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Dentists Charges

(27 Posts)
J52 Fri 07-Feb-14 11:31:25

What really annoys me is that we, innocent patients, have no way of knowing if the dentist is doing work that is totally necessary. Often when moving to a new dentist there are comments about previous work not being good enough or work that should have been done.
Last time I moved dentist because the first one ( private ) wanted to do 'minor' surgical work to my gum, in order to rectify a problem he thought I had!!! I was alarmed and sought a new (also private) Dentist, making no comment about the previous diagnosis. The new dentist discovered a problem with my jaw and a growth that meant an operation at Hospital. All on NHS. Had I not sought the second opinion, I would have paid a great deal to the first dentist to do unnecessary work on a part of my mouth and still had the growth on my jaw!!
No wonder people don't like going, it's not the pain in the jaw, it's the pain in the wallet! X

mrsmopp Fri 07-Feb-14 11:05:48

Just returned from a dental appointment to replace a tiny composite filling which had fallen out of my front tooth. It took 10 minutes and the charge was £80. A recent check up and an appointment with the hygienist each cost £40. (Today I received a letter informing me that my state pension is to be increased by £2 a week.)
Are these prices typical? We are snookered because there are so few NHS dentists anymore and they aren't taking on any new patients.
Rant over.