i need to go to see a dentist for a check up but i have not been for years about 8 , the last time i went, i went to charles clifford when i was 15 years old and it didnt cost anything, so i'm wondering where to go and if it is still free. any helppppp!

Originally posted by base2001
i need to go to see a dentist for a check up but i have not been for years about 8 , the last time i went, i went to charles clifford when i was 15 years old and it didnt cost anything, so i'm wondering where to go and if it is still free. any helppppp!

ditto, im in sort of the same position. Ive just signed up with Porterbrook dentist though.

Do we get Dentists on the NHS or do we have to pay? Im a stuedent, does that make a difference?

This is for a specific practice in Fulham, but they are fixed NHS prices:

http://www.nhsdentist.com/NHS_Price.html

Official NHS guide is here:

http://www.nhs.uk/England/Dentists/DentalCharges.cmsx

Those entitled to free treatment are listed here:

http://www.nhs.uk/England/Dentists/DentalCharges.cmsx

I'm not sure whether "over 18 & in full-time education" covers all students or not.
There are contact numbers for enquiries on the website.

How many of us actually do the regular check up??

Like spyro and base i've not been in 14 years! :D

I've been going to School Road (Crookes) practice since, blimey, 1972? Certainly since before I can remember.

What is interesting to note is that I used to go for quarterly check-ups up to the age of around 14, then bi-annual check-ups till last year. Now it's a check-up every nine months!

What's going on?

I actually don't mind going to the dentist, even having had my mouth severely mangled when I was 6 having had something like ten teeth out at once (I quickly grew fond of gas).

Going to the dentist gives me a chance to

a) See that the Gideon Bible still looks as new and un-fingered as it did in the early 1970s;

b) Catch up on what's happening in the Christmas 1991 issue of House and Home which sits amongst a pile of National Geographic magazines, one of which has an exclusive about Chuck and Di's forthcoming marriage; &

c) a great opportunity to get rid of any loose change, pound coins, fivers, tenners, twenties and oh, you take cards now?

Oh, and admire the Spinners poster in which they're asking us to give blood generously - something I always manage to do at this practice.

Let's hear it for our dentists.:clap: :clap: :clap:

Originally posted by spyro2000
ditto, im in sort of the same position. Ive just signed up with Porterbrook dentist though.

Do we get Dentists on the NHS or do we have to pay? Im a stuedent, does that make a difference?

If you're a student and over 19 you will need to fill in a form (which you should be able to get from a pharmacy) and apply for an HC2 certificate which exempts you from NHS charges. If you're 19 or under and in full time education you are exempt anyway. If you apply for an HC2 and don't get one, you have to pay.

It's £5.85 for a check-up these days, and then obviously if you have anything other than just a check-up you have to pay fot that as well (even if it's just a scale and polish). Fillings are around £15-40 depending on their size and whether you have silver or white.

When I was a student (graduated 4 years ago) it was only free until you were 19. After that you had to fill out a form for help with healthcare costs (can't remember the name of it now, but it's for people on low income - not just students). If they decided your income was low enough for help then they issued a certificate, which showed either that you got free treatment, or what you had to pay towards each treatment (so my last one I remember I had to pay 11p towards each dental treatment!). You had to take this to the dentist with you or you had to pay full.

Originally posted by Twiglet
If you're a student and over 19 you will need to fill in a form (which you should be able to get from a pharmacy) and apply for an HC2 certificate which exempts you from NHS charges. If you're 19 or under and in full time education you are exempt anyway. If you apply for an HC2 and don't get one, you have to pay.

That's the one!

I joined one in Broomhill as the Crookes ones were full and not taking people on. It is very nice and I do go once a year 9I make myself do it) but last time I waited for 15 minutes and the check up lasted about 1 minute.

how much does a check up cost?

Originally posted by base2001
how much does a check up cost?

If you look back through the posts in response to your original question you will see that this question has been answered more than once.

Would you like us to take your teeth to the dentist for you as well? :D

Anyway, the minimum NHS charge for a basic check up is £5.84. It can get higher than this depending on what is needed.
I would suggest that after 8 years you would need a slightly more detailed check and it cost up to £15 or £20.