Everything you need to know about NHS dental costs
Whether you’re looking for a dentist and don’t know where to start, or you’re wondering if you should pay for private care to beat the queues, here’s everything you need to know about dental care in the UK…
1 WHAT CAN I GET ON THE NHS?
In England, dental treatments are split into three price bands. Band One (£22.70 and covers procedures such as a scale and polish); Band Two (£62.10 and covers fillings and root canal work); Band Three (£269.30 and covers major work like crowns). Wales has a similar banding system, but prices vary. In Northern Ireland and Scotland, you pay 80 per cent of the dentist’s fee, up to £384 per course of treatment.
2 DENTAL INSURANCE?
Most policies cover the cost of routine NHS and private check-ups and treatments, but some are specific to NHS or private care only. Before taking out insurance, find out if your employer offers a general healthcare cash plan, as these can often include routine dental care.
3 WHAT’S NOT AVAILABLE?
The NHS offers essential treatment, but not cosmetic dentistry, including teeth whitening, and white fillings are usually only available for front teeth. However, you can combine NHS and private treatment. For example, you could have an essential scale and polish on the NHS, followed by a white filling in your back teeth that you pay for privately.
4 HOW DO I FIND AN NHS DENTIST?
Visit nhs.uk/service-search/finda-dentist to find one locally who provides NHS treatment, but check if new patients are being accepted. If you can’t get one, call NHS England (0300 311 2233) or contact your local healthwatch.co.uk group. To find an NHS dentist in Scotland, visit nhsinform.scot; in Wales, nhsdirect.wales.nhs. uk; and in Northern Ireland, online.hscni.net
5 SHOULD I PAY PRIVATELY?
If you can’t get an appointment with your existing NHS dentist and you’re prepared to pay, it’s worth asking if they can see you as a private patient. Visit the Care Quality Commission website (cqc.org.uk) to find a full list of dentists locally and whatclinic.com for reviews. Just remember, with no official guidelines on the cost of private treatment, prices can vary hugely.