Anybody knowledgeable in NHS dentistry issues?

Question

Hi, I have a friend who needs a root canal done but his NHS dentist cannot perform this as he says he is not qualified to do so. Another dentist at the surgery can perform the procedure but wants £850 to do it privately! (This price includes crown capping and aftercare).

Is there a way that he can get this done through another NHS dentist or practise as he really doesn’t want to pay £850 for this procedure. Additionally he’s a high income tax band earner, so pays 40%+ of his earnings in tax. Why should he not get NHS treatment while so many lazy bums who contribute nothing do ey?! (Sorry just a small rant about those who purposely don’t work)!

Your advice and suggestions are greatly appreciated. :)
Thanks.

Thanks for the answers so far… he is registered with an NHS dentist (a bad one – but still NHS). Is it feasible to join as an NHS patient with another dentist and ‘quit’ his current one?

Answer 1

Total and utter shite I'm afraid mate, I've been working as a registered Dental Nurse for many years and I've heard this old chestnut so many times.
You dont have to be a specialist to carry out Root Canals, any fully qualified dentist who is licensed with the General Dental Council is qualified to carry this procedure out and it's
a very common dental procedure which is carried out in dental surgeries world wide!
The nhs dental contract changed on April 1st 2006 and now consists of ONLY 3 nhs price bands
Band 1-£15.90-standard check up-xrays-and scale/polish
Band 2-£43.60-Fillings-RCT's-Extractions, and also includes the above band.
Band 2-Crowns/capping-Dentures-Bridges, and also includes bands 1+2.
For each treatment band the dentist earns what is known as UDA's- units of dental activity, and sadly since the new contract came into force a lot of nhs dentists are now doing rct's on a private basis simply because it takes roughly about 4 visits and they earn £194 and about 12 uda points for the whole course of treatment and sadly it's the patients who suffer.
I can only assume that the other dentist who is willing to carry the treatment out is an Endodontic specialist (somebody who specialises in rct's) and they charge what they like, it's also worth remembering that if the rct is carried out on a private basis the cap will also have to be done privatley as you cannot mix/match nhs/private treatment on the same tooth.
Your friend should get in touch with his local Primary care trust who actually help fund nhs surgries and explain his problem to them.
If a dental surgery is claiming to offer nhs treatment and then claim that one of the dentists is not qualified to carry out a certain treatment is not only misleading but unethical and totally untrue.
This treatment is avalable on the nhs and his primary care trust should be able to point him in the right direction.

Answer 2

If the first dentist isn't 'qualified' to carry out RCT (root canal treatment) he shouldn't be practising! He probably dislikes doing it or hasn't much experience.
Under the new NHS contract, no-one is 'registered' with a dentist so you can go to any dental practice who will accept you.
Some NHS practices haven't been given enough 'units' (funding) to carry out certain procedures, or they prefer not to do lengthy treatments as they earn the same as shorter, easier procedures (ie extractions 10minutes, RCT 45 minutes - which are they going to do?!)
The only option is to shop around or ask friends/colleagues for recommendations. You will get superior treatment from a private practice as they have the time/inclination/funds to do a better job - plus not skimping on materials etc.
I sympathise with the expense issue, but I think the NHS will eventually only do essential treatment and anyone wanting quality dentistry is better advised to use a scheme such as Denplan or similar.
£850 sounds rather expensive but crowns (cappings? ?) can cost anything from £350 - £600 alone. RCT done privately could be £200 so this is on the high side of normal! Under Denplan, the RCT would be covered by the monthly fee, the crown would only incur the laboratory cost.
I work for a NHS dentist but I go to a Private practice for my treatment (under Denplan)

Answer 3

Once dentistry work goes above a certain price the dentist has to have permission to do it on the NHS. I believe that if they're considered able to pay privately then the NHS won't foot the bill. NHS dentistry isn't considered a right for everybody and increasingly dentists are opting out of the system. I'm not sure if you can be registered at more than one dentist at a time under NHS rules - have you tried NHS direct for advice on this?

Answer 4

he can't be registered with and nhs dentist as nhs registration no longer exists, the dental surgeon is obviously not confident in root canal work therefore passing it on to more experienced surgeon. he can go elsewhere if another practice has some NHS "capacity" left.... this is prob easier said than done. NHS dentistry is only obliged to get pt's mouth healthy so this could just involve offering an extraction.
nice one lord wright

Answer 5

I don't know about you but I think dentists rip people off left right & center. I have just been to the hygeneist & it costed me £38!! . I was told I would have to go every 3 months!!! I cant afford that!!. No wonder dentists ride around in these flash cars... oh dear erm that wasnt answering your question was it? I was er...having a moment!!

Answer 6

what your friend needs to do is find a registering NHS dentist (can be found on NHS direct) then it will cost a maximum of £195 inclusive of all care.

hope this helps

Answer 7

for the record...idiots who slag off our profession piss me off.flash car this ....big house that.......would you say that to a doctor ??????? no !!!!! the same opourtunties we took you have had and probably wasted. how much would you pay a lawyer for a chat ??? a plumber for a quote or just a look ???
get a grip and stop being jealous of successful hardworking professionals