From the chairside p23 | Round Table p28 | Practice profile p37 | Report. Patients are ‘avoiding visiting dentist’ due to confusion over charges, report says
Cost of treatment plans
Dentists are failing to clearly explain to patients what the cost of their treatment will be. And that fact is leaving cash-
strapped consumers wary of having their teeth checked. A report by health insurers
Simplyhealth found that 34 per cent of Scots say they avoid going to the dentist because the costs are too high – and they do not understand in advance what they are going to be charged. Scottish dentists are report-
edly the worst in the UK for failing to explain costs – with six in ten adults north of the
border saying they have not ever noticed that dental prices are explained to them or are clearly displayed in their dental practice, compared to less than half elsewhere. Only 27 per cent of people
said that during their check-ups they have been given a written treatment plan that included charges, while almost a quarter of patients said they do not believe what they are charged for dentistry treatment is good value for money. “This means that a significant
proportion of British adults may be neglecting their dental
“Patients should ask plenty of questions, so they are able to make informed decisions about
their dental health” James Glover
health because of the pressure they are feeling financially. This is a worrying statistic that may prove to have long-term negative consequences for dental health in the UK,” said the report. However, despite fears over charges, the availability of
Dental nurse association lobbies on CPD tax relief
TAXATION
The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) has launched a campaign to lobby Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over tax relief for nurses’ CPD costs. As it stands, HMRC do not accept that costs dental nurses incur while under- taking CPD do not qualify for tax relief, despite the fact that dentists, hygienists, therapists and technicians do qualify for tax relief.
In response to correspond- ence from BADN chief execu- tive Pam Swain, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, David Gaulke MP, wrote: “HMRC do not accept that all training expenses incurred by the (dental nurse) employee will now qualify for tax relief. Expenses must be incurred exclusively as an intrinsic part of the performance of duties. “On the basis of the information provided (BADN briefing note to Mr Gaulke),
However, BADN president Nicola Docherty pointed out that: “Dentists, hygienists, therapists and technicians who are self-employed or business owners are allowed tax relief on their CPD costs. However, HMRC is refusing to acknowledge that CPD expenses for dental nurse employees are in fact ‘incurred exclusively as an intrinsic part of the perfor- mance of duties’.
Nicola Docherty
the CPD training referred to does not have the character- istics mentioned above. “No deduction is due for the costs of continuing professional education. That is so even if participation in such activities is compulsory, and failure to do so may lead to the employee losing his or her professional qualifica- tions, and/or their job.”
“This is blatantly unfair, as tax relief on CPD costs is denied to those most in need of it. BADN is calling on other dental professional associa- tions and the GDC to support this campaign in order that tax relief on CPD costs is afforded to all registered dental professionals.” The BADN is urging dental nurses and their colleagues to visit their website at www.
badn.org.uk where they can download a letter to send to Mr Gaulke and their local MP in support of the campaign.
NHS dentistry is on the rise, according to the report. Only 16 per cent of people
say they have struggled to find an NHS dentist, compared to 29 per cent last year and 39 per cent in 2010. “It is important that patients
understand the dental treat- ment they are being advised to have and the costs involved if they are to value the care they receive,” said James Glover, spokesman for Simplyhealth. “Patients should ask plenty of questions, so they are involved and able to make informed deci- sions about their dental health.”
‘Healthy’ drinks can be bad for teeth
SURVEY
People in the UK are signifi- cantly misjudging the amount of sugar in popular drinks, particularly those perceived as “healthy” options, according to research by the University of Glasgow. Some 2,005 people from across the UK were asked to estimate how many teaspoons of sugar were in some of the UK’s most popular drinks. While people generally slightly overesti- mated the amount of sugar in carbonated drinks, they significantly underesti- mated the sugar levels in a milkshake, a smoothie, an energy drink and a variety of fruit juices – by nearly 18 teaspoons for one popular pomegranate juice drink.
® For more visit:
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Scottish Dental magazine 13
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