Totally confused with NHS dental costs....?

A few months ago (as an NHS patient) I had an extremely bad toothache. I had an emergency appointment which cost £15.90 which included x-rays (no treatment given). I was then given another appointment for root canal work two days later at a cost of £175.00. I was in so much pain, that I paid it plus £43.60 for the filling and three tiny fillings where the gums had receded. I was then told (after the root canal work) that the tooth was a bit loose and would probably come out if a crown was not fitted. This I declined at a cost of £195.00. My husband, also an NHS patient but at a different dental surgery, complained of toothache and went to his dentist. After paying £15.90 with x-rays he was told that he needed root canal work for the bad tooth. He has not long come home and I was dreading what the cost had been. He had only paid another £27.00 for the root canal (with filling)!! Was I totally ripped off and can I claim any monies back? Thanks.

Totally confused with NHS dental costs....?
Sounds to me as though the Root Treatment was carried out privately as on the NHS it would only cost you £43.60.


Dental charges from April 1st 2007 are as follows





£15.90- Standard nhs check up, which includes any Xrays needed and a scale/polish which is now only carried out at the discretion of the dentist.


This course of treatment falls under Band 1.


£43.60- All nhs fillings, Root Canals, Extractions, this fee also includes the above fee and this course of treatment falls under Band 2.


£194- Crowns, Dentures, Bridges, this fee includes BOTH of the above fees and this course of treatment falls under Band 3.


As I've already said if you were to have root treatment and a crown on the nhs it would cost you in total £194, as you have paid in total £218 this makes me think it was done under a private contract, in which case you should have been informed of this before the treatment was carried out.


As for the loose tooth coming out if a crown is not fitted, again I'm a bit wary, if a tooth is loose crowning it will not stop it from coming out.


The dentist should assess just how loose it is and how long he/she thinks it will remain there, if the long term out look is not good, the ultimate decision is yours as it's you who will be paying for something that might not be there for long.


If you still feel unhappy with what you have paid out for ask to speak to the practice manager and have him/her explain to you exactly what the dental charges are, if you dont get a satisfactory explination contact your local primary care trust and explain the situation to them and they should step in and be able to help.


Hope this has been of some help
Reply:To an American, who would typically pay triple that, you were not ripped off. Our health care system is horrible though. I pay $450.00 through my employer to cover my husband. my son, and myself, and I have copays, deductibles, and it's HMO, which means I have to pay to see doctors that work for the Health Insurance companies just so they can deny me treatment or prescriptions. Basically, you got a smokin' deal asnd long as the service worked.
Reply:NHS costs are standard and not set by each individual dentist ie I charge the same as an NHS dentist anywhere else in the country. Private charges are set by each individual dentist and can be what they wish.





You are entitled to an NHS estimate form called a GP17dc which should itemise your treatment and its cost.
Reply:As a private dental patient in the UK it seems to me that you have paid private prices for the root canal work. I'd also be suspicious about the price for the crown, although privately crowns cost hundreds (a friend has been quoted £400 for a back tooth). I suggest you go back to your dentist and query the charges. If you have been over-charged then you should be able the over-payment refunded.





If you are not happy with the response change your dentist if you can.
Reply:Definitely something wrong there; like others i think it seems you were charged private rates. As the American poster noted,even so the prices are cheaper than abroad--my last piece of dental work in Canada was in 1986 and it was a crown and cost the equivalent of about £200.+ even back then!
Reply:Write or 'phone your dental surgery and request a FULL price list of treatment. Hopefully you can then sort out what's been paid for. If you are still not happy, write to the Association of Dental Surgery (number in 'phone book)