Best Dental Insurance (?) when you need a *lot* doing

rjay

I haven't been to do the dentist in 20 years and I know I need a lot of things doing :mad:

I'll be going on NHS, so what is the best way to keep the costs down ... insurance ? Medical plan ? I suspect the total bill will be four figure in the end and though I'm not on a low wage obviously it's still going to be a big financial headache.

P.S The Dental Insurance guide here is 3 years old, hence my question.

Toothsmith

If you're on the NHS, the maximum charge will be £198. (In England)

If the NHS dentist starts suggesting all sorts of extras, then you'd be better off going to a dentist who just does private work. They'd be more geared up to providing good treatment than the average NHS treadmill practice.

In terms of insurance - You'll be lucky.

It's a bit like ringing Churchill when your car's wrapped round a tree and asking for cover. You're unlikely to get an "Ohh Yess" then!

Occasionally, insurance companies do try an launch a dental product that doesn't rely on you being dentally fit to sign on. Tesco was the last one to get it's fingers burnt by such a thing.

If you think about it though, no company can survive for long by offering a policy for a few quid a month if most the people taking it up make claims of several hundred/thousand pounds in the first couple of months, and then are at liberty to cancel it.

rjay

Toothsmith wrote: »

If you're on the NHS, the maximum charge will be £198. (In England)

I presume you mean £198 PER PROBLEM

What do you regard as "extras" ?

Toothsmith

No per course of treatment, whatever's needed.

And it will only be that much if you require an item that needs to be made in a lab - like a crown or a denture.

If all you need is fillings, root fillings and/or extractions, all you will pay is £46 ish.

By 'extras' I mean the dentist telling you that this and that aren't available on the NHS, and he can only do them privately.

If you NEED it, then it's available on the NHS to an NHS patient. Lots of NHS dentists try to pretend otherwise.

custardy

i would get the work required done on the NHS then go to a private dentist if thats what you want
my dentist went private and uses denplan
so i was up to date with my work anyway.
now pay every month and everythings covered(except accidental) inc hygenist visits
the hygenist is viscous though! :eek:

welshdent

Toothsmith wrote: »

If you're on the NHS, the maximum charge will be £198. (In England)

.

Not quite .... 198 per course of treatment ;-) ... I know I am being a bit pedantic but I think the difference needs to be clarified to avoid any ... unhappiness after.

The CDOs of both wales an england are happy for stabilisation phases of treatment. In fact one of them actively encouraged it in a conversation in a trade show a couple of years ago ... not BC!

To the original poster, phasing treatment means that for example if you attend and need a stack of fillings and extractions doing, maybe some root fillings, an ititial denture ... wjhat may happen is the decay will be removed and temporary fillings placed, teeth extracted, teeth for root fillings dressed and temporised and you may be provided with an interim denture. There may be an intensive diet and hygiene instruction and then instructions to come back in 3 months. At that stage if hygiene is improving then permanent fillings may be placed for a band 2 course of treatment (42/39 - eng/wal). Another 3 month review and if things are still looking good then the root fillings may be carried out and possiblybridgework or permanent dentures made following healing around extraction sites = band 2 if no bridges or dentures band 3 if there is .... so 42 or 198 (177 in wales). You may then be reviewed again in 3 months to ensure the root fillings are stable and your hygiene is still good ... at which point suggestions may be made to crown the teeth root filled .... another band 3 course.

Thats just an example of how things may go so it is not clear cut to say all treatment for £X

welshdent

custardy wrote: »

i would get the work required done on the NHS then go to a private dentist if thats what you want

I wouldnt ... I would get it done privately from day 1. If there is stacks of work to do then I would think it is a safe bet you will get a completely different treatment plan to a private option. In addition privately you can pick and choose materials to best suit what you want. If all you are looking for is a stack of extractions then fine ... dont expect amazing dentures straight away private or NHS ... if you actually want decent looking work done that is carried out in a controlled and comfortable (timewise) manner go private. The NHS sorely handicaps the dentist and what they can provide.