with the NHS we get free operations/free to see a GP (etc).
but should dental be free treatment also? (ie:- if you've damaged your teeth) afterall its still general health.
2006-12-23 11:23:20 · 19 answers · asked by uk_steveo 1 in Health ➔ Dental
You must be relatively young. It used to be available freely on NHS, but there was a lot of trouble with it. As with all publicly funded health, there are a few competing interests:
1. The government wants to keep prices down (and less taxes);
2. Dentists want to get prices up;
3. Patients want free treatment (and less taxes).
So eventually there were a lot of fast dentists who found lots of holes wherever they looked, and the govt couldn't really control it except by lowering the cost per filling, which only made things worse. Or was it the other way around? And patients didn't question the need for treatment because it wasn't costing them anything. Where were the brakes?
I agree that dental care should be more widely available to the greater population, but no-one's ever found a fool-proof "free" system.
2006-12-23 11:39:41 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Matt W (Australia) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NHS does cover dental, we get it cheaper than other countrys (hence the saying) ^NHS prices^, but all an NHS dentist does is patch things up after damage.
an NHS dentists is good for, check-ups/fillings/scrape and polish/emergencys.
If you want the best treatment after damage the best thing to do is pay private or you can always go on the dole and get £thousands£ of treatment done for free :D
2006-12-23 11:37:23 · answer #2 · answered by dave s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The check up is free but anything else you have to pay for at NHS rates unless you are receiving any other benefit (such as council tax benefit) The last year's price (might have gone up since) for a set of dentures was £177.
2016-05-23 02:43:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
when i was at school some years ago all my dental health was taken care off by the school dentist, i have now has a grandmother of five quite good teeth, but unfortunately, my daughters and their chidren are all suffering tooth problems,and my teeth are in better condition than theirs, and believe that if nothing is improved with the dental care given nowadays, my daughters and grandchildren will have false teeth before me. there is a definate decline in tooth care, it is very worrying has i know someone who had to have a jaw bone removed from an infection from tooth cyst that didnt recieve treatment until to late,
2006-12-23 11:37:54 · answer #4 · answered by batty 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Definitely everywhere. The insurance plans only pay a small percentage, the balance is yours... like it or not. My husband is a hospital employee they don't give it (dental) but they do give vision through the union. As someone said we pay good taxes and who cares, the prices keep going up. Our pockets get smaller while we make someone else get fatter because they are needed and know it to take advantage of it. Whose retirement and college funds are we paying for (their families)
2006-12-23 12:18:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
dental is England was free if you could find a dentist to take you on. After leaving England to come to Canada, we have to pay for all our dental, including children, which is quiet expensive, so how would you like to pay over $200 dollars for a cleaning, sure we can claim back about 3% on our taxes that amount to around $6.00 dollars, so I don't think you should complain to much about it, after all your taxes are a lot cheaper than ours.
2006-12-23 12:00:01 · answer #6 · answered by bolly 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes - all basic treatment should be free, charges should only apply to cosmetic treatment
I could do without yet another direct debit, what payment plan will we have to take out next ...... A GP finance plan at around £40 per month, I do hope not
2006-12-23 11:32:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
if you work steve no it isnt i in the uk depends how much damage you done my son fell of ladders broke 4 of his teeth had to have a lot of work done but in the end the price was £350 as he had to have bridge on front teeth and was told that was the limit they could charge cant charge you any more than that ,but if you dont work it is free.
2006-12-23 11:36:29 · answer #8 · answered by zippy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is in the UK youve just got to go the benefit office and collect youre income support and housing benefit aswell whilst ur there Gr8 HUh
2006-12-23 11:28:07 · answer #9 · answered by C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it can be very expensive if everyone needs dental care and it will cripple the nhs
and if you get cavities then it is normally your own falt
2006-12-24 01:24:58 · answer #10 · answered by tmswainyboy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