Dental Costs in the UK

[Soton Seagull]

I just booked a dental appointment after a letter saying 'we'll chuck you off the list if not'. My dentist has gone private and will charge £33.60 for a check up.

Is it just me, or is that a ridiculous aount to be told that I still have teeth? (£9 for an x-ray if req as well).

My real question, is that as we pay in to the NHS and the bulk of dentists have gone private, are the government serupticously (spl?) getting rid of dental care, thus increasing the burden on the individual for healthcare? Do we forsee this being extended to other areas of healthcare?

I'm pretty sure my teeth are as much as part of me as my knees etc, and if anything goes wrong with hem NHS will sort it.

 

[METALMICKY]

Your best bet is to call NHS direct and find out if any dentists in your area are taking on new paying NHS patients. I would advise you to do this sharpish as radical overhaul of how dentists are paid is going to happen in April 2005 and generally NHS dental charges will rise sharply.

The reason so many dentists have gone private is the perception that current piece work system of payment was a over complicated and restrictive and ultimately did not pay enough. Whether the new salary based scheme will work is another matter.

 

[Lammy]

I've got to go to the dentist tomorrow

Just a check up though

 

[Yorkie]

There are still dentists treating patients on the NHS.

Ned & I have managed to register with a practise in Hove.

Our old dentists in Yorkshire said they were turning private and gave the patients the choice of staying as NHS.
I stayed as I am going to be a pensioner in 4 years time and will not be able to afford £30 odd pounds just for a check up which should only cost £9.

It's a rip off. In fact I would be tempted to have all my teeth out and get dentures if the NHS dentists were stopped altogether.

 

[Gully]

This is a pretty serious subject, I get free dental care provided throught work, but my contract only runs for a couple more years and I am starting to worry that I will have to pay for treatment and that there will be no NHS dentists near where I live.

If it is an attempt by this government to achieve what the Tories appeared to have started, that is to eliminate free health care for all but those in dire need, then it is further proof that they have totally betrayed their roots. Nai Bevan must be turning in his grave.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

According to the NHS Direct website, there are masses of NHS dentists around.

Brighton (BN1 postcode):-


1. St Clements Dental Care
2 Hampton Place, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3DD view map
Tel: 01273 779377
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
This practice does NOT offer occasional NHS treatment to patients NOT registered with this practice
New patients registering with this practice aged 18 years and over, will be charged an initial £15 consultation fee.



2. Newick Dental Surgery
98 Newick Road, Moulscombe, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9JG view map
Tel: 01273 693300
This Personal Dentist Service is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
Providing Occasional NHS treatment to non registered patients



5. Surrenden Dental Practice
38 Surrenden Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 6PP view map
Tel: 01273 501909
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
Providing Occasional NHS treatment to non registered patients



6. Dental Surgery
8 St Peters Place, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4SA view map
Tel: 01273 681177
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
This practice does NOT offer occasional NHS treatment to patients NOT registered with this practice



7. University of Sussex Dental Surgery
University Of Sussex Health Centre, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9RW view map
Tel: 01273 602809
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
Providing Occasional NHS treatment to non registered patients
Only accepts staff and students of the University




11. Lewes Road Dental Practice
169 Lewes Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3LD view map
Tel: 01273 605413
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
This practice does NOT offer occasional NHS treatment to patients NOT registered with this practice
emergency for registered patients only



12. Duke Street Dental Care
28-29 Duke Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1AG view map
Tel: 01273 711999
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
Providing Occasional NHS treatment to non registered patients



16. North Laine Dental Practice
47 Sydney Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4EP view map
Tel: 01273 681336
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
Providing Occasional NHS treatment to non registered patients



19. Dental Surgery
45 Preston Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4QE view map
Tel: 01273 682927
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
Providing Occasional NHS treatment to non registered patients



20. Dental Surgery
98 Newick Road, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9JG view map
Tel: 01273 693300
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
This practice does NOT offer occasional NHS treatment to patients NOT registered with this practice



21. Dental Surgery
11 Park Road, Coldean, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9AA view map
Tel: 01273 680302
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
This practice does NOT offer occasional NHS treatment to patients NOT registered with this practice



22. Whitehouse Dental Practice
2 Clermont Road, Preston Park, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 6SG view map
Tel: 01273 506984
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
This practice does NOT offer occasional NHS treatment to patients NOT registered with this practice



23. Regency House Dental Practice
13 St George's Place, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4GB view map
Tel: 01273 683233
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
Providing Occasional NHS treatment to non registered patients



24. Carden Avenue Dental Practice
165 Carden Avenue, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 8LA view map
Tel: 01273 502292
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
Providing Occasional NHS treatment to non registered patients
emergency treatment for own patients



25. Dyke Road Dental Surgery
250 Dyke Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 5AE view map
Tel: 01273 501757
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
Providing Occasional NHS treatment to non registered patients



28. Brighton Dental Centre
69/75 Dyke Road, Seven Dials, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3JD view map
Tel: 01273 220965
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
NOT Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
Providing Occasional NHS treatment to non registered patients



