NHS dental services. Frequently Asked Questions

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1 NHS dental services Frequently Asked Questions How do I find an NHS Dentist in Leicestershire County and Rutland? To find an NHS dentist in the Leicestershire County and Rutland area call????????, or use the search facility on the NHS Choices page and choose the dentist option. Alternatively, you can call NHS Direct on What is an NHS dentist? An NHS dentist will have an agreement with your local Primary Care Trust to provide dental services to the local community. They will provide the relevant services and dental care to ensure the highest level of oral health possible for each individual. Why can t I get an appointment with my usual dentist? You have a right to say which dentist at your practice you would like to see, however, while the practice will do its best to accommodate your wishes, sometimes this may not be possible. With regards to the frequency of seeing your dentist, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) have produced guidelines for dentists that recommend that patients visit the dentist at intervals that reflect their oral health needs and not at a fixed interval. Why can t I register with a dentist anymore? Dentists no longer need to register patients, but this does not prevent them from keeping a list of regular patients or providing ongoing treatment and care. How can I find out about urgent and out-of-hours care? You can contact NHS Direct on for advice on how to access urgent and out-of-hours dental care. Why is my dentist no longer accepting NHS patients? Most dentists that worked for the NHS prior to the new contract on the 1 st April 2006 are continuing to provide NHS dentals services, indeed in Leicestershire County and Rutland that number of NHS dentists has in fact increased after the PCT invested additional funding. However some dentists did decide in 2006 to either change the amount of NHS dentistry they provided or to stop providing NHS dentistry.

2 What are the patient charges? If you pay for your NHS dental treatment, there are three standard charges and the amount you pay will depend on the treatment you might need to keep your teeth and gums healthy. The charges apply to the overall course of treatment and not the individual items within the course of treatment. You will only pay one charge for one course of treatment even if you need to visit your dentist more than once to finish the treatment. If after completing a course of treatment you need further treatment of the same band such as an additional filling, and it is within two months of completing the course of treatment, you do not have to pay anything. From 1 st April 2010, if you are not exempt from charges you will pay one of the following: Band 1 course of treatment This covers an examination, diagnosis (for example an x-ray), advice on how to prevent future problems, and a scale and polish if needed. Urgent treatment when you need to see a dentist immediately also costs Band 2 course of treatment This covers everything listed in band1 plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or if your dentist needs to take out one or more of your teeth. Band 3 course of treatment This covers everything in bands 1 and 2 plus crowns, dentures and bridges. These are the only charges your dentist will ask you to pay when you are having NHS dental treatment. When you visit the dentist he will provide you with a treatment plan for bands 1 and 2 which will detail the work he will be doing and also the cost. If you are not offered a treatment plan please ask your dentist for one. You do not have to pay to have your dentures repaired, for having stitches out or if your dentist has to stop blood loss. Nor do you have to pay if your dentist only has to write you a prescription (but if you are not exempt from paying for your prescriptions you will still have to pay the prescription charge when you collect your medicine from the pharmacist). You may need to pay some of your treatment costs at the beginning of your treatment always ask the practice for a receipt.

3 What if I am referred for specialist treatment? If you are referred to another dentist as part of your existing course of treatment, you will only pay one charge to the dentist who refers you and nothing to the dentist to whom you have been referred. However if your dentists asks for you to be treated by another local specialist for a course of treatment such as orthodontics, treatment under sedation or home visits, this counts as a new course of treatment. In this case you will pay one charge to your dentist for the work he has carried out and a separate charge to the specialist for the second course of treatment. This does not apply if you have the right to free NHS treatment. If you choose to be referred to a private dentist or private consultant, then private charges will apply. If you want to know more about sedation, orthodontic and home visits in Leicestershire County and Rutland please contact the PCT on???? Am I entitled to free NHS dental treatment? You can get free NHS dental treatment if you are: Under and in full-time education, Pregnant, or have had a baby in the last 12 months before treatment starts, An NHS inpatient and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist, or An NHS Hospital Dental Service outpatient (there may be a charge for dentures and bridges). Your are also entitled to free NHS dental treatment if you or your partner (including civil partners): Receive income support, Receive Income-based job seekers allowance, Receive Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit Are named on, or entitled to (use your award notice as evidence), an NHS tax credit exemption certificate, or Are named on a valid HC2 certificate (full help with health costs). Partial help

4 If you are named on a valid HC3 certificate (partial help), you might get some help towards the cost of your NHS dental treatment. The certificate tells you how much you will have to pay. For more detailed information including how to claim refunds, see Help with dental costs. What treatment is available from NHS dentists? All necessary care and treatment, including dentures, is available on the NHS. If you want, or your dentist suggests, treatment that is purely cosmetic (for example, tooth whitening, large white fillings or white crowns on back teeth), you can only have this treatment done privately. Ask your dentist how much this will cost in addition to charges for NHS treatment. Checklist for patients Your dentist should: Undertake a thorough examination of your mouth, teeth and gums, Explain your treatment options and let you know what can be provided on the NHS or privately, Make sure you know how much your NHS and/or private treatment will cost, Provide you with a written treatment plan (including costs) if you are receiving a mix of NHS and private care, Display a poster about NHS charges in the waiting room, Discuss with you how often you will need a check up (if you have good oral healthit is unlikely that you will need a check up every six months) and Provide a leaflet with information about the practice and the services available. Your dentist cannot: Charge you for missed appointments (but if you continue to miss appointments they may decide not to offer you treatment), or Accept children as NHS patients on the condition that their parent, parents or guardian agree to sign up for private treatment. You should: Give your dentist as much notice as possible if you have to cancel or change an appointment, Request a written treatment plan (including costs) if you would like one, Ask for information on your treatment options and how much it will cost, Ask about your oral health and how often you need to go to the dentist, Follow your dentist s advice to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, Pay your bill promptly, and

5 Contact the person responsible for practice complaints if you believe you have been charged incorrectly or if you are not satisfied with the NHS treatment you have received. How often should I go to the dentist? With regards to the frequency of seeing your dentist, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) have produced guidelines for dentists that recommend that patients visit the dentist at intervals that reflect their oral health needs and not at a fixed interval. You should follow your dentists advice on how often you need to attend. If you would like to attend more frequently than is required to keep your teeth and gums healthy, you will need to pay for this treatment privately. Can my dentist provide private care or children only services? Your dentist may provide a mixture of NHS and private care. The NHS services your dentist provides depends on the services people in your area need and the contract they agree with your primary care trust (PCT). This may mean that some dentists continue to provide children only NHS services. However, a dentist may not accept children as NHS patients on condition that their parent or guardian agrees to sign up for private treatment. How do I complain about my NHS dental treatment? If you wish to make a complaint about the care or service provided by your dentist or the dentist s surgery, contact the responsible person at the practice for complaints and your dentist will try to resolve your complaint. If you remain unhappy with the response to your complaint then you can contact the complaints department at Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT, Lakeside House, 4 Smith way, Enderby, Leicestershire, LE19 1SS