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Introduction
The dental health of children is much
better today that it was 30 years ago. the dental health of
adults is also much better. this is mostly as a result of
fluoride in toothpaste.
Making just a few simple changes to
what you eat and drink and how you brush your teeth can make a big
difference to the health of your mouth, gums and teeth, for
example
- brush regularly with a fluoride
toothpaste
- cutting down on how often you
have sugary food and drinks
- not smoking or using other
tobacco products
- drinking alcohol within limits
advised by doctors
- wearing gum shields when playing
sport
Visiting your dentist regularly is
also very important
For further information about
looking after your teeth and dental health, see the
dental health section
on our website,
or visit the Live Well dental health section of the NHS
choice website. This website also has a Health A-Z
section where you can look up information on a range of dental
health treatments and conditions.
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NHS dental service in
England
Your local primary care trust (PCT)
is in charge of arranging NHS dental service in your area.
these services include urgent treatment, out-of-hours care and
emergencies. if you are having problems finding an NHS
dentist, your PCT is there to help.
You do not need to register with a
dentist to get regular treatment. Simply contact a practice
offering NHS dentistry and ask if you can have an appointment.
This is also the case if you are
related to someone serving in the armed forces and are currently
based in England.
Asylum seekers and refugees who
have been allowed to remain in the UK, or who are waiting for the
results of an application to remain or for an appeal, are also
entitled to NHS dental treatment.
You will be able to have any
treatment that your dentist feels you need in order to keep your
teeth, gums and mouth healthy on the NHS. these treatments
include dentures, crowns and bridges as well as any preventive
treatment needed. Your dentist should also give you advice
on how to keep your teeth, gums and mouth healthy.
Your dentist will ask you
back for regular check ups - but not necessarily as frequently as
every six months. if your dental health is good, you may
only be asked to come for a check up every two years.
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Find
urgent, out-of-hours and emergency treatment
Even if you do not have a regular
dentist, you can always get urgent NHS dental care, or be treated
out of normal surgery hours, if clinically necessary.
Contact your PCT (office hours only), or go to
www.nhs.uk (and follow the search details given on page 3
under How to find an NHS Dentist) or call NHS Direct on 08454647
(available 24 hours a day) for more details.
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NHS
dental Charges
NHS dental charges are now simpler
and easier to understand. Depending on what you need to have
done, you will only ever be asked to pay one set price for each
course of either Band 1, Band 2 or Band 3 treatment - See the
NHS Fees page for the list of costs.
Some people will not have to pay
anything at all see the
Free NHS dental treatment and
How to claim free NHS Treatment to find out if this
applies to you.
Your dentist should always tell you
how much you need to pay before starting your treatment.
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Your treatment costs
explained
The charges you pay depends on the
treatment you need to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
All charges apply to an overall
course of treatment, and not the individual items within the
course of treatment.
You will only have to pay one
charge for each course of treatment - even if you need to visit
your dentist more than once to finish it.
If you need more treatment within
the same or lower charge band (for example and additional filling)
within two moths of completing a course of treatment, you do not
have to pay anything extra.
You do not have to pay to have have
your denture repaired, for having stitches out, or if your dentist
has to stop blood loss. Neither do you have to pay if your
dentist only needs to write out a prescription. (But if you
pay for you prescriptions, you will pay the usual charge when you
collect your medicine from your pharmacist.)
You may sometimes be asked to pay
all, or some of, your treatment costs before you start a course of
treatment. Check this with your practice and always ask for
a receipt when you make a payment.
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Free NHS dental treatment
You do not have to pay for NHS
dental treatment if - when the treatment starts - you are :
- aged under 18
- aged 18 and in full-time
education
- pregnant or a mother who has had
a baby in the previous 12 months
- staying in an NHS hospital and
your treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist
- an NHS Hospital Dental Service
outpatient (however, you may have to pay for your dentures or
bridges).
You also do not have to pay if -
when the treatment starts or when you are asked to pay - you:
- are getting, or your partner is
getting, income support, income-based jobseeker's Allowance or
Pension Credit guarantee credit
- have, or your name is on, a
valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate
- have the right to full help
under the NHS Low Income Scheme (i.e. you are named on a valid
HC2 certificate)
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How to claim free
NHS dental treatment
You will be asked to show your
dentist written proof that you can claim free NHS treatment.
You will also be asked to sign a form (HC1) to confirm that you do
not have to pay.
If you have the right to partial
help under the NHS Low Income Scheme, and your name is on a valid
HC£ certificate, you may no have to pay for all your treatment.
You will need form HC1 to claim for
full (HC2) or partial (HC3) help with NHS dental costs.
these forms are available from your Jobcenter Plus office or by
calling 08458501166 of 08701555455.
To find out more about free NHS
dental treatment and how to go about getting it, see Help with
health costs (HC11), which is available from post offices,
Jobcenter Plus offices and dental surgeries. it can also be
downloaded from
www.dh.gov.uk
Help with health costs also has
details about the new Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).
this started on 1 April 2008 and means that, if you receive
certain benefits or are on a low income and you are referred to a
hospital for specialist dental treatment, you may be able to get
help with the cost of travelling to and from your appointments.
