Denplan or NHS

joesaunt

My sister in law has just registered with a new NHS dentist, which has recently opened in our area. Last night was her first appointment. The dentist is trying to get her to pay for Denplan, which is going to cost £38 per month. This does not include fillings, extractions or as I understand any other work, just check ups and the hygientist, twice a year. Am I missing something here or would she be better off as "pay as you go" on the NHS. I am sure there are three bands to NHS treatments and even if she needed a check up, a tooth out and a crown twice a year, this would still be cheaper than Denplan. She generally has had no problems with her teeth (never say never), but I think the dentist is trying to rip her off.

Please can one of you lovely dentists out there explain the ins and outs of Denplan v the NHS?

Thank you very much.

Toothsmith

I don't like the 'NHS to get you through the door' style of marketing.

If he's a new NHS dentist, then he will have had a wad of taxpayers money to help. So he should be doing NHS dentistry.

I think she's misheard the £38 per month fee. If it's only a check-up and clean up contract, then £440 a year means about £220 a VISIT!!!

My most expensive Denplan category for full, all-inclusive, care is £38 per month.

Most pay nearer £25.

If this story is accurate, I would just avoid that practice like the plague, and let the local PCT know what is going on with their money.

Mrs_P_Pincher

For comparison, I pay £17 per month for Denplan, and my DD who has perfect teeth, pays even less. My payment covers me annually for two check ups, four hygienist sessions and this year an extraction as well.

Mrs P P

covlass

When my dentist used Denplan I had fillings at no extra cost, they have changed now and have their own insurance which costs £30pm and covers every thing apart from cosmetic stuff, unless caused by accident

Toothsmith

There is a Denplan product called Denplan Essentials. This is usually a much lower monthly fee than Denplan Care, and only covers Check-ups and Cleans (And sometimes x-rays) - so tis could be an Essentials contract, but it's vastly overpriced if it is.

Denplan care is all inclusive apart from cosmetic stuff, prescriptions, and lab fees (So if you need something like a crown, you'll pay what the technician charges the dentist to make that crown).

Both poducts have the insurance component that will pay for you to have accidental damage repaired, or emergencies sorted out out of hours, or when you're away from home.

My gut feeling is that your sister has misunderstood the price - but I still don't like the way he's marketing things.

Hawksley

That seems an awful lot of money just for check ups and the hygienist. I pay £15 per month which includes fillings (up to a certain limit) x rays, extractions, emergency treatment, check ups etc. The treatment I've had has always been worth the money in my opinion. That is with Denplan but i know it varies as my partner also pays £15 per month (he is with a different practice), to a different a company and only receives check ups and a discount on any work needed. Worth shopping around.

Hollypolly

That is really expensive for any type of Denplan Plan. That sounds like a top patient band and they must live in an expensive part of the UK.