Drilling for gold?

Tuesday 1st December 2009, 3:00PM GMT.

From Tom Houghton.
WE don’t seem to have much discussion about dental fees in Jersey, which I think are excessive.
In the last five years, I have had to have three so-called root treatments, which involved four sessions at the dentist for each and which cost me an average £1,250.

Luckily I was able to pay this, but I wonder how many people don’t go to the dentist because of the cost? I was told by a dentist friend, in the UK, that Jersey dental fees were as high as those in Harley Street.

This was borne out when a friend here in Jersey was told he required one tooth implant, at a cost of £3,000. When he checked the price in the UK, the price, privately, was £1,000.

There should be a scheme, as in private medical practice, in Jersey, where the States gives some subsidy toward dental treatment. In future, if I have anything potentially costly, I shall go to a dentist in Southampton, privately, because even including the air fares, it will work out much cheaper. I would welcome the comments of some dentists regarding this letter.