Our dentist charged a fine of £45 as we had not been there since 2019. He said he’d given us a 50% discount!

Was this a private dentist?

Is it a private practice mercedez? If so, it's a shame you paid it, I'd have refused and if they'd insisted threaten to leave. I wasn't aware that NHS dentists could charge for a failed appointment, and if you haven't been because of Covid and not because you failed to turn up, that's even more outrageous.

I never was recalled for any checkups until a few weeks ago since November 2019 (so 16 months ) but was just charged the normal £23 ish
£90 sounds a lot presumably private and did you get an appointment that you didn’t keep ?
Shame you paid it I would have queried the price before paying it

I have had no communication with my Dentist since they phoned to cancel my appointment last July.
I will be going nowhere near until I've had my second vaccine. I dont expect to be charged for non attendance, but if they do I will object and not pay, after all I wasn't the one who cancelled my last appointment.

Did you have an appointment you failed to attend? Yes they can charge you for that but if it was cancelled because of Covid and you haven’t been able to make another since, you should not be charged anything and I would refuse to pay it.

If you are private patients the dentist could charge you a registration fee as you hadn't been for so long.

I'm going tomorrow, and definitely haven't been since 2019, I'll see what happens! I pay £26 per month for my dental plan.

Since my last checkup was cancelled last April I have phoned my NHS dentist a couple of times to see if they are doing checkups yet and to confirm that I am still registered. I've been told to ring in May and that I needn't worry about losing registration.

Shandy57

I'm going tomorrow, and definitely haven't been since 2019, I'll see what happens! I pay £26 per month for my dental plan.

That's a lot, Shandy I think we pay £14.50 pm although it may have just gone up a little.

We've been paying throughout the lockdown although I have only had one check up over the last year. DH has been more often out of necessity.

£14.50 pm each, not for both!

Shandy57

I'm going tomorrow, and definitely haven't been since 2019, I'll see what happens! I pay £26 per month for my dental plan.

I was quite shocked to read your private dentist has not seen you for over a year. That's £312+ for nothing! I'm with a private practice and have had two check ups since the first lockdown. June 2020 and December 2020.

If you are charged, I'd be reminding them they already have £312+. Good luck.

Callistemon Dentist plan companies have different ways of charging

I've been with two. The first, my payment was very high as I had had a lot of work done prior to taking out the cover. However the cover covered me for all treatments and technician's work. The other plan, which I have now, is far less as it only covers me for 2 check ups, 2 hygienist appointments but I get 20% off treatments etc.

The latter sounds similar to ours. I suppose you take a chance on how much work you may need done.

@muse I forgot I was seen as an emergency sometime last year, but my dentist has only been open for emergencies. He is the best dentist in the county, I was happy to wait until they were open. Other friends couldn't get in and are unhappy about their treatment from the new dentist in town.

This is the first time I have been called and my temperature was taken, full PPE precautions, I was happy to go. Unfortunately as I lost a tooth about fifteen years ago, and the 'single' molar at the back is now x-raying as loose. Too much sherbert, wish I didn't have a sweet tooth! Hopefully might stay standing until I'm older!

Our plan is so much per month and every thing is covered except lab fees.

Our private dentist shows prices on their website. They have increased recently because of extra PPE. Bit of a racket really as they just had a mask and plastic apron, and I paid £60+ for hygienist and 60+ for basic check up with dentist.They do have to restrict the number of patients that they see in a day to give extra time between each.

Think I'm getting a bargain with my dentist: £11.95 per month for 1 annual check up and any x- rays required, 2 dental hygienist appointments per year and 15% off any treatment required. I've already had my annual check up with the dentist and see the hygienist next Thursday. They've been brilliant.

No nhs dentist near us so we had no choice but go private. Ours is £30 a month each but covers hygienist, xrays, root canal, fillings and extractions etc. We both have rubbish teeth and never manage to go 6months without requiring emergency treatment in some form. Always manage to be seen same day. I’d rather pay my dentist than have a mobile phone or tv package. Each to their own.

Yes it is a private practice. We have not missed previous appointments and were not told about this fee when we booked the appointment. My DH is going for a filling next week and is deducting £45 from the bill. We will be looking for a new dentist now! Personally I think they are just trying to make up for lost revenue due to the lockdown.