Denplan

jap200

Rikki wrote:

Will they not allow you to pay for each check up as you need it?

No - that's the point. The options are to pay Denplan or go elsewhere.

jap200

frostyspice wrote:

Dental plan fees - £20-odd/month
Sky subs - £21/month (minimum)

Which is 'worth it'?

Which one is going to make you feel better when you've got toothache?

I wish it was that easy - we do not have any Sky TV at all - because we can't afford it! - In fact we have few luxuries that we could cut back on, which is the problem.

jap200

Toothsmith - I very much appreciate your advice - although I'm not sure that I fully understand the system.

I recognise that good dentistry is worth paying for as I have noticed a difference since my husband and I have been private patients (on a 'pay as you go' basis) with the same dentist.

The problem I have is that Denpan is so expensive. If we were a family with excess income to fritter away on luxuries then we would be able to make a saving somewhere to pay for it. As it is, we budget carefully to live within our means.

The reason that I am so upset by this is that my own mother was so particular about our dental care (including limiting sweets/damaging drinks etc and regular check-ups), which was pretty enlightened back then (I am now 38). As a result, I have never needed any kind of dental treatment in my life - not even a scale and polish - and neither have my 2 sisters. In fact, whenever I have changed dentist in the past, my good teeth have been commented on.

As a result, I have taken the same strict line with my own children regarding food, drink and teeth cleaning, and they have had NHS check-ups since they cut their first teeth. My kids look forward to going to the dentist as they they think it is fun and have never had any reason to fear it.

My problem is, that to pay £7.50 per child per month lumps me in with all the other parents who do not have such good fortune with genes for strong teeth and/or who don't pay such attention to diet/teeth cleaning.

Also - What is/or is not covered by this fee seems unclear. Do you know if it covers the cost of check-ups, fillings, cleaning, any other treatment, orthodontics etc.?

Having looked at the Denplan website, it seems that dentists are able to set their own monthly fee level. Is £7.50/child comparable with everwhere else?

Toothsmith

Dentists do set their own fees, and the children's plan is even more flexible for dentists in that the level of cover as well as the fee, so I couldn't comment on what is available for the fee.

The dentist should have set it out clearly somewhere though.

My fees for kids are age & tooth condition related and start at £4 a month and go up to £10.50 per month.

Having young kids with healthy teeth should put you into a lower category than kids with bad teeth. I think you need a bit more discussion with the practice to establish just what you are buying into.

As I said though, if you feel it isn't value for money look around at what else is on offer for you and the kids, but don't go on a hunt for NHS just for the sake of it.


EDIT:- Just to add that these days, in all but very deprived areas, the vast majority of kids have little to no decay. I would guess that your payments wouldn't really be subsidising anybody else. Your kids are likely to be the norm rather than exceptional.

tomstickland

Bit of history: I didn't go to the dentist for nigh on 5 years, despite paying £12 per month on Denplan. When I did finally go, Denplan didn't cover me. I had one new filling and my only previous filling redone, plus 5 hygienist visits.

I've just been back for a 6 month check up and hygienist visit.
The good news is that both the hygienist and dentist are really pleased with my teeth and my improved cleaning etc. So am I.

I asked the dentist about Denplan vs pay as you go and he recommended the latter. I tend to agree with him. He said I'm category B (category A is no fillings, and E is the worse) At the current rate then I'll be paying about 2 x £70 (hygienisist + check up) plus I guess about £50-£100 on extra work per year. So that's £190 - £240 per year. So that's a max of £20 per month effective cost.

Oh, he also said that I'd got a chip on a rear molar. He recommended that it was sealed. ie: minor filling. Seems reasonable to me - I don't want any decay forming in the small crack at the bottom. Sound reasonable?

Toothsmith

Different dentists perfer to work under different payment systems, but they also tend to offer choices for the patient.

Personally, I like working with the vast majority of my patients under Denplan, because then, each time they come in, I don't have to set about 'selling' them different options and treatments, and going into the costs of them all.

I just have to say, look, you need this filling replacing as it looks like it might go soon, book yourself in. Do you want me to do it I white, or silver? One will send you mad, the other will turn you female!

