Cheap Dental Treatment - what a rip off

Arthurgray50@blu · 03-01-2011, 22:48

I have been going to a dentist for years, and have found them to be cheap, but then they were taken over and my god.

I had a toothache for several weeks, and finally decided to go to the dentist, l told them what the problem was and they xrayed my mouth - and yes they found another couple of problems.

I was told l needed a filling which l knew about, but they told me l needed two plus some work on another tooth.

I told them that l had £60.00 on me and would come back for more of the work done, He started on the wrong tooth and told me that was £60.00 for a filling, l said what about the other tooth and he said that will cost £95.00, and he wouldn't touch it until l paid for it - and that was the tooth that was causing the problem - what a rip off.

punky · 03-01-2011, 22:54

You couldn't afford to pay for the tooth to be fixed anyway so why are complaining again?

**Matt D** · 03-01-2011, 22:58

[Moved to Lifestyle]

Are you sure you are still with an NHS dentist, Arthur?

NHS dental treatment costs are fixed, in three bands:

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1781.asp...categoryid=742

Quote:

NHS dental charges

The three NHS charge bands are as follows:

Band 1: £16.50. This charge includes an examination, diagnosis and preventive advice. If necessary, it also includes X-rays, scale and polish and planning for further treatment.
Band 2: £45.60. This charge includes all the necessary treatment covered by the £16.50 charge, plus additional treatment, such as fillings, root canal treatment or extractions.
Band 3: £198. This charge includes all the necessary treatment that is covered by the £16.50 and £45.60 charges, plus more complex procedures, such as crowns, dentures and bridges.

More detail here for what each band covers:

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNH...reatments.aspx

Jimmy-J · 03-01-2011, 23:00

I'm sorry to laugh at your misfortune Arthur, but I couldn't help it, I didn't see that coming!

You're right and I think he knew exactly what he was doing.

03-01-2011, 23:03

If it was really an NHS dentist you should have been provided with a personal dental treatment plan

http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/...dh_4139048.pdf

Most courses of treatment (BAND 1 & 2) cost £16.50 or £45.60

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNH...reatments.aspx

It sounds like you saw a private dentist - the NHS reference in your thread title is misleading, imo.

More info including links for complaints here

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNH.../overview.aspx

<edit> picked up by others also - you weren't 'ripped off' by the NHS, Arthur ..

martyh · 03-01-2011, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

[Moved to Lifestyle]

Are you sure you are still with an NHS dentist, Arthur?

NHS dental treatment costs are fixed, in three bands:

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1781.asp...categoryid=742

More detail here for what each band covers:

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNH...reatments.aspx

which is exactly why so few dentists do nhs work ,and if arthur paid £60 it has nothing to do with the nhs so the why have a dig at them in the title?

Mal · 03-01-2011, 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

which is exactly why so few dentists do nhs work ,and if arthur paid £60 it has nothing to do with the nhs so the why have a dig at them in the title?

Maybe he didn't realise that they weren't NHS?

03-01-2011, 23:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

Maybe he didn't realise that they weren't NHS?

It sounds like he didn't - which is cause for complaint in itself, in my opinion, although I have to say when my dentist 'went private' I had to opt in by signing a form ..

martyh · 03-01-2011, 23:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

Maybe he didn't realise that they weren't NHS?

The dentist or receptionist would ask if he is paying for treatment or not ,it would be very clear if he was getting it on the nhs or not

Mal · 03-01-2011, 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

The dentist or receptionist would ask if he is paying for treatment or not ,it would be very clear if he was getting it on the nhs or not

As per the previous posts, you still pay, it's just that it may not have sunk in properly that it wasn't NHS. Not a major crime.

I just think that people are getting very picky with Arthur. If you think that he is a troll, ignore him; if not, debate with him without picking up small things. That's just my opinion.

martyh · 03-01-2011, 23:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

As per the previous posts, you still pay, it's just that it may not have sunk in properly that it wasn't NHS. Not a major crime.

I just think that people are getting very picky with Arthur. If you think that he is a troll, ignore him; if not, debate with him without picking up small things. That's just my opinion.

I'm not being picky ,he is blaming a NHS dentist for ripping him off when clearly he hasn't been charged NHS prices ,if he is entitled to NHS dental then he should say so and if the dentist has led arthur to believe he was getting it on the NHS and then charged private prices then arthur should have just flashed the plastic NHS card you get when you are entitled to free prescriptions ,dental and specs .Since arthur was quoted the price before treatment commenced that should have set alarm bells ringing

Mal · 03-01-2011, 23:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

I'm not being picky ,he is blaming a NHS dentist for ripping him off when clearly he hasn't been charged NHS prices ,if he is entitled to NHS dental then he should say so and if the dentist has led arthur to believe he was getting it on the NHS and then charged private prices then arthur should have just flashed the plastic NHS card you get when you are entitled to free prescriptions ,dental and specs .Since arthur was quoted the price before treatment commenced that should have set alarm bells ringing

Yes it is being picky as the main part of the moan was about the dentist working on the wrong tooth and then charging him.

The only place that he mentions NHS is in the title. No where in the post does he mention NHS.

Also, it's happened in others threads, where things have been picky. If you think that he is trolling, just ignore him

martyh · 03-01-2011, 23:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

Yes it is being picky as the main part of the moan was about the dentist working on the wrong tooth and then charging him.

The only place that he mentions NHS is in the title. No where in the post does he mention NHS.

so what has it got to do with the NHS ?

Mal · 03-01-2011, 23:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

so what has it got to do with the NHS ?

Nothing and it had already been pointed out before you came in.

**Hugh** · 04-01-2011, 09:24

Thread title amended to reflect topic.