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The NHS vs Private sector (dental care)

14

Hey there I was wondering if there is any point for an 18 year old to get dental private insurance? (Im on gap year, hence no free dental care) I Have never been a big fan of the NHS and today I paid for a check up for the first time. All I got was the dentist touching my teeth for 2 mins and telling me that I had good teeth and just keep brushing, and that cost me £25! It kinda annoyed me because thats no way worth it.

I remembered that the NHS wouldn't give me braces because of rationing from 2001 as an attempt to cut costs down. Even though I had very crooked teeth they said it ain't endangering my life, but if this was 2 years earlier I would have got them for free. So instead I went private and my dad had to pay £3,000 to sort my teeth out. But at least the private dentist seemed to really pay attention to my teeth (I had checkup theres as well) and spent 20 mins looking any damage to my enamel and just checked my teeth for gum disease as well as giving me advices on keeping them in good condition.

Since i am going to pay anyway is there any point of me paying a bit more for insurance? (this is out of my own pocket).

Reply 1

FoeGeddaBowDeet

if your teeth are fine at the moment and you do nothing to endanger your teeth, then I don't really see the point of using a private dentist. Yes, it will be helpful if you knock out all your teeth, but the normal standard of care will be very similar. That's a ridiculous price to pay for a check up, but I don't think you'll make a saving using insurance unless your teeth are in danger.

Reply 2

Vincente

OP

14

Also from March 2007 this dentist is quitting the NHS so I will have to pay for the increased prices.

Reply 3

rachel_64

2

Vincente

I remembered that the NHS wouldn't give me braces because of rationing from 2001 as an attempt to cut costs down. Even though I had very crooked teeth they said it ain't endangering my life, but if this was 2 years earlier I would have got them for free. QUOTE]

Same thing happened to me, WHAT AN ABSOLUTE JOKE. What exactly are my parents paying tax for? :frown:

Reply 4

Vincente

OP

14

Same thing happened to me, WHAT AN ABSOLUTE JOKE. What exactly are my parents paying tax for?

Insurance means that you won't have to pay for those braces (i.e. the £3000+ fee) and instead you only pay like £18-25 a pound a month. So say if your teeth is in a seriously bad state you don't have to pay extra to have it all sorted out, but may have to pay more monthly in the future.

Reply 5

joz12345

1

i work as a dental nurse and am training, but we have private and nhs patients , we have a denplan which you pay monthly rather than pay every visit to the dentist, but if your teeth and sound at the moment theres probably no point in joining any plans -- any other questions i can help with just give me a shout

Reply 6

shewantstobeme

10

We have denplan and it's really good. I'd see if you can get on that. I think we pay £14 a month each in our family (obv I'm a student so I don't have to pay - but parents have it) :smile:

Reply 7

IndieGirl

3

The OP paid £25 for a check up...I need to move, our local practice went all pritave (without informing anyone) about 18 months ago and my check up Monday cost me £46!!! All that and all she did was poke my gums for a bit and declare I need a small filling...best get my parents to remortgage the house then.

Btw Denplan's a bit of a rip off unless ur teeth need a lot of attention.

Reply 8

Sianey

I got NHS braces a couple of years ago and my teeth weren't awful!

Reply 9

Vincente

OP

14

I got NHS braces a couple of years ago and my teeth weren't awful!

So? The fact is that thousands of teenagers didn't get them as well as rachel 64 and myself didn't get one, yet If it was in 2000 my dentist said I would have got them for free!

http://society.guardian.co.uk/health/story/0,,403184,00.html

Reply 10

Vincente

OP

14

The OP paid £25 for a check up...I need to move, our local practice went all pritave (without informing anyone) about 18 months ago and my check up Monday cost me £46!!! All that and all she did was poke my gums for a bit and declare I need a small filling...best get my parents to remortgage the house then.

The admin staff actually told me that they are going private in March after their NHS contracts expires! So my bill will exceed £30 as well....... BTW where do you live? That price is absolutely stupid, but you had fillings which could explian things.

Reply 11

Sparkling_Jules

1

I thought a routine check-up was only £5/£6! £25 is an awful lot... I thought they'd standardised the costs.

EDIT: Found the charges on the net http://www.nhs.uk/England/Dentists/DentalCharges.cmsx

£15.50 for a check-up now.

Reply 12

Vincente

OP

14

I thought a routine check-up was only £5/£6! £25 is an awful lot... I thought they'd standardised the costs.

Isin't that the cost for a full time student though? I also live in a very well off area which could explain the higher cost.

Reply 13

20083

2

"The NHS vs Private sector (dental care)..."

... in the ultimate, no holds barred, knee crunching, teeth smashing semi-final.

Reply 14

Sparkling_Jules

1

Vincente

Isin't that the cost for a full time student though? I also live in a very well off area which could explain the higher cost.

I think that's what it was before they standardised everything.. now it's £15.50.
Not sure what a full-time student has to pay, never did fill in that form :redface:

, but when I was still in school it was free.

I'm sure they shouldn't be charging more even if it is a nice area. I thought everywhere you went the NHS prices were the same now.

Reply 15

Clubber Lang

15

We have a massive problem around here with all the dentists going private - so they can basically charge anything they wnat

If you think your teeth will need a bit of work then its probably worth going for insruance. If not then just take the hit.

Reply 16

Vincente

OP

14

EDIT: Found the charges on the net http://www.nhs.uk/England/Dentists/DentalCharges.cmsx

£15.50 for a check-up now.

Man i've been ripped off..... this could mean that they turned private sooner than I've expected!

The NHS vs Private sector (dental care)

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