Dentists

Did the dentist warn you that it might not be successful? If not, you should not be paying again. I would mention it nicely.

I'm sure there should be a guarantee of their work.

Was it on the NHS Winefride?

It might be something to do with being different courses of treatment but Jane will be around sometime to explain, I'm sure!

I had a problem with my crown Winefride, my dentist removed it, had a replacement made and it was covered with his 12 month guarantee. However, I am not an NHS patient so that may make a difference.

However, seems a bit steep to me!

Says here NHS Choices that NHS treatment is guaranteed for one year. (at end of article)

I have always had things redone free within the year's guarantee.

Do you have names for all your crowns moomin?

he he he !

St Winefride was a Saxon lady who lost her head rather than her virginity. Oldest pilgrimage site in Britain , I believe!

I recently visited a NHS dentist, he did a check up, took 2 X-rays, repaired a broken filling and "cleaned" my teeth - took him less than 20 mins!. Since then I have had pain from the repaired filling. Have now made an appointment with a private dentist.

Hello Winefride
As Kitty suggests, this may be something to do with being charged for different NHS 'courses of treatment'. If the dentist did a check-up for you when the crown was being recemented, it could have been that you were charged for that.

The best thing is to ask the practice staff exactly what you were charged for.
That is not complaining, it's just asking for an explanation to which you are perfectly entitled.

Galen I'm familiar with the phrase 'cut off your nose to spite your face' but 'cut off your head to protect your virginity' ??? seems a bit much!

Wrong end really

sunseeker a good dentist is a good dentist, NHS or not. A bad dentist is a bad dentist, NHS or not. Paying privately for dentistry definitely does not guarantee a better dentist. [hobby horse emoticon]

Dentist is NHS and it was different dentists in the practise which might explain double payment I must be more assertive at next appointment . I will ask what guarantee he can give . I've paid out for fillings more than once too. I think feel embarrassed discussing money with dentist.

You shouldn't feel like that Winefride - dentists have an ethical obligation to make sure you iunderstand a)what treatment you're having and b) how much it will cost.
Treatment carried out under NHS contract should be replaced free of charge if needed within a year - subtle difference from a 'guarantee'.
Most private dentists would offer the same or better terms.

Hear, hear, kitty! Except for a few years when my NHS dentist went private and before we moved to where we are now, I've always had an NHS dentist. I have one now. They have all (seven, I think) been excellent. The one who went private was excellent too.

My lovely NHS dentist (the only one in town) died quite suddenly a few years ago and his surgery was sold and went private soon after. Since then I have been to four different (private) dentists. My bugbear is that the first three either were too pricey or I had no confidence in them, but each time I went to a new dentist I had to pay an extortionate sum for a 'new patient' check up. This always involved X-Rays and charting my teeth, but I was unable to take the results with me when I moved on; apparently (even though I PAID for them) the results are the property of the surgery. My current dentist is also incredibly pricey, but I as I do have confidence in him I've decided to stick with him - even though there is now an NHS dentist in the town.

Galen I rather think I lost my head before my virginity too

We are so lucky with our lovely NHS dentist. I suspect that her businessman husband has set her up with a surgery in their house and she just has a receptionist and a nurse to help her. She is very thorough but only charges the absolute minimum for everything, I've often been surprised at how little we've been charged. She only takes on as many patients as she can cope with so you can normally get an emergency appointment and although there are certain procedures she won't undertake she can always fix you up with someone else.
My daughter has an exceedingly good private dentist, but she spends a fortune on her teeth.

The private dentist I have an appointment with isn't charging much more than the NHS dentist and is highly recommended by a friend.

NHS dentists have no say in what they charge.

Hi Winifride
If treatment is not successful and two days seems ridiculous for a crown to go so soon then you should not have to pay. For advice Try the British Dental Council http://www.gdc-uk.org/Pages/default.aspx

NHS Dentist ?- try your local Primary Care Trust (PCT) who are responsible for commisioning dental services in your area.