Cant afford dental care!! Need help!?

My teeth are in a very bad state, as have not visited a dentist in several years. A month ago I decided to register to a dentist, as I was unaware of the huge costs.





I went for a check up, and the damn dentist charged me £36 just to look at my teeth, and since I need quite a few fillings, and fillngs cost approx £55-£85 each, I will no way be able to afford it.





Im not sure but would I be entitled to free dental care on the NHS, Im 20 and in full time education.





If NHS can provide me free dental care, how do I pursue it??


Do I just pop into the general hospital, or do I go to a private dentist to ask if they accept NHS patients, and if so will it be free?? Or if NHS do not provide free dental care for me, will the NHS be cheaper??





Any advice/suggestions will be helpful.





Thanks!!!!!!!

Cant afford dental care!! Need help!?
OK, You can get free NHS dental treatment if you are:





- under 18


- 16-18 and in full-time education


- pregnant, or have had a baby in the 12 months before treatment starts,


- an NHS inpatient and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist, or


- an NHS Hospital Dental Service outpatient. There may be a charge for dentures and bridges





You are entitled to help if you or your partner, receive either:





- Income Support


- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or


- Guarantee Pension Credit, or


- you are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate, or


- you are named on a valid HC2 certificate.





Partial help: If you hold a valid HC3 certificate, you might get some help towards the cost of your NHS dental treatment. The certificate tells you how much you will have to pay.





Students who are 19 years of age or older do not automatically receive free dental NHS Dental Care. However, all students should apply for a HC2 Certificate through a HC1 form. The application process normally takes upto six weeks and is dependent upon your means. In our experience, we have found that most students who apply are successful. The HC2 Certificate also gives you free prescriptions and eye tests. It is only valid for six months and requires re-application after that time.





If you require dental care and have not got a HC2 certificate yet, you must pay for your NHS dental care. If you keep your receipts you can obtain a refund of your charges when you receive your certificate.





To apply for an HC2 or HC3 certificate, you should complete form HC1 available from any Jobcentre Plus or most NHS hospitals. Your doctor, dentist or optician may have one too. If you are unable to obtain a form you can get one by calling 0845 610 1110.
Reply:Welcome to rip off Britain
Reply:u can get nhs dental care irrespective of yr income, u just need to find an nhs dentist that is taking new patients, sometimes easier said than done, however we have brilliant nhs dentist. if u ask yr local primary care trust or nhs direct they should be able to help u where to get a list of dentists that are offering nhs treatment then its case of ringing round to find one. otherwise just sit down with yellow pages and try yr luck. if ur on a low income u will be able to claim for free dental treatment not sure how u get the form but yr dentist should be able to tell u. if u dont qualify then nhs charges are at a fixed rate and much lower than private rates so get ringing around
Reply:Look in yellow pages for NHS dentists. If your brave enough you could find the nearest dental university to you and let the students pratcise procedures on you or pay a tenner and have the offending teeth pulled - you may end up needing false teeth but in the long run they are more cost-effective due to the low maintence!
Reply:If you can find a dentist that has spaces for new NHS patients, and as you are in full time education then yes you can have treatment for free. You may have a dental school as part of a university in your area who can do stuff for you free as they need to practise on someone, but they may have policies where they only serve patients from that town only.
Reply:You poor soul! Not only is it painful to have bad teeth, its damaging to your confidence eh? You feel that you can't smile as readily as you would like and it can make you appear shy and embarrassed. You needn't be, there is help available to you! As a student, you are entitled to financial help with your dental costs, all you need to do is ring your local social security office and ask for a form relating to dental and medical costs, i believe its called a HB1. You then fill this out and post if off, think its in Scotland if my memory serves me right but you have to have proof that you are a full time student etc and then you'll receive a form called a HB3 which allows you to pay a substantially reduced amount at the dentist. For example, if you get the HB3, depending on your stuent income, you'll be asked to pay a one-off fee of, say £40.00, for dental work that would cost hundreds! You may have to pay less than £40 or a little more but it all depends on what you have coming in. Ask at an NHS dentist or your college should be able to give you the address or number. Good luck.
Reply:if you are in full time education you ARE entitled to free dental care. FACT.