Much simpler!! :rotfl:

You fell into the mistake Tom, of not going for ages and Denplan does have a clause that states that you must attend regularly.

Personally, so long as nothing much was wrong, I'd have just smacked your bottom, put stuff right and told you not to let it happen again.

If your dentist only has a few patients on Denplan, there probably wouldn't be enough cash flow from it to allow him to do that though.

Basically, it's always easiest to go with what your dentist recommends. If he's happiest working on a fee per item system then go for it. Denplan is not supposed to be cheaper, it should all work out the same in the long run. It is just supposed to be a bit more convienient for both dentist and patient.

One thing that any monthly plan does have over a pay as you go approach is an insurance side though. If you damage your teeth in an accident, or if you have problems whilst away from home, there is a component of Denplan that will allow you to claim the costs of repair.

It may be wise to consider some sort of stand alone insurance to cover these things if you are payas you go.

As for the last question - yes - that sounds sensible.

tomstickland

I really don't have an issue with the Denplan thing - I paid and made the choice not to go. That's not been clouding my judgement of the future.
However, the dentist did say to me "how do you think Denplan make their money?". Well, obviously they charge more than on-average it costs them. But they do have the advantage of averaging.

Anyway, I think pay as I go will do me fine, because apart from the two fillings, my teeth are in sound condition, plus I have enough savings for it not to hurt me (I meant financially, otherwise that's the hygienist's job ha ha ha ha).

Really, I don't have a problem paying the charges. My motivation is doing the right thing for the long term survival of my teeth.

hells_2

I've managed to 'lose' my place as a patient at my local dental surgery...because through no fault of my own he has de-registered from NHS...not an issue for me per se, as I've been a private patient since Day 1.
My trouble is that my employer pays for my dental care through NDP and so we usually visit our dentist, pay for the treatment and then claim it back.
My dentist tried to bully me into signing his own dental plan at "x" pounds per month. If I did not do this they would charge me a £25 'admin fee' so I could stay on 'pay as you go' but as if by magic all the places for 'pay as you go' patients were already taken up.

There was no way I was lining his pocket for £25 for nowt, and so now I find myself dentist-less. Shame, cos he was previously very good and fair with his charges. I would be losing out on £11-15 per month if I joined his scheme as there would be no point having my employers perk...they wouldn't pay into 2 schemes at once for me!

Tis all wrong!!

tomstickland

I can afford the charges, so I'm alright (jack). What worries me is that those who cannot afford the treatment now just get left out in the cold.

Toothsmith

hells wrote:

I've managed to 'lose' my place as a patient at my local dental surgery...because through no fault of my own he has de-registered from NHS...not an issue for me per se, as I've been a private patient since Day 1.
My trouble is that my employer pays for my dental care through NDP and so we usually visit our dentist, pay for the treatment and then claim it back.
My dentist tried to bully me into signing his own dental plan at "x" pounds per month. If I did not do this they would charge me a £25 'admin fee' so I could stay on 'pay as you go' but as if by magic all the places for 'pay as you go' patients were already taken up.

There was no way I was lining his pocket for £25 for nowt, and so now I find myself dentist-less. Shame, cos he was previously very good and fair with his charges. I would be losing out on £11-15 per month if I joined his scheme as there would be no point having my employers perk...they wouldn't pay into 2 schemes at once for me!

Tis all wrong!!

Why couldn't you get a reciept from the dentist for whatever you have paid on the monthly scheme every 6 months or so, and submit that to your employer?

Although some schemes don't like paying the fees for another scheme, the data protection act and patient confidentiality means that the dentist shouldn't reveal what the money you have paid was actually for.

So, if the employers scheme rings up the dentist and says "what was this £x actually for?" the dentist can say "Sorry, can't tell you". He doesn't even have to tell the scheme that you are a patient or confirm what you have paid, but that can get a bit silly and unhelpful.

We tend to confirm that the person is a patient, and confirm that that patient has actually paid us the amount on the receipt and that it wa for 'dental treatment'.

It seems to satisfy them.