Another one for the dentists
Discussion
My wife went to the dentist today and he told her she needs root canal treatement. Apparently she can have NHS treatment for £47 or private treatment for £150. It'll be the same dentist doing the work, but apprently he told her he'd prefer her to go for the private treatment because it's "better quality". He didn't explain what "better quality" meant but I'm struggling to understand how the treatment can be that much different if it's the same dentist doing it (although to be honest I don't fully understand what root canal treatment entails).
Any advice much appreciated as she's struggling to work out what to do for the best.
Any advice much appreciated as she's struggling to work out what to do for the best.
The dentist may also be limited on the amount or type of tools they can use on the NHS. I just had a root canal done privately and the dentist had to use quite a few specialised hand files which she implied were expensive and wouldn't normally be used. (Tooth had a curved root so needed special bendy files that don't break)
The fee paid on NHS is a joke. All the little instruments used must be dispoed of as we'll all catch vCJD...totally unproven but DOH deemed this essential practice. Thus making this a very difficult procedure to perform well cheaply. The private kit is more effectice at cleaning and filling. Thus making the outcome more predictable. Pay cheap...get cheap!
BTW..£150 isnt too pricey.
BTW..£150 isnt too pricey.
Driller said:
On the NHS he'll get paid peanuts. Doing it privately he gets paid at least what he is worth.
Think how it would affect your work if you were offered two completely different sums (one working out to a fair bit less than your hourly rate) to do a task.
I wouldnt take on a job which didnt pay me enough - its just not good business as corners get cut and everybody ends up feeling let down. Not an attack on you BTW.Think how it would affect your work if you were offered two completely different sums (one working out to a fair bit less than your hourly rate) to do a task.
I do slot of root canal on the nhs, why? I enjoy it and always trying to better myself, plus I don't pay for the materials as I'm not the practice owner.
£150 is a very fair price, and basically will allow him to use the materials he would like to on the nhs, oh and more time!
Anything between 300-500 is going rate depending on tooth etc.
My advised would be go with it if she likes her current dentist, he's not trying to rip you off. To put it in perspective, it typically costs 70-100 to run the surgery for an hour, let alone the specific material costs. The ni/ti file cost £5 a pop, you may use 5-8!
See that £120 is actually not going far to his mortgage payments at all, but more to cover costs.
£150 is a very fair price, and basically will allow him to use the materials he would like to on the nhs, oh and more time!
Anything between 300-500 is going rate depending on tooth etc.
My advised would be go with it if she likes her current dentist, he's not trying to rip you off. To put it in perspective, it typically costs 70-100 to run the surgery for an hour, let alone the specific material costs. The ni/ti file cost £5 a pop, you may use 5-8!
See that £120 is actually not going far to his mortgage payments at all, but more to cover costs.
To a degree but each surgery give cost right let's alone extra staff and paying associates etc. You are right in saying some costs can be shared. My point really is that it's an extremely fair price that isn't set to buy himself a new sports car. As said I do a lot of this work on the nhs which believe it or not is at a loss, however other bits are not - swings and roundabouts.
Along the same lines gp's do very little minor surgery as they get paid far less than the costs of the instruments ( single use)
I know this generally goes against the general perception that gp's and dentists make a killing, something the daily mail wouldn't publish I'm sure.
Along the same lines gp's do very little minor surgery as they get paid far less than the costs of the instruments ( single use)
I know this generally goes against the general perception that gp's and dentists make a killing, something the daily mail wouldn't publish I'm sure.
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