After decades of the National Health Service, most people in the UK are unaccustomed to paying large sums of money for any form of medical treatment. However, dentistry is rapidly changing that. Nowadays, caring for your teeth can be extremely expensive. Dentists are under no obligation to provide NHS treatment and many are leaving the NHS to provide only private dental care. It is becoming increasingly difficult, in some areas, to find a dentist who will provide care under the NHS.

Free Dental Treatment
Children under 16, pregnant women, nursing mothers and those receiving means-tested benefits such as Income Support and Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance are entitled to free NHS treatment. Those on low income may be eligible for free NHS treatment or may pay a reduced amount under the NHS Low Income Scheme. If you feel you may be entitled to help, pick up an HC1 form "Claim for Help with Health Costs" from your dentist. More information is available from the Department of Health website.

Everyone else must pay 80% of the cost for fillings, dentures or extractions, to a maximum of 378 for a course of treatment. NHS Direct has a free search facility for NHS dentists on its website. With NHS dentists thin on the ground, private care is an option. However, this is expensive, and one of the main concerns is the wide discrepancy in private charges from practice to practice. A survey by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) found that some private treatments can be four times as expensive at one dentist as they are at another.

Useful Information
If you decide to buy private dental care, it is up to you to choose your dentist. As you would do when seeking to buy any goods or services, you should always shop around to find a dentist who you feel will give you the best value and service. You can expect to pay more if you do go privately, but on the other hand, you will probably get earlier appointments. Private dental care schemes can help to spread the financial burden.

Dental Plans
An ever-increasing number of people are turning to schemes that either insure against the cost of dental treatment or at least spread the likely charges. There are three options:
  • Capitation.
  • Indemnity.
  • Cash plans.
Capitation Plans
You undergo an assessment with a participating dentist who sets your monthly payment according to your dental history and the state of your teeth. Your payment covers routine dental care such as check-ups, extractions, fillings, preventative care and hygienist work.
Such plans may not save you money, but are designed to improve your oral health, by encouraging you to take a proactive role in caring for your teeth and offering preventative care, rather than simply treating problems as they arise. Laboratory fees, prescriptions, orthodontics and cosmetic treatment are excluded. Costs depend on your dental health and may be subject to annual review. The cost of plans generally rises for older patients. Plan providers have membership rules, codes of practice and dental quality programmes to which registered dentists must conform. A complaints service to solve disputes between dentist and patients is usually provided.

Indemnity Plans
An indemnity plan is a form of insurance. You are free to use any dentist you wish, and the plan pays out towards any treatment you need. Everybody pays the same annual premium, but most policies set maximum payouts in any 12-month period. You do not usually have to undergo a check-up, but cannot claim for pre-existing conditions. There may also be a qualifying period before you can make a claim. Indemnity cover is cheaper but less comprehensive than a "capitation" plan. Dr Nigel Carter, of the British Dental Health Foundation says, "Capitation plans are a good idea, even for NHS patients, since 15 or so a month is preferable to the 350-plus you can easily pay for NHS treatment. Insurance schemes vary widely in the cover they provide, so it is a good idea to talk to your dentist first."

Cash Plans
As an alternative to wither of the above, you can choose a cash plan, which contributes towards the cost of dental bills, plus treatments such as optical care, physiotherapy, chiropody, maternity care, and hospital in-patient and nursing home care, up to annual limits. Providers have different levels of cover with different annual premiums. There are many different types of insurance around and it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly which cover you need. With dental costs reaching extortionate levels, dental insurance is certainly becoming a necessary evil, according to experts. If you are particularly responsible and disciplined with your cash, you could set aside 20 or so a month in a separate account for dental treatment. However, for peace of mind, dental plans are certainly worth considering
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