Go private or stick with NHS dentist?

baby_frogmella

Hi

I'm already registered with my local NHS dentist in Scotland but as of yet haven't been for a checkup (only been living at my current address for 2 years). However i really need to see a dentist as soon as i get back home as i've just had emergency root canal surgery whilst at work overseas and the dentist mentioned that i need further treatment (possibly braces:eek:). Normally i would stick to my NHS dentist but just noticed that my corporate InterGlobal health insurance card also gives me 75% off dental treatment costs (up to 5k PA) regardless of whether i use a private or NHS dentist. So thinking of de-registering with my NHS dentist and going private. Obviously i know it will be cost more going private (even just paying 25% costs) but are the costs signficantly more? Also is the level of care higher when going private? ie waiting times between appointments, quality of dental materials used etc. Finally do many private dentists have direct billing arrangements with private health insurers such as Bupa, InterGlobal etc so that i need only pay 25% of costs directly to the dentist? (instead of paying 100% upfront and then claiming 75% back). I presume NHS dentists don't have direct billing arrangements with the likes of Bupa, InterGlobal etc?

Thanks

Toothsmith

Firstly, You will almost certainly need to pay 100% of the cost, then claim back 75% yourself.

As for the rest of it, generally you would be better off at a private practice.

You're likely to be offered a bigger range of treatments, and appointments should be much easier to get at short notice.

BUT - there are some very good NHS places, and there are some very bad private places. Choose the dentist above the payment system.

Use the suggestions in my signature to find yourself a practice. It IS worth visting the chosen practice to make your appointment rather than just ringing up, as you will find out much more about the place by going there than from the nice pictures on a website, or the advert in Yellow Pages.

As for the braces bit - there are very few conditions that NEED braces in order to get a health gain. More often than not braces just improve the appearance, so if you're happy with how your teeth look, there's almost certainly no requirement for it.

baby_frogmella

Thanks for the info, i will visit a few private clinics on my return to get a 'feel' for the place and talk to some people for some recommendations.

Regarding braces, my 2 upper front teeth are overlapping a little and this has started decaying the tooth which is partially covered as i am unable to reach this through normal brushing. The dentist here suggested braces would eventually remove this overlap and therefore allow me to take proper care of the tooth. Question is would braces for such a reason be classed as cosmetic treatment or not? Obviously my private medical insurance will not cover dental treatment purely for cosmetic purposes.

brook2jack

Braces will not be covered by any policy as far as I know.

Overlapping teeth can normally still be cleaned by use of floss and interdental brushes. If you are getting decay in front teeth though the biggest thing you need to look at is diet as front teeth are normally the last to decay regardless of how overlapping they are.

If not sure how to use floss , interdental brushes then you need to see a hygienist as well as your other treatment.

In terms of costs it varies from practice to practice (ritzy "spas" more expensive) and area to area but would guess depending on where you live (London and city centres more expensive) check up £25 to £60, filling £35 to £100 ish, crown £250 to £600. But most practices should be able to give you example price lists.

Alternatively there are capitation schemes where you pay a monthly fee (eg denplan) that cover all your treatment apart from laboratory fees. However these will normally require you to be "dentally fit" before you join and cost depending on how much work you have had done in the past (typically £12 to £30 a month).