General Chat

who gets it free now ? I f you are unemployed do you get it free?
OH is unemployed but gets no money from the DHSS.
His dentist told him last time that it was free and she filled in the form but he goes tomorrow and doesn`t know if it is , Ros xx

If its a NH one then I should think he will but some private dentists only do under 16 free,,,,,,,,,

~~Tax credits should make him exempt...if unemployed how come he doesnt get money from DHSS?
If you apply fro tax credits..he should get it free..
(hate dentists!)

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?ArticleId=1786

He gets no unemploymeny benefit cos I`m working more than 16 hours a week, he has enough NI stamps so doesn`t need to sign on . This is one reason why unemployment figures are wrong as loads of people don`t need to sign on now , Ros xx

I'm on income support and generally the dental check ups and treatment are free. At one stage the practice was considering charging NHS patients for check ups if they wanted a check up more frequently than once every 2 years but this never happened.

We have to pay for non-mercury fillings for myself and 10 year old son. We can still get mercury amalgam fillings free though, even though certain other countries have outlawed them as highly dangerous to health of patients and dental workers and toxic to the environment.

Thanks , Joan .I work 30 hours a week , we have no mortgage so get no help with that. He has to pay for prescriptions too , buys an annual ticket now and they have gone down in price £45 for a year . He`s on 6 tablets for blood pressure etc,
Ros xx

Ros I have you looked to see if you are entitled to Working Tax Credit? It's worth you having a looking

http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/Qualify/WhatAreTaxCredits.aspx

Press on "Do I Qualify", fill in the form online & it will tell you

I just don't understand the way that it works re NHS dental treatment and prescription, eye tests.

We don't get anything like that and still paying mortgage, full council tax, even have to pay council to do the garden.

Betty

Here is the full list of things that give you free dental treatment. Copied from NHS direct.

You will continue to receive free treatment from your NHS dentist if, when the treatment starts, you are:

aged under 18,
aged 18 and in full-time education,
pregnant, or have had a baby in the 12 months before treatment starts,
an NHS in-patient and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist, or
an NHS Hospital Dental Service out-patient (although there may be a charge for dentures and bridges).
You are also entitled to receive free NHS dental treatment if, when the treatment starts, or when the charge is made:

you are getting, or your partner gets Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit,
you are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate, or
you are named on a valid HC2 certificate.
If you are named on a valid HC3 certificate, you may be eligible for partial help with dental costs (see below for more information).

Your dentist will ask for evidence that you are entitled to free NHS dental treatment. Your Jobcentre Plus, or Pension Centre, will be able to provide you with a letter of entitlement.

If you are under 18 years of age, you can use any official document showing your name and date of birth, such as a passport, or birth certificate.

If you are 18 years of age, and in full-time education, your school, college, or Local Education Authority (LEA) can provide proof that you are in full-time education. You will also need an official document showing your name and age.

NHS Low Income Scheme (HC2 and HC3 certificates)If you are on a low income, and you have savings of less than £16,000 (or £21,500 if you are permanently in a care home), you may be entitled to help with your health costs.

Your income and circumstances will be assessed and, depending on your situation, you could be given either an HC2 or an HC3 certificate.

An HC2 certificate will mean that you are exempt from all NHS charges, including prescription charges. An HC3 certificate will mean that you are entitled to some limited help with certain NHS charges. The exact amount will depend on your individual circumstance.

Joanne x

Hi Tracy
If you are on income support, your dentist has no right to charge you for any treatment carried out under the NHS. In face, he would be acting illegally. You are also able to have 6 monthly check ups. 2 years is too long an interval. We don't just look for decay, it is also about gum health and oral cancer checks.

Since the new NHS contracts, we are also able to use a much wider choice of materials, including white fillings.

The reason that some countries have banned amalgam fillings is because of the enviromental hazards during cremation, and not because of dangers to patients and staff. Both the governing health bodies of USA and UK confirm that amalgam is still a good safe and stable material to use. White materials are not as long lasting, and there is some discussion about the plastic chemical that may leach out, although nothing has been confirmed.

Joanne x

He got the form from dentists but not entitled as I`m working , thought so , Ros xx

Hi Joanne,

Your comment interested me:
"Since the new NHS contracts, we are also able to use a much wider choice of materials, including white fillings."

That is what I thought BUT my dental practice and all the others I phoned in my area only do white fillings privately. I even phoned the PALS to clarify the situation and they confirmed that the NHS cannot afford to offer white fillings EVEN for patients who have health conditions where exposure to mercury is ill-advised.

If anything the price of white fillings has soared since the new contrcts were introduced. They used to cost £42 but now start at £75 !! As a result I've been saving up for several months to get my son's tooth filled but we're getting nowhere fast.

Joan , we won`t get anything as I`ve to send payslips, thanks for help, Ros

My filling (very large), check up and hygienist cost £110 !!!
Ros xx

Hi Tracy

It sounds like the dental surgeries near you have set their own rules. The way that dentists are now paid by the NHS means that they can do whatever they wish within the health service. They get a unit price (UDA) depending on the treatment. Fillings will get us 3 UDAs. It doesn't matter whether the filling is white or amalgam. The majority of patients where I work prefer white fillings, so that is what they get. They pay the standard NHS charge of £44.60.
White fillings are a lot more fiddly and time consuming to place than amalgams, and the material costs more to buy. This maybe one of the reasons why the dentist near you won't do them under the NHS.
Before the new contract, the NHS used to price each type of treatment and also dictated which materials were to be used for each tooth - amalgam for back teeth, white for front teeth.

Joanne x

Hi Rosalyn
That sounds very reasonable for a dental treatment.

Privately we charge:
Hygienist £45
check-up £30
large filling £75-£90

I wish I was a dentist, and not just their assistant!!!!

It`s usually 30 for check up , hygienist the same , but he only charged me 15 for hygienist as I`m one of his old patients , he moved out on his own , I found out where he was and followed although you are not supposed ,
My uncle was a dentist in Aberdeen
Ros xx

Ros did you look to see if you can get working tax credit?

For many people all this is rather academic, as it assumes you can find an NHS dentist in the first place.

Many towns and cities no longer have one. I gather there is just one NHS practice in our city - which has a population of 162,000 - all the rest are private independents.