*****nhs dentist******

[kittykat1980]

I went to the dentist today because i had toothache, and the dentist recommended that i might need root canal treatment:
To have root canal treatment it would cost 44.00 under the NHS
To have root canal treatment privately with the same dentist 220.00
I asked the dentist what the difference was he told me "If the treatment was done under the NHS then he could not do a good job because he HAS to use old fashioned equipment" but if i paid privately then he could do a brilliant job and use up to date equipment.... Does this sound right because im confused????

[MrXLA]

Okay Kittykat1980 a very confusing subject, simple answer is both yes and no.
Technically if you are an NHS patient and being treated as such then only the NHS patient charges should apply to you unless an additional private treatment is being provided e.g. tooth whitening.

However due to the new way in which dentists are paid they will often 'dip out' when providing root canal treatment since it is a lengthy and complex procedure.
When a dentist does a 'band 2' course of treatment (which root canal treatment is) they are credited with 3 units of dental activity towards their contract.
Unfortunately a band 2 course can be a simple single filling or ten fillings and three root fillings etc.
Therefore its difficult for many to justify (or afford!) the use of new high tech rotary endodontic instruments (which are single use disposable) on the NHS.

[MrXLA]

Another example would be a dentist working in practice who has oral surgery experience and therefore is confident in removing lower impacted wisdom teeth in practice (where appropriate).
He/she will doubtless have colleauges who do not have the relevant experience and who refer all oral surgey into hospital .
Since oral surgery can be time consuming it does not usually pay very well in the NHS (since it is all under the band 2 umbrella).
Therefore such practioners may choose to only provide elective minor oral surgery on a private basis.
I'm unsure as to whether this would be frowned upon by the NHS contract providers, however why should a professional healthcare provider be 'penalised'for being able to do something that his/her coleagues cannot?? It doesn't make alot of sense!!!