Checks are made on free treatment
claims. if you say you have the right to free treatment when
you do not, you could go to court and/or have to pay a fine.
If you pay for your treatment but
latter find out that it should have been free, you can claim a
refund. you need to do this within three months of the date
that you paid. toy do this you need form HC5, which from
post offices, Jobcenter Plus offices and dental surgeries.
it can also be downloaded from
www.dh.gov.uk
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What to expect from
your dentist
Your dentist should always:
- Undertake a full examination of
your mouth, teeth and gums
- explain your treatment options
and let you know what treatment can be done on the NHS and what
other work (E.g. cosmetic treatment) can be done privately if
you wish
- Make sure you know how much your
NHS and/or private treatment will cost
- give you a treatment plan for
any proposed Band 2 or 3 treatment (see
NHS Fees for details)
- offer all the care and treatment
needed to maintain your dental health - and that you wish to
receive as an NHS patient - as part of a single course of
treatment
- make a leaflet available to you
with information about the practice and its services
- display a poster about NHS
charges in the waiting room
if your dentist does not offer all
of the above service and information, you have the right to ask
for them. you also have the right to make a complaint if you
are not happy with the way you are dealt with or treated see
Making
a complaint.
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What your dentist
expects from you
Give as much notice as possible if
you have to cancel or change your appointment. if you miss
appointments you don't not have to pay but your dentist can decide
not to offer you treatment in future.
Try to follow your dentist's advice
on how to avoid tooth decay and gum disease.
Always ask your dentist if there is
something you do not understand.
Pay your treatment bills promptly.
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Your Treatment plan
Your dentist should give you a
treatment plan to sign before carrying out any Band 2 or 3
treatment. This confirms the NHS treatment your dentist is
going to do, and the amount you will need to pay for it on the NHS. if you have talked to your dentist about having private
treatment, the details and costs of this will be listed separately
on the same form. Please ask your dentist to explain any
risks, as well as costs, of treatment. All clinically
necessary treatment, including root canal work, is available on
the NHS and should be provided as part of your NHS treatment
unless you agree to specific private treatment with your dentist.
If you are not given a treatment
plan, please ask your dentist for one. If you are not
offered necessary treatment as part of your NHS treatment plan
(for example you are only offered it if you pay for it privately)
you should contact your local PCT for assistance and advice.
To see what a treatment plan form
looks like, go to
www.dh.gov.uk/dental
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Orthodontic
(teeth straightening) treatment
In April 2006 the NHS introduced
new rules which means that orthodontic treatment is only given to
people who need it for clinical reasons. More details about
why how this is done are available on the British Orthodontic
Society website
www.bos.org.uk
If you or your child are told that
you do not meet NHS requirements for orthodontic treatment, you
can ask to be referred for private treatment, in which case you
will need to pay private charges. Whether your orthodontic
treatment is NHS or private your dentist will always need to refer
you to an orthodontic.
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Being referred to
another dentist
If you are referred to another
dentist as part of an existing course of treatment, you will still
only pay one charge (to the dentist who refers you).
However, if you are referred to another dentist for a new course
of treatment, you will need to pay two sets of charges.
(this does not apply if you have the right to free NHS treatment).
Please check with your dentist. Reasons for this sort of
referral might include having treatment under sedation, going to
see an orthodontist, or if your dentist comes to see you on a home
visit.
Ask your PCT if you would like more
information on NHS sedation, orthodontic and home visit services
in your area.
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Hospital waiting times
By December 2008, the longest you
will wait for non-emergency specialist HMS dental care will be 18
weeks from referral to treatment, usually much less. Any
appointments, tests, scans or other procedures that you may need
before being treated will all happen within this time limit.
For more information about waiting times, please see:
www.18weeks.nhs.uk/endwaiting/
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Private Treatments
Some treatments, e.g. tooth
whitening and other cosmetic work are not usually available on the
NHS. After talking to your dentist, you may choose to have
these privately. Please ask your dentist to explain any
risks, as well as costs of all treatment.
Note: Your dentist is not allowed
to offer children treatment on the NHS on the condition that a
parent or guardian is a private patient
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Making a Complaint
NHS Treatment
You should first speak to the
practice. If you are not happy with their response, you
should then contact your PCT.
Full details on how to make a
complaint about NHS dentistry can be found at
NHS Complaints
Private Treatment
To make a complaint about private
dental services, contact the Dental Complaints service on
08456120540, email
info@dentailcomplaints.org.uk or visit
www.dentalcomplaints.org.uk
The Dentistry@130 & 168 - Complaints
Procedure
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Other useful information
The NHS choices website
www.nhs.uk contains lots of information about where to find
local dentist and how to look after your dental health. you
will also find sections on a range of related subjects such as who
does what in the dental team and conquering your fear of the
dentist.
www.dh.gov.uk/dental
see the section called information for
patients and the public for a sample treatment plan, how often to
visit your dentist and other advice.
British Dental Health Foundation
Tel 08450631188 or visit
www.dentalhealth.org
Citizens Advice
See your local phone book for the
nearest branch or visit
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
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