Did you know that millions of us here in the UK could be paying way too much for dental treatment because dentists aren’t clear about their costs?
You may have read online this week that consumer champion, Which?, believes that one in five of us are paying over the odds for treatment. In addition to this, 50% of dental patients responding to their survey said no price lists were available at their practice.
Ewan Bramley Dental Care – a leading private and cosmetic dentist on Tyneside – believes something must be done about this and says transparency and up front and flexible payment options are vital.
40% of us aren’t clear about which treatments are available
The Department of Health have reportedly said NHS dentists are contractually required to display up-to-date charges in their practices, and although Ewan Bramley Dental Care is a proud and private dentist, this is something he wholly believes in.
“A visit to the dentist is of huge importance to somebody’s dental health and it’s vital that patients know what kinds of treatment are available to them and how much everything costs,” explains Dr. Ewan Bramley.
“We always make sure that all of our patients are made aware of the services we provide and always explain the costs up front. We make sure they know exactly what they’re getting for their money and why we’ve recommended a certain procedure.
“Everybody’s needs are different, so we think it’s necessary to inform patients about the many different types of treatments that are available in modern dentistry so they receive first class dental care all of the time.”
What else did the survey find?
Which? Visited 25 dental practices in England and rated 12 of then as poor or very poor.
Executive Director, Richard Lloyd told the BBC: “Most of us will need dental treatment throughout our lives and it’s important that when that happens people feel clear about the nature of the treatment and what it will cost upfront.
“We are calling on the NHS and the regulators to clean up dental costs and make sure the existing rules are put into practice consistently.”
“Dentists have a duty to be open and honest about payment and treatment options, always considering the best interests of their patients,” added Barry Cockcroft, the government’s Chief Dental Officer.
Ewan Bramley Dental care is an affordable private dentist in North Tyneside that provides a full range of first-class and award-winning cosmetic, general and family dentistry.
Dr. Ewan Bramley strongly believes that excellent dental care should be made affordable for everyone and provides flexible payment plans and interest-free finance on all of the procedures at the practice including dental implants, teeth whitening and invisible braces.
If you would like a FREE CONSULTATION to discuss your dental options, call 0191 259 6506 now or SUBMIT YOUR DETAILS here, and one our friendly members of staff will be in touch.
