Dental Surgery) after their name. The letters LDS are awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons, whilst the letters BDS are awarded by individual universities. Any dentist in Finchley qualifying from Leeds Dental Hospital will have the letters BchD after their name. A dentist in Finchley who has qualified overseas, will possibly have the letters DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) which is the equivalent of the letters BDS. These are the main qualifications required in order to practice dentist in Finchley.
The dentist in Finchley may also have other letters after their name, which indicate a postgraduate qualification. The MFGDP(UK) and the MGDS give an indication that they have studied general dental practice beyond the basic qualification level, the MGDS being the senior qualification. However, it is important to remember that you should choose a dentist in Finchley with whom you feel comfortable with and can trust to work with you to maintain good oral and dental health.
Dentists in Finchley operate differently from doctors and therefore do not have specific ‘catchment’ areas. If you are happy with a particular dentist in Finchley and move out of the area, you do not need to change dentist in Finchley.
A personal recommendation is often the best way. Private dentist in Finchley usually advertise in the Yellow Pages and they will list any special treatments that they offer. If you are looking for a particular type of treatment, your dentist in Finchley may refer you to an appropriate private specialist.
NHS fees are set by the Department of Health. In England and Wales there are three levels of treatment charges under the NHS. These are split into Band 1, which is routine treatment, such as, check-up, any necessary scaling or any necessary x-rays. Band 2 covers treatment such as, fillings, root fillings or extractions. Band 3 is charged for more complex procedures that involve laboratory work, for example, dentures or crowns. You will be expected to pay only one of these charges per course of treatment. Urgent or emergency treatment is charged separately. People exempt from charges include children under 18, pregnant and nursing mothers and adults getting certain types of benefit. A check-up in Wales is free of charge if you are under 25 years or over 60 years old.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the patient still pays 80% of the charges up to a specified limit, although a check-up is free of charge for everyone. Private fees vary quite considerably from one dentist in Finchley to another. It is always advisable to ask about charges before starting treatment. Check what the average fees are for a check-up and any treatment you might need, such as a scale and polish, a crown or a filling. Whether you choose a private or an NHS dentist in Finchley, you should be told clearly before you start what the fees will be. Ask for a written treatment plan, which will list the treatment and the appropriate fees. There are several dental capitation programmes and several dental insurance schemes. It is important to check whether your dentist in Finchley accepts patients under these schemes and what the relative costs would be.
