Teeth come out as charges bite

Patients in Wolverhampton are having teeth out rather than pay for costly treatment since new charges came in.

A report says some patients are opting out of regular dental check-ups and choosing more minor operations to save cash.

Root canal treatment, for example, is nearly five times as expensive as having teeth out. NHS dentists were asked to sign new contracts a year ago that reduced 400 charges into four bands.

A report for Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust (PCT) says one result is less complex treatment being carried out. Instead, patients are opting for cheaper alternatives.

It says: "Dentists have also said that patients will on occasion choose a cheaper treatment than the most clinically appropriate, such as tooth removal rather than root treatment."

It costs £43.60 to have a tooth removed compared to £194 for root canal treatment under the new scheme introduced last year.

There has also been a drop in the number of people having regular six-monthly check-ups.

Lynne Allen, director of primary care at the PCT, praised the way dentists had implemented the changes and said government targets were being met.

She said: "Our dentists have been very positive trying to make the new contracts work, and it appears they have done well.

"We are hitting our activity targets and have been able to demonstrate good quality dental care."

Mrs Allen said fewer people were having check-ups because some practices had removed mandatory six-monthly examinations for people who did not need them.

Kanwar Ratra, from Bilston Dental Practice, in Wellington Road, said patients often opted for the cheaper treatment after discussing their choices with their dentist.

"It disadvantages some people and advantages others," said Mr Ratra, who takes NHS and private patients.

Wolverhampton has one of the best levels of provision in the country for access to an NHS dentist and has been praised for the quality of its dental services.

By Stuart Pollitt