20:06

Yes it is free and has been wonderful - Waited for over 6 years to save for a crown (£565 privately). Got pregnant - 1st apt got free crown yay, more ££ to spend on buggy!

freelancegirl · 16/03/2011 08:53

Jasmine that's so good you got the crown free! I went with my Exemption Cert and they said I need 3 fillings and it's going to cost me around £250. Only the consultation was free. Maybe I am going to the wrong dentist...?

onadietcokebreak · 16/03/2011 09:31

www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/Healthcosts/pages/Dentalcosts.aspx

All work is free. Freelance I think you need to speak to your dental practice and find out what they are doing charging you.

onadietcokebreak · 16/03/2011 09:31

Freelance is yours a private dentist?

nomoreheels · 16/03/2011 11:08

Only silver fillings are free. Sounds like you are being charged for white ones.

freelancegirl · 16/03/2011 11:35

Yeah they said that can't do silver fillings for free when pregnant so have to either put temp ones in and do silver ones after birth or put white ones in.

That's a really interesting link dietcokebreak. Maybe the dentist's didn't get it right with me and I should go see another one...?

jasmine51 · 17/03/2011 15:54

I think thats correct freelance - they dont do the silver fillings when you are pg because of the mercury content. White ones are not free even after birth but the silver ones are.
They also wont do xrays when pg and some wont give any anathestics (oowww)

pettyprudence · 17/03/2011 16:43

i've had a silver filling during pregnancy. also didn't have to show my exemption card (which is lucky as I don't think I have filled out an application form!) just ticked the box on the form and it was all free!

Was gutted though because I thought it extended to eyecare too but apparently not :(

jasmine51 · 17/03/2011 17:21

Yeah I thought there were free eye tests too, why is that? were they once? and chiropody?

nomoreheels · 17/03/2011 17:25

I had a root canal the other week & X-rays were needed - my dentist said it was safer to do X-rays after 1st trimester & it's at dentist's discretion. If you are in agonising pain (as I was) then they should treat accordingly. Novocaine shpuld be offeref.

However they prefer pregnant women to wait for treatment if they can as a rule.

I researched X-rays & it seems you'd have to have loads of dental X-rays at once to cause any harm, but 1-2 X-rays has a very low amount of radiation. Plus it's not near your bump.

Grumpystiltskin · 18/03/2011 21:37

nomoreheels is right, we prefer to defer treatment wherever possible but it's better to treat pregnant ladies ASAP if they are in pain or at risk of infection. All dental materials are safe during pregnancy including the silver fillings. There is just one anaesthetic that carries a vvvsmall risk of inducing labour. I have never used that anaesthetic on anyone ever and I don't even think we hold it in the practice but we wouldn't use it on a mum to be in any case.

You need to check with your dentist freelance it sounds to me like they are pulling a fast one. Remember you're exempt for a year after giving birth as well so if they are that concerned, you can defer it until after baby is born? As long as you're not in pain that is. Unless you want white fillings in which case it sounds right.

Hope that helps, I've had 3 G&Ts so maybe not coherent.

freelancegirl · 18/03/2011 23:06

Grumpystiltskin Does that mean you are a dentist? Yes the price was for white ones but they told me they couldn't do silver ones on pregnant women. I guess I would prefer white ones anyway but the quote was around £230 I think (for 2) which felt like quite a lot.

Maybe I should get a quote from another surgery. Not sure whether it works like that with dentist though!

Grumpystiltskin · 19/03/2011 09:11

Yes I am a dentist, the trouble is you will probably have to pay for a new check up as well if you go for a second opinion!

White fillings are difficult to do correctly and the materilas used are very expensive, they aren't simply silver fillings that are white IYSWIM. The technique for placing them is different and takes much longer.

I haven't done private work for about 5 years but when I did, I charged £80-115 for white fillingsd depending on how many sides of the tooth needed filling, the more sides = more difficult generally so it does sound like a reasonable quote but I understand it sounds expensive.

stegasaurus · 19/03/2011 11:12

On Thursday the dentist told me he would do a temporary filling and I would have to go back in 6 months and have injections and have it done in a more permament way after the baby is born. So now I've got that to look forward to for 6 months! He didn't explain why he couldn't do the whole thing then, but I didn't argue as I didn't really want any injections etc anyway. The temporary filling was horrible enough.
I didn't have to show anything to prove I was eligible for free dental treatment. The receptionist just asked if I pay for my treatment and I said not at the moment because I'm pregnant. She just ticked a box on the form and wrote down the due date. I am 33 weeks though so it is obvious that I am pregnant. I don't know if they would want more proof from women who are not obviously pregnant or if they just take their word for it.

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