Dental Costs

[mcfeez]

Hi. I was thinking of signing on for a plan at my local dentist - we joined the practice a few years ago when they were taking NHS patients. Recently they have decided they are slowly removing NHS services and going private and we are thinking of staying with them and joining their plan just - private dentistry obviously. They are a great dentist and finally feel really comfortable going there.

I was wondering, what do people generally pay for their dentists/dental costs? For example this plan is £15 a month, I have no real reference as to whether that is good value or not comparatively.

 

[annanuttall]

I generally paid £200 every single time I go to my dentist. That's a problem I'm having right now as it so frickin expensive. I really wish I could use NHS dentist as it would save me money. I have problems with my teeth so I'm forever forking out my income on dentist expenses. Saying all this I'm signing with a new dentist next week (it a lot closer to my home, that another complaint - travel cost!) so I'm hoping they might do some kind of plans to make it cheaper.

 

[RobinsNest]

If you're dentist has a plan, I'd definitely take it up.

I've just been to the dentist- and I have to go private as there's no NHS dentists near me. Luckily I get a percentage covered through work otherwise I'd be selling a kidney.

A checkup and xray was £48. It's the same cost to see a hygienist.

I need to go back for a root canal (£552) and a crown (£559).

 

[Chickenandgravy]

I pay £20 monthly but after April it's going up to £26. However I get a large percentage off any treatments needed and 4x hygienist appointments and 2xdental appts a year.
Recently had to have xrays and had I not been on a plan it would've been over £100 just to get them done so I would highly recommend it.
Also might not be relevant now but during the lock downs my dentist was open for the private patients so I managed to get routine things done.

 

[RobinsNest]

I pay £20 monthly but after April it's going up to £26. However I get a large percentage off any treatments needed and 4x hygienist appointments and 2xdental appts a year.
Recently had to have xrays and had I not been on a plan it would've been over £100 just to get them done so I would highly recommend it.
Also might not be relevant now but during the lock downs my dentist was open for the private patients so I managed to get routine things done.

That sounds like a really good deal!

 

[mcfeez]

I pay £20 monthly but after April it's going up to £26. However I get a large percentage off any treatments needed and 4x hygienist appointments and 2xdental appts a year.
Recently had to have xrays and had I not been on a plan it would've been over £100 just to get them done so I would highly recommend it.
Also might not be relevant now but during the lock downs my dentist was open for the private patients so I managed to get routine things done.

Yes this one is similar. 15 a month, 2 check ups and 2 hygienist appts plus discount off treatments. I think I will go for this.

And your right about NHS patients, my dentist didnt offer NHS treatment during lockdown but still had private open.

 

[GiftedNotFree]

I pay £32 a month for denplan through my dentist. It’s expensive but worth it (for me). If you like your dentist I would definitely consider paying it if you can afford it.

 

[rainbowlemon]

Yes this one is similar. 15 a month, 2 check ups and 2 hygienist appts plus discount off treatments. I think I will go for this.

And your right about NHS patients, my dentist didnt offer NHS treatment during lockdown but still had private open.

This does sound like a good plan!

I only paid when I went.

The 6 month check up and dental hygiene appointment was around £35. + when I had one wisdom tooth taken out it was around £135.

 

[Penguinandthepinecone]

Schemes are good if you have lots of upkeep on your teeth. I joined Bupa dental 20 (10 is cheaper but means you can only submit NHS claims, 20 means you can claim for NHS and private dental work).
Bupa quote on your age, I’m 37 and pay £27 a month. You then get £150 to claim back on check-ups, hygienist and X-rays per year. For fillings, crowns etc you can claim back 75% up to £700 per year of treatments.
I have a stack of restoration in all of my back teeth, masses of white fillings and crowns that need maintenance - all I believe due to 80s dentistry, my front teeth are perfect. So unfortunately I have a pretty big annual bill just to upkeep it all, so Bupa worked out a safe solution for me.
When I come to renew, next year’s quote will just be based on my age, not previous claims, which is great, as I won’t particularly be a profitable member of their scheme.

*Edit, my scheme is Bupa Dental 10

* edit 2... every time I write B U P A, it changes it to ‘private healthcare’....how strange!

 

[SunshineDreamer]

We’ve never bothered with dental plans but I think it’s around £200 for each consultation W for my husband or myself and my children is £175 (youngest) and £195 (2 oldest)

 

[Causewaygal]

Never thought of a dental plan despite spending a fair amount on dentistry. I had a hygienist appointment last week at £80 and a check up is £56.
I’m about to start my third set of orthodontics after my last few baby teeth decided to kick the bucket during lockdown (I’m in my 40’s so they were well overdue ) . It’ll probably cost me about the same as the last two lots so about 10k. At least I know this will be my last lot of braces

 

[bookworm1403]

I pay £15.99 per month for private dentistry - I had to be deemed dentally fit before I could join the plan (which cost me £120 for an appointment, scale & polish and to pop some filler on a chip in my tooth). I'm in band A all inclusive so it's cheaper. It includes 2 checkups per year and all treatments incl crowns. Tooth whitening is subsidised heavily also. I'd assume if my dental health started to be bad it would increase but right now I am a lot happier paying £15.99 than going NHS (only as my mum used an NHS dentist and hated every moment; felt they weren't thorough etc). I've also been with this dentist since I was a child, so I suppose it was easier to be with them than go elsewhere.
(p.s. I am early twenties, in case that has a bearing on the price I pay)