teeth!

I was very ill twenty years ago with a disease that went undiagnosed for a long time and my teeth loosened in my gums. As a result I had them out and have since had dentures. One the initial payment shock had receded I've not had any problems since. I did drop a denture and chipped a tooth but went to a dental technician who mended it within a couple of hours for a reasonable price. I do see the dentist once a year to keep an eye on my gums but apart from that my life has been transformed - noone has noticed that I have dentures as they are similar in design and colour to what my real teeth were like. Of course I have to buy fixative!

If you have been living abroad and returned and found an NHS dentist you are very fortunate. £259 sounds very reasonable to me I would take the appointment. I find that charges go up 10% a year even for just a check up.

I need a crown replacing as it is wearing away, but can't have it done on the NHS as my previous dentist says it is still functional and the treatment would be purely cosmetic. However it is a bottom front tooth and I am quite self conscious about it.
So I have decided to go privately and pay up the £600 or so in the hopes that it will look a lot better.

I haven't got the best teeth in the world , but my s.i.l. had all her teeth out in her 20s and replaced with dentures. I cannot understand what could have been so bad, at that age, that she had to have all her teeth out. I didn't like to ask.

Yes pay it!
I used to pay privately when my NHS went private until he retired and the dentist who took over was so extortionate that I had to leave. I used to look around his luxurious waiting room with its leather chairs and posh magazines to see how my money was being spent!.
I managed to find an NHS dentist and it isn't free by any means as I choose to pay £80 or so for a white filling but at least it's not thousands.
Between dentists I went to the dental hospital in an emergency but they will only do extractions or temporary fillings unless your dentist refers you for something too difficult or time consuming for them. Mine did and I had a few years of excellent treatment until it was decided they had done all they could and returned me!
Good Luck

I wonder how many people don’t go to a dentist at all, the NHS charges are still very high for someone on a low income, even though you can get help with an HC1 form, not everyone knows this! Some people are also just outside the band for help but would still struggle to find £259!

monologues.co.uk/Pam_Ayres/My_Teeth.htm

That's cheap my last crown which was quite a while ago cost me £600 my dentist is also part Nhs and part private.

Blimey, that's cheap.
I was recently quoted over £600 for a simple crown. Needless to say I had to decline - gnashing my teeth as I did so.

I know kitty

jane, nhs dentists round here mostly charge a private fee for hygienist visits. Has us baffled. Either you need one or you dont!

Indeed, if you can find a dentist who will accept you as an NHS patient, count yourself lucky - especially if you have been living overseas.
At one time, about 2006 I think, there were no NHS dentists at all in our town but then two were persuaded to open here. At the time there was a problem, I think, between the NHS and dental provision, but others may remember more about that.

Last week dh paid £129 for a crown lab work. Dental insurance covered the dentist ‘s costs.

I should have said, accept you as an NHS patient.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/dental-health/how-much-will-i-pay-for-nhs-dental-treatment/

For £269 you will get not only the crown, but the dentist will have to provide a full case assessment and any other treatment you need, hygiene visits, fillings etc.
It will probably cost the dentist money to treat you, so you should be grateful to any dentist who is prepared to accept you for treatment.

Yes you can get a dental technician to do it, but it is better to have it done through a dentist

Bridgeit Clinical dental technicians can make full dentures but they cannot make crowns directly for patients. The case assessment, preparation and impression have to be done by a dentist.

Rebecca I think £259 is probably the NHS fee. Many dentists pay the technician more than that just to make the crown.

I would only get it done through a dental tech if you can find the crown... Otherwise back to the dentist.

I have lots of various dental work. A new crown takes a couple of impressions and fittings. When I’ve lost a crown my NHS dentist has been able to give me a temporary crown until the permanent one is ready. Never paid anything like your quoted price. Is it completely private?

Do not get a technician to do it.

I'm not sure anymore but £259 sounds like a band 3 nhs charge to me.

I'm afraid that price seems quite reasonable to me. I have umpteen crowned/capped teeth and have had to stump up quite a sum in total. Yes - bite the bullet by all means, but avoid caramels!

I would pay.
I’m not sure how old you are but I’m 65 and the product of an age when dentists drilled anything and everything.
In my experience my .NHS dentist does what he has to, not necessarily what is best for me.

Pay for the best treatment that you can afford.

Yes you can get a dental technician to do it, but it is better to have it done through a dentist , because they assess & take into account the whole of your dental requirements / difficulties , ensuring that any future dental health problems are managed properly. Best wishes.