Transferring Dentists

[jesmond]

moved area sometime ago and as we are on yearly appointments and we liked and were used to the dentist we had, then we didn't bother changing but now dentist has retired so we may as well change to nearer home, so is it the same procedure as changing doctors that your records would be transferred to new dentist, nhs by the way

[rccatnap]

This is an extract from the Citizens Advice Bureau.
www.adviceguide.org.uk
Copyright © 2002-2012 Citizens Advice. All rights reserved
Registered charity no: 279057 Company no: 1436945 England
1
Adviceguide Advice that makes a difference
NHS dental treatment
How to find an NHS dentist
If you want NHS dental treatment, you first need to find out which dentists in your area have contracts with your local Primary Care Trust to provide NHS treatment. Then you need to find one who is accepting new patients.
You can do this by going to the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk and clicking on Dentists, or by phoning NHS Direct – see under Further help. If you can't find an NHS dentist who is accepting new patients, ask NHS Direct if there's a waiting list in your area you can go on.
You don't need to register with a dentist in order to get NHS treatment but your dentist should keep a list of regular patients and provide ongoing treatment and care.
Some dentists do have contracts to only treat children on the NHS. However, they can't insist that they'll only treat your children on the NHS if you are taken on as a private patient. Under certain circumstances, your dentist may discontinue a course of treatment. This could happen, for example, if you don't cooperate with treatment or if you fail to turn up for lots of appointments. Where violence, or the threat of violence occurs, your dentist could discontinue treatment straight away, without any advance warning.
What treatment can you get on the NHS
You’re entitled to any treatment which you need to maintain your dental health. This could include the fitting of crowns, bridges and dentures. The dentist will give you a treatment plan after your check-up if you ask for it, which will show you what you need and the cost. There are three standard charges for a course of NHS dental treatment, depending on the treatment needed. These should be displayed in your dentist's waiting room. Some things, such as denture repairs, are free.
More details about NHS dental fees are available on the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk.
Your dentist may offer to do part of the work on your treatment plan or additional treatment, privately. However, they should not pressure you into having treatment privately which is available on the NHS. If your dentist tries to do this, you should complain – see under Complaints.
Some treatment is not available on the NHS and can only be done privately, for example, white fillings in back teeth.
www.adviceguide.org.uk
Copyright © 2002-2012 Citizens Advice. All rights reserved
Registered charity no: 279057 Company no: 1436945 England
Hope this helps.

[jesmond]

ok many thanx

[bookbinder]

When I moved to where I now live, I picked a dentist from Yellow Pages, went in and asked if they would take me on as patient. The answer was 'yes', so I asked if they wanted the name and address of my previous dentist, so that they could get my records. The answer to that was 'no'. The dentist said that they go by what they see in my mouth. It was as easy as that.

[boxtops]

Agree, it's not the same. You just go wherever you can get in, there's no transfer of records from any previous practitioner.