If you are lucky enough to be able to get an NHS dentist, there are 3 bands for NHS dental treatment.
Band 1
£16.20 – examination, check up, diagnosis of problem, scale and polish, x-rays, advice and discussion regarding further treatment.
Band 2
£44.60 – all treatment in Band 1 plus fillings, root canal treatment, extractions
Band 3
£198 – all treatment in Bands 1 and 2 plus more complicated procedures such as crowns, bridges and dentures
Check up and filling only?
You will only pay the Band 2 charges. You do not pay both Band 1 and Band 2 charges.
More than one visit to complete the treatment?
You only pay the charge applicable to the Band relevant to your treatment. You do not pay each time you have treatment.
Returning for treatment within 2 months?
If the treatment is in the same Band (or lower Band) as before you will not be charged. For example if you have already been charged for a filling (Band 2) then need another filling a month later, you will not be charged.
Written treatment plan
If your treatment is in Bands 2 or 3 treatment you should get a treatment plan from your dentist detailing how much your treatment will cost.
Referral to another dentist?
You only pay one fee to the dentist who refers you. You do not pay both dentists unless the 2nd dentist is considered to be offering a specialist service such as sedation, home visit, or orthodontics.
Stitches
There are no extra charges for removing stitches
Writing a Prescription
If you need a prescription there are no extra charges for this
Missed appointment
If you miss an appointment you cannot be charged, however if you continue to miss appointments your dentist might decide not to treat you any more .
Credit cards
A dentist is allowed to charge a handling charge for credit card payments
Cosmetic work
The NHS do not cover work that is considered simply cosmetic such as white fillings for back teeth and whitening.
Urgent Care Charges £16.20
The fee is £16.20 regardless of how many appointments it takes to complete the work. This fee is charged if you are not attending your normal dental clinic or you are not currently having a course of treatment. The fee covers an examination, x-rays, temporary fillings, refixing crowns and bridges, one permanent filling, adjustment of dentures, extraction of no more than 2 teeth, and simple repairs to dentures.
can you have porcelain fused to metal dentures as a nhs patient
tks for the effort you put in here I appreciate it!
Ive just seen my NHS dentist and I was told I have to have 2 fillings (white) done, each would cost £160. Is not that way too much??
When I go for a NHS checkup and there are no problems and I only need a scale and polish, my new dental practice books me in with the hygienist and charges it as a Band 2 treatment. After this happened a couple of times (and I noticed that all the patients were being booked in separately for scale and polish), I queried it with the practice manager, who told me the published NHS dental charges are ‘misleading’. Is that correct, or have they found a neat way to charge more for a simple Band 1 patient?
If you need more than one crown is that covered by the fixed payment in band 3
I have a broken tooth the nhs dentist charged £41.50 £16.50 for exam and xray and £25 for temporary filling and now wants £45.90 to extract the tooth, is this correct?
The NHS is a fail
Mike,
A simple scale and polish is a Band 1, and you should pay £16.50. If you need a deep clean because you have periodontal disease, then you pay a Band 2 fee. You really ought to know if you have perio disease! And if you do, your dentist or hygienist should be giving you one on one oral hygiene instruction, as simply cleaning the teeth is not going to fix the problem by itself.
Ralph – Your dentist cannot charge you a Band 2 fee twice within a 2 month period. If it has been more than 2 months since you saw him for your temporary filling, then he is correct in charging you what you have paid.
However, if this has all happened within 2 months, your dentist should have charged you £16.50 for providing urgent treatment (an x-ray and a temporary filling) and £45.60 for an examination and the extraction. That £45.60 will also include any other treatment you may need (fillings, root canal treatment, having your teeth cleaned).
I went to get a cast created for a mouth guard as I grind my teeth at night. I also asked the dentist to check my gums as they have started to bleed around 1 tooth when I brush all of which she did.
I have now gone to collect my guard but they have charged me for a check up and clean at £16.20. I didn’t have any cleaning done as I was in a hurry and ended up leaving the surgery with the cast stuff (sorry cannot remember what it was called but it tasted horrible) around my teeth and mouth.
The dentist did have a quick look at the gum that bleeds but it was only a quick look before the cast went in. I did refuse to pay this charge as I didn’t have the cleaning done but I was told that as I had signed a form I had too pay or I could end up in court!
Is this correct, can a quick look at a gum cost £16.20 even though the dentist didn’t actually touch the tooth or gum? Is there any course of action for a complaint, should I just write to the practice manger or is there an ombudsman group?
Thanks,
For complaints procedures see this post http://dentistforum.co.uk/nhs-dentistry/how-to-make-a-complaint-about-dental-treatment/
Thank you for the link.
I am unemployed (JSA) and the NHS dentist that I saw put into 2 temporary filings (which took about 2mins) however he then said that he wont do root canal (and all the other work) under the nhs.
he said that he will do it privately for £81 per root canal – which is 1 1/2 weeks jsa money!
is this legal? if so, what i am meant to do?
It seems mad as now it is causing mental health issues and stopping me gaining employment – even with a degree – which is obviously costing far more than dental work..
I saw my dentist in Sept when he had to extract a tooth that was near the front, he gave me a tooth on a pallet which he said would only last 6 months and told me a bridge would be better. When I asked would bridges be included in the £198 that I have already paid, he said that he only does them privately and would cost £800 for one tooth! can’t I get a bridge done on the NHS? or is this classed as cosmetic?
Hi
I got made redundant 2 months ago and im earning silly money signing on at job centre, i have a molar tooth come through and now have to many teeth in my mouth, this is causing me alot of pain and i think i definatley need at least 2 teeth out,
what can i expect to pay
Thanks
over 60s do they have to pay for dental treatment
How much do porcelain inlays cost. Can i get these on the NHS?
As a private dentist is telling me it costs £900 that is very expensive or is this normal?
Thank you for any expert advice.