National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)

 The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has introduced guidelines on how often patients need to go to the dentist. Your dentist will recommend a date for your next visit based on your individual oral health needs. This means -

• People with higher treatment needs may need to attend more often than before.
  
• People with good oral health may only need to attend once every 12 to 24 months.

At Hillbrook Dental Health Centre ask your dentist for your own personalised care plan after they have checked and assessed you.

What treatments will be available from NHS dentists?

All clinically necessary treatments and dentures will still be available on the NHS, i.e. treatment that is necessary to secure and maintain your oral health.

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 decide to have this treatment done privately. You should ask your dentist how much this will cost in addition to charges for NHS treatment.

As now, you can agree with your dentist to have some of your treatment provided privately.

How do I know if I am exempt from paying any NHS charges?

 You will continue to receive free services from your NHS dentist if when the treatment starts you are:

• Aged under 18
• Aged 18 and in full time education
• Pregnant, or having had a baby , in the 12 months before treatment starts

 When treatment starts or when the charge is made -

• You are getting, or your partner gets Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Pension credit exemption certificate
• You are named on a valid HC2 certificate
• Your dentist will ask for evidence that you are entitled to free NHS dental treatment
• If you are named on a valid HC3 certificate, you may be eligible for partial help with dental costs.

For further information about helping with health costs   - NHS Dental Costs.

NHS Payment

If you are exempt from NHS dental charges, you will still receive free treatment and care.

If you normally pay for NHS dental treatment, there will be three standard charges. You will pay one charge even if you need to visit more than once to complete a course of treatment.

The patient payment will be based on the highest banded item(s) provided during the course of treatment.

If you are referred to another dentist, you will still pay one charge (to the dentist who refers you). If you need more treatment at the same charge level (e.g., an additional filling) within two months of seeing your dentist, this will be free of charge.

The amount you will pay will depend on the treatment for further info on (NHS CHARGES).

 The NHS Dental bands are -

• Band 1. This charge includes an examination, diagnosis, maintenance and preventative care, e.g. dental hygiene advice. If necessary, this will include x-rays, scaling and polishing and planning further treatment.
• Band 2. This charge covers all necessary treatment covered by the PLUS additional simple treatments such as fillings, extractions, and root canal treatment and surgical procedures.
• Band 3. This charge includes all necessary treatment covered by the charges PLUS more complex procedures that include work by a laboratory, such as bridgework, crowns and dentures.

Urgent treatment has a charge of NHS Charges. This charge includes an examination, x-rays, dressings, pulpectomy, pulptomy, re-implant a lost tooth, arrest a haemorrhage, re-cementing crowns / bridges, make a temporary bridge, ease a denture, treat cementum sensitivity and acute periodontal conditions, supply treatment needed as a result of trauma and carry out up to two extractions and one filling.

 Please note, the definition of urgent in this case is purely to get a patient out of pain, it is not an "avenue" to obtain routine treatment. The route of urgent treatment can only be used subject to the dentist's opinion where a person's oral health is likely to deteriorate significantly or the person is in severe pain by reason of his oral condition. The dentist my act if they believe it necessary to prevent further deterioration or to address that serves pain.

 Dentures - Repair to dentures will remain free of charge. If you lose or accidentally damage your dentures beyond repair, it will cost to replace them. This cost applies to even if a patient is normally exempt from patient charges. The same applies to orthodontic appliances.

There will be no charge for writing a prescription or for removing stitches. A charge will usually apply when getting the prescription dispensed.

At Hillbrook Dental Health Centre, we DO NOT -

• Charge you for missed appointments but if you continue to miss appointments they may decide not to offer you treatment.
• Accept children as NHS patients on condition that their parent, parents or guardian agree to sign up for private treatment.

Our dentists have become extremely busy since the last few years and we ask all our patients to book ahead for their appointments. If you cannot come to the surgery to attend your appointment please let us know as soon as possible so that your appointment can be given to another person who may be in pain and needs treatment or advice.