nhs dentists

[mollykins]

How come you sometime have to pay for stuff, even if you see a nhs dentist?

Is it like when you go to a doctors, you don't pay for the consultation but you have to pay for the prescription, and the dentist charges you for the chemicals etc they use? That's the only thing I can think of.

[craft1948]

Well if you have crowns, bridges, or dentures etc someone has to pay the dental laboratory for making them.....the dentist doesn't make them himself.

[ayabrea38]

The dental system is like the doctors,they claim a certain amount for the work they do.If the patient pays,they pay a percentage of what the actual work would cost,if you don't have to pay anything at all,the dentist claims that as well as the standard NHS cost.They pay their lab bills separately and the materials they use.
Now if the dentist chooses to be a cheapo and use the cheapest of everything,they still claim the same amount as if they used the best.
They also get paid for however many patients they have,regardless of if they see the patient that year.So long as the patient is registered to them,its money in the bank!
Also they get a set fee per child,again,regardless of if they see the child.
So the dentist may not actually make the dentures themselves,but they are responsible for paying the lab.
Loads of paperwork from what I remember.
And as you can tell,it scarred me for life!

[bednobs]

it's to do witht he way that NHS dental and GP contracts work.
Unless you are exempt, you ALWAYS have to pay for NHS dental treatment.

[annie0000]

Actually I do pay for the doctor as I pay taxes, I just don't pay at the point of delivery. People think that the NHS is free, it's not, all tax payers pay for it, it's just free at the point of delivery, there is a difference.

Dentists operate slightly differently so as an NHS patient, you pay a small amount towards the treatment you receive when you receive it and the maximum cost is capped.

[chrissa1]

There are no NHS places at dentists where I live. I've just paid:-

£42.00 for a checkup.
£41.00 for an extraction.
£36.35 for a Hygiene Visit x2
£97.00 for a double filling - icludig the cement and the amalgam.

[boxtops]

It's all paid for in one way or another, from people's National Insurance contributions!

[anagram]

I was happy with my dentist but unfortunately can no longer afford private dental care. Luckily I was able to find an NHS dentist locally
"£42.00 for a checkup." as chrissa1 pays has now been reduced to £16.50.

[annie0000]

I got a bill for £10.40 for a check-up scale and polish.

[anagram]

Wow annie0000, whereabouts are you? We'll all come there for our dental care!

[chrissa1]

You must be a lucky NHS patient annie.

[annie0000]

I am a lucky NHS patient and in Scotland. To be fair, I didn't go to the dentist for over 20 years as I had a bad phobia. When I went back I needed 1 filling!

[anagram]

The cost is often more painful than the treatment.
Good luck next week pinkilady.