29. Trafalgar Street Dental Practice
20 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4EQ view map
Tel: 01273 677727
This Dental Practice is
Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
NOT Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
Providing Occasional NHS treatment to non registered patients
emergemcies registered patients only



31. Elms Lea Dental Practice
17 Elms Lea Avenue, Brighton, BN1 6UG view map
Tel: 01273 508000
This Personal Dentist Service is
NOT Registering Charge Paying Adults for NHS treatment
Registering Charge Exempt Adults for NHS treatment
NOT Registering Children aged 0-18 years for NHS treatment
This practice does NOT offer occasional NHS treatment to patients NOT registered with this practice
Domicillary visits and sedation

 

[Gully]

Lord B, that rates as one of the most helpful posts I can remember on NSC, for those living in BN1 anyway...

Just goes to prove, if someone has a question, forget AskJeeves, try Ask NSC.

 

[Hiney]

Lord B, that rates as one of the most helpful posts I can remember on NSC, for those living in BN1 anyway...

Just goes to prove, if someone has a question, forget AskJeeves, try Ask NSC.

Jeeves was only a Butler anyway - Butler's work for Lords so there you have it - case proved!

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

I recently had to queue for three hours to get one of the last 100 NHS dentist places in North Cumbria. Just as well -- I've had a hundred quid's worth of work done by an experienced dentist that would have cost three times as much if I'd gone private.

But you're right -- the lack of NHS dentistry in some parts of the UK is bloody shocking.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

But you're right -- the lack of NHS dentistry in some parts of the UK is bloody shocking.

There's obviously been some kind of unwritten government policy for some time that nobody's going to die without NHS dentistry and the costs involved in going private via Dentplan or somesuch are relatively affordable and it's never going to make great headlines or be a vote winner so they may as well run down that aspect of the NHS. Which is pretty damn criminal IMHO as dentists can detect all sorts of cancers that the NHS at large won't catch til it's far too late. Not good.

 

[Yorkie]

Which is pretty damn criminal IMHO as dentists can detect all sorts of cancers that the NHS at large won't catch til it's far too late. Not good.

I agree. I lost a friend last November, aged 60, with mouth cancer. It is one of the cancers that if it is caught early has 90% full recovery rate.

 

[FG aka Football Genius.]

i thought that each respective county council had to provide you with a name/address of a dentist that will take u on nhs upon request so that in theory no one should be without one. Ive a relation working in one practices mentioned above and they even have slots to take in the homeless which is done without chares to them though they do get sum money from the government for seeing to them.

 

[beorhthelm]

not sure i understand whats going on here - i thought Dentistry has always been private, or at least semi-private. Children, students and those on benifits etc got charged "NHS" rates, ie subsidised, while everyone else ponied up. At least that how its always been for my family, maybe we've just gone private all those years and it just seems normal to me?

 

[Yorkie]

not sure i understand whats going on here - i thought Dentistry has always been private, or at least semi-private. Children, students and those on benifits etc got charged "NHS" rates, ie subsidised, while everyone else ponied up. At least that how its always been for my family, maybe we've just gone private all those years and it just seems normal to me?

Sounds like it. I have always been an NHS patient.

 

[Soton Seagull]

Just been to the dentist, check up a Xray to confirm, as suspected, that my teeth are fine - £51.60!

They want me to see the Dentyal Hygenist (not because there is anything wrong, but because I haven't seen her for a couple of years) next week at a further cost of £43.

So, having no problems with my teeth is costing me about £95!

 

[METALMICKY]

Just to clarify. If you are a registered NHS patient then you pay 80% of the fee whilst the reaminder is paid to the dentist by the govt.

i.e Basic Scale & polish £11.10 (Dentist Fee) - You pay patient charge of £8.88

Extensive Periodontal (serious scale & polish) treatment including seeing the hygienist is £26.90 (£21.52).

 

[METALMICKY]

Just to add, if you are a registered NHS patient i would serioulsy query with your dentist if he tries to charge around £40 for a hygienist visit. This will be a private fee and as you are an NHS patient you are entitled to this as an NHS item which should cost around £20.

 

[Emily's Mum]

One of the best things about living in my village is the fact that we have an NHS dentist. My check-ups cost £4.92 & over the last two years I've had a crown, then had it filled, then had it replaced & finally had it out & all of that work cost £80. I asked my dentist if he would be going private & he said there was no point. He is married, has two kids & uni & a wife who does not work. He comes from the village & says that the NHS provides him with a comfortable living, going private, he says, is just being greedy.

 

[SK1NT]

just dont go! brush ur teeth properly and all will be ok!once i finished full time education, i gave up on dentists too. Mind u i went back last year for the first time in 6 years and had to pay over £200 for a couple of fillings

 

[Jam The Man]

I've had the same dentist in Portslade since I was born - he doesn't look a day older though. He is an amazing guy and the day he retires will make many people feel down in the mouth!