My dentist has just quoted £100 or thereabouts for a standard (silver amalgam) filling. I need eight of them. I know the days of cheap NHS dental care (in the UK) are over, but I don't want to take out a second mortgage just to get my teeth sorted. Can anyone tell me if this charge is "market rate" (in London/SE) or am I being ripped off???
2007-02-15 10:56:28 · 9 answers · asked by grpr1964 4 in Health ➔ Dental
Are the white fillings just as good (ie. do they last as long?)
2007-02-15 11:12:40 · update #1
£100 sounds 'over the odds' for an amalgam filling!
My dentist (East Midlands) quotes about £50 privately, which is only a little more than the NHS cost of approx £42. He decided to go private a few months back, (giving his patients a big scare!), but fortunately reverted back to NHS work. I have had private dental treatment (dental whitening involving manufacture of moulds and enough supply of peroxide for 4 treatments over 2 years) which cost me £180 from this dentist, who I think is more than competent. He works out of a run-down inner city surgery however. I have a friend who is a private dentist in Reading who works in a very nice practice and who charges much more than this.
It would be worth looking at your local PCTs' website. You might be surprised. You never know, you might possibly find a dentist still taking on NHS patients. My ma (who lives in Sussex) has an NHS dentist. A pal in Richmond found an NHS dentist, though she did not like him! One of the advantages of NHS dental treatment is that fees are nationally set, however many dentists feel that for these fees they can only give an inferior service. Private fees vary enormously, but if you choose a good dentist you can get excellent treatment
My advice is shop around! Good luck!
2007-02-15 11:40:58 · answer #1 · answered by whackyfunckylady 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are being ripped off!! The NHS has fixed rates now for the type of treatment you need regardless of how many fillings you need and regardless of how long the treatment takes. According to the website below, for the treatment you need you should only pay £42.40 regardless of how many fillings you need!! Check it out!! However if you are not with an NHS dentist then I am afraid they are allowed to charge as much as they like and I suggest you find another one!! I really wouldn't expect to pay more then £15-£20 per silver filling.
I have white fillings (which are not available under NHS charges) and I paid less then £100. My white fillings cost £50 each. Yes they are just as strong as the silver ones! Also they are better because they don't leave a metallic taste in your mouth, and they look better!! You can't even tell there are fillings there (almost).
See website: http://www.nhs.uk/england/dentists/dentalcharges.cmsx
2007-02-16 01:22:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely go for white fillings. Amalgam fillings are not so good. You should read up on the side effects of having amalgam in your mouth. White are more expensive but much safer.
I had amalgam in almost 1/3 of my teeth since a child. I finally had it all removed last year (this was very expensive and painful).
Make the decision you think is best for you.
2007-02-15 11:41:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ripped off BIG TIME, from April last year the standard charge for all amalgam fillings was changed to £42.20, and that is not per filling but per course of treatment!
I'd tell your dentist to go and boil his/her head and get in touch with your local Primary Care Trust about the conning git!
2007-02-16 10:46:06 · answer #4 · answered by The Original Highbury Gal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
White fillings (composite) are more expensive than silver fillings (amalgam). That's alot of money to be paying. Is that a quote for just the one filling? Or all 8?
2007-02-16 05:27:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I truthfully have medical for existence from my previous interest...Eye and dental I misplaced as quickly as I left my final interest yet i could have those 2 back in 2 months.....won't be in a position to arise with the money for to no longer have coverage.
2016-10-02 05:16:26 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because your not getting NHS cover and their silver, they will cost more, thats why its best to get silver on NHS is you can, so im guessing £100 is the real price.
otherwise why not go for just plain white, their cheaper and look good.
2007-02-15 11:08:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like your being ripped off to me, try out of London, I had white fillings for far less
2007-02-15 11:00:22 · answer #8 · answered by rose_merrick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a second opinion - that sounds VERY expensive - I go private and I'm quoted less than that!!!
2007-02-15 11:16:26 · answer #9 · answered by Moebious 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