What I don't understand is if a dentist treats both NHS patients and private patients what is the difference? I am talking here about general dental work (e.g. check-up, scale and polish, fillings) and not any kind of cosmentic work.
If you chose to be a private patient the same dentist is most likely to give you the same treatment as a NHS patients. i.e. spend the same amount of time examing you, give you the same degree of cleaning, give you the same filling. So why do some people choose to be a private patient at a NHS dental clinic. What is the point in paying more money for the same treatment?
2007-01-22 00:30:21 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Dental
I am from London and there is not really a shortage of dentists. My dentist takes on NHS and private patients.
I am not talking about differences between NHS dentists and private dentists. I am talking about cases whereby a dental practice treats both NHS and private patients. Some people choose to pay for private treatment even though the dentist takes on NHS dentists.
2007-01-22 00:45:24 · update #1
I don't believe they use better materials and nor do I believe they spend much longer! How can you proove they spend more time with a private patient over a NHS dental patient? You can't.
2007-01-22 00:49:32 · update #2
don't be illusion ed by NHS or PRIVATE, they both do exactly the same, its just that private he makes the mega bucks, but doing the same for NHS, they pay what the going rate is on their terms and the time waiting. so it pays them to take on private work as well. That's how a NHS Doctor, maybe the same Doctor doing it on Private work. more money. He may keep you in an extra day or so, at your expence. NHS they are quick to turf you out the door to save them the money.
2007-01-22 03:57:39 · answer #1 · answered by archaeologia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I cant speak for other dentists but I certainly do spend more time with my private patients. I dont necessarily spend the same amount of time treating them but I do give them longer and priority appointment which means I dont feel rushed and have time to concentrate on what I'm doing. It also gives more time to chat to the patient and let them know whats going on. Its a more personal service and puts patients at ease.
Also, I absolutely use higher quality and more expensive materials when treating my private patients. Im sure not all dentists do this but all my friends and colleagues have seperate materials for NHS and private patients. At the end of the day, the patient is paying the full cost and so should get the best quality treatment possible.
You mention time spent actually treating a patient. If you were a paying private customer, would you like to be drilled for a longer time just so that you thought you were getting value for money? I dont think so. If anything, a private patient should have a speedy treatment at the highest possible standard.
2007-01-22 08:20:33 · answer #2 · answered by scottishdentist 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Private patients get better treatment. For example where I work if a private patient wants to come in at a certain time and NHS patients have been booked for this time, the NHS patient will be cancelled so as the private patient can be seen. The materials we use on private patients is better quality and also the time spent on a normal check up is longer. I have worked at 3 dental practices who have all performed in this way
2007-01-22 21:06:58 · answer #3 · answered by nursie_000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem is that finding a dentist to take you as an NHS patient can be like hunt a need le in a haystack! They are few and far between and those that do take NHS have a long waiting list usually. So its often easier to go private and get taken in at the first dentist you visit. I have never heard of a private patient being turned away;
2007-01-22 00:34:53 · answer #4 · answered by huggz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are different types of filling i.e gold, which are obv going be more expensive than the bog-standard type so why would the govt. fund for that?
if you're a private patient there's a lot more choice in thre treatment available.
if you want to prove a dentist spends more time with private patients than NHS ones why don't you ask a dentist who treats both?
2007-01-23 04:37:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They won't treat you the same. My wife was told blah was the scale/polish she would get and this type of filling, but if she had that particular treatment done privately they would use different products, and spend more time.
Some practices that do both, close their NHS list at a certain length, then you have to go private to get seen.
2007-01-22 00:37:21 · answer #6 · answered by MrBoby 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you pay the extra for priority treatment , an NHS patient rolling around on the floor in chronic pain will be ignored in favour of a private patient wanting a polish up !
2007-01-22 00:38:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I guess paying for private care (whether it be the dentist or hospital) your paying for the extra little details, more comfort, piece of mind that if you do have a emergency then you will get an appointment.
Like someone below said they will use better materials and spend longer dealing with you as your paying the extra.
2007-01-22 00:42:01 · answer #8 · answered by Barmycarmy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i went because i know he was a good dentist as i had the dentist as a child, but im not on the nhs list anymore and figured as i cant get on one (nhs dentist that is) i would carry on going to a dentist i know, even though it not nhs prices
2007-01-22 00:35:30 · answer #9 · answered by nessx 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
people dont choose to go private in an NHS surgery its the rules basically if u work u pay, if ur on benefits then u get ur treatment for free
2007-01-22 00:35:03 · answer #10 · answered by blonde286021 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