budgetting for private dentistry

I bit the bullet and started going to a Private Dentist last year and haven't looked back.

I'm not on any kind of insurance type plan - as when I've looked they wouldn't actually cover a lot of the cost to even benefit having it?

I am charged £40 per check up and £50 for a hygienist. I have had root canal work (summing nearly £500) and other fillings (£140 each ish). The quality of the work I've had is much higher too, and the dentist said she uses different materials on private patients than NHS. My practise also offers interest free credit if you need it.

If you're in good nick with your teeth - and you don't foresee any major work needing done, I don't think private dentistry is that far off NHS?

Most practices do (and all should!) give some indication of their charges on their website or at least practice information leaflets.

If you have an NHS check up and get the 'all clear' then you should be fairly confident there is not going to be loads of work that needs doing. So go and see the private dentist pretty soon after that?

Be aware though that the NHS check-up will only be checking stuff is actually healthy at that point in time. With the private check-up - stuff might well be brought up that 'could do' with doing in order to prevent future problems. Or - if you go in saying that you are unhappy with the appearance of various bits and pieces in your mouth - then purely cosmetic treatment may well be suggested as well.And that will add to the bill!

If you wanted to go on a monthly payment scheme like Denplan - then there are various types. There are also other companies that provide similar things - so don't be surprised if the practice you choose call it Practice Plan, or SmileCare or similar. Some have your monthly payment covering just check ups, x-rays and hygiene visits, and then offer a discount on any treatment you might need. These tend to be a cheaper monthly payment - but obviously don't fully cover everything. The main 'Denplan' though covers practically everything (You would pay technician fees if you needed anything making for you like a crown, or a denture or stuff like that) It doesn't cover cosmetic treatment, and it doesn't cover implant provision, although with Denplan there is an extra insurance bit you can take out that would provide implants - but only if the tooth was lost in an accident.

If you wanted to sign onto a full-coverage 'Denplan' though, the dentist might want to replace any older/dodgy looking fillings first - so the initial bill might be a bit more than if you were just paying as you went.

So really it depends on how good your mouth is already, and how much treatment you think you're likely to require in the future. Usually though, once you're established at the practice, you'll find the bills stabilize, and become more predictable.

I pay about £30 a month but I!!!8216;ve always had bad teeth so think I!!!8217;m on one of the highest Denplan charge bands. It goes up a couple of pounds a year generally. If there is nothing wrong with your teeth you would probably start at under £20 a month. Don!!!8217;t Denplan show the price of their plans on their web page? The dentist has to assess you first to determine the level you would be on so maybe they would do the assessment for free and then you could decide whether you can afford it? Might be worth asking?

As someone else said you get checkups and hygienist appointments for that and only pay for any work if there are lab fees e.g. in making a crown which are about £100. Given the current NHS charge bands I reckon the Denplan works for me as things are always going wrong with my teeth. Also you get a better standard of treatment and always get seen the same day if you have a dental emergency as part of the plan as well as an element of dental insurance for accidents.