aznriptide859 Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Simply curiosity from someone across the pond: how do you guys pay for dental treatment in the UK? Is it covered by NHS, or is it largely via private insurance? Do you guys like it/hate it? Link to post Share on other sites
Skarclaw Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Those on low incomes can get it done for free but otherwise you have to cough up. When I had an infected tooth it cost me 30 quid for an assessment then 120 to have it removed. Cost will vary. Link to post Share on other sites
shmook Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 You pay even when it's on the NHS. Never looked into why. Seems odd though... Link to post Share on other sites
aznriptide859 Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Do dentists post somewhere in their office whether they're under the NHS system or not? Link to post Share on other sites
amateurstuntman Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Children, the elderly, pregnant women and some others get it free. Others get it subsidised. You can voluntarily go private for faster appointments etc. Link to post Share on other sites
hitmanNo2 Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 A good idea on prices and who has to pay, from one of my local practices http://www.jddentalcare.co.uk/price-list-dentist-in-high-wycombe/nhs-costs-dentist-buckinghamshire.html And yeah, it will be fairly obvious if they are NHS. They generally have it on the sign outside and on their website plus in the NHS directory. Link to post Share on other sites
aznriptide859 Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 A good idea on prices and who has to pay, from one of my local practices http://www.jddentalcare.co.uk/price-list-dentist-in-high-wycombe/nhs-costs-dentist-buckinghamshire.html And yeah, it will be fairly obvious if they are NHS. They generally have it on the sign outside and on their website plus in the NHS directory. Damn, it's nice that you guys have pricing just so blatantly listed out; fee charging is a nightmare over here and it heavily varies from office to office. Is it generally a positive experience though? Like you don't have to ever really worry about costs when going to get treatment? Link to post Share on other sites
Habakure Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 You pay for treatment before receiving treatment. If it's an emergency and you go to a NHS dentist, the maximum payment is £18.30 (or there about). That price is the standard price for a check up if you pay for dental treatment. But if it's deemed an emergency (you're in a lot of pain etc) the £18.30 covers everything (tooth being pulled or temp filling). Private is much more expensive. I'm getting a tooth pulled and a filling (repairing an old filling) for £51.30 But if I wanted a root canal, that would have been roughly £700/£800. Link to post Share on other sites
Azubi Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 You typically have to find an NHS a dentist that is accepting people too, otherwise you will be on a waiting list to become registered there. NHS dental practices doing the emergency cover will treat anyone who needs it. Link to post Share on other sites
hitmanNo2 Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 But if I wanted a root canal, that would have been roughly £700/£800. Hello Mr. Dentist. I'd love a root canal please ha ha. Link to post Share on other sites
ED-SKaR Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 How I've found it is that you have a pain in your tooth, you go in and they get you to register, tell you to take painkillers and wait for a few days. Then you go back and they haven't filed the paperwork properly so you have to wait a few more days. When you finally get past that you ask for an appointment, and heh, that totally happens before the infection spreads to your jawbone and you have to get your face amputated. Link to post Share on other sites
TheFull9 Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 *suitcase*.. we have to pay for that stuff? Not gonna lie, I don't think I had a dental check between my 18th birthday and joining up (think I was about 18 and 11 months) so I did not even realise. I knew crowns and caps etc cost purely through airsofting and that topic coming up, but you'd think the more basic and essential treatments would be covered for your teeth the way they are for the rest of your body. Learnt something new today. Link to post Share on other sites
Spudgun Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 I went private years ago. I saw what was available on the NHS and decided that I wanted to keep my teeth (I'm rather attached to them). Link to post Share on other sites
hitmanNo2 Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 I was private for a while. Prices were extortionate. Standard visit. Right, you need £60 X-rays. Umm. Are you sure? I need to find something in the middle ground. Link to post Share on other sites
amateurstuntman Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 I pay £15 pounds a month through my work, the money comes off my pre-tax pay so it is the equivalent of £10. For that I go to my private dentist, pay and then claim the money back from BUPA. Easy and painless. Link to post Share on other sites
aznriptide859 Posted October 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 I was private for a while. Prices were extortionate. Standard visit. Right, you need £60 X-rays. Umm. Are you sure? I need to find something in the middle ground. That's how it is in the states lol - every single procedure is charged. The costs though are higher for a practice going only with PPO's versus HMO's or Medicaid, sometimes by a factor of 2-3. Do dentists over there ever try pushing more severe procedures, e.g. implants or invisible braces? Link to post Share on other sites
Spudgun Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 I don't think prices are extortionate for Private work. Having said that. It does pay to shop around. I pay £20 a month (Into an effective kitty). The only other money I've ever had to pay were to get crowns and gold teeth made. The rest was paid by the money I had paid monthly. The Dentist I see has never 'pushed' anything onto me. I've always had to ask for it. OK, he has asked when I'm going to get another crown as one tooth was falling apart, but that about it. Oh. I got that crown two years later. As for implants. That a new one on me. Braces? Are you mad. We're British, We don't do Braces. We're supposed to have crooked teeth! Link to post Share on other sites
Habakure Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 The book of British smiles. . . Link to post Share on other sites
amateurstuntman Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Research has shown that averaged out over the whole population, British people have straighter teeth that the Americans. The availability of free dental care for children has meant that the only reason not to have corrective dental work as a child is bad (lazy or don't care) parenting. In America the affluent have good teeth but the poor have rank teeth. We are all average, works out better. Link to post Share on other sites
Habakure Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 My teeth went wonky after my wisdom teeth kicked in. So not bad parenting just me (as an adult) being lazy. Oh and it was between £1100 and £1250 for a bridge. Wow (and even that was subsidised). Link to post Share on other sites
amateurstuntman Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 I said as a child, free stuff cuts off in adulthood. You could join the Army for 5 years, get your teeth sorted out and then leave. It's free in the Army. Link to post Share on other sites
Cannonfodder80 Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 It's also worth noting that if you do manage to register with a NHS dentist they will take you off their books if you don't book annual check ups Link to post Share on other sites
Habakure Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Yeah, not bad parenting as my wisdom teeth kicked in after 16. I know people who had their wisdom teeth kick in at the age of 12. So my comment was for narrative clarity. I do think it's mad that a person can be in a situation, were they can't afford to go the dentist, and as such, leads to being ill. Good old kidney failure due to an aggressive abscess. Not nice. Would be nice if the NHS covered all aspects of a dental practice (you pay nothing). Link to post Share on other sites
scorch Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 I find it bonkers that some people almost never need a doctor yet need a dentist regularly, and have to pay. Link to post Share on other sites
Habakure Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 My doctor is very attractive, well, I say my doctor. It's my children's doctor, and it's a very funny story why, as I'm not registered their yet. I have to provide a utility bill to prove who I am. *fruitcage* you, doctors. Me; Hello, I'm Mr Byrne. Dentist Receptionist; Hello, Mr Byrne. Sign here, fill in your details and we'll see you shortly. Me; *a look of pure respect and clarity fills my face*. Cool. Link to post Share on other sites
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