How does a private dentist work?

[Whoopsadoodle]

I am ashamed I haven’t been to the dentist in years, no NHS one available. I have just realised I have multiple black spots on my teeth, I am grim.
So I’m assuming my i need a private dentist. How much do people pay, just so I know what’s realistic and if I’m paying the average or more of i find somewhere. Thanks.

I imagine they probably have that information on their website, price varies and DH’s dentist is more expensive than mine but convenient for work. No idea what treatment you need so can’t speculate on cost.

Hi OP. Don’t beat yourself up about it, lots of people are anxious about the dentist and the state of NHS dentistry is a crime.

I pay £65 for a check up and £150-£250 for a ceramic filing. £110 for the hygienist.

Most private dentists publish their fees online and lots of them have some sort of payment plan. Best of luck to you.

Go online and google dentists in your area. They should have a price list on their website and maybe even a booking form. When I had to get a wisdom tooth ripped out a few months ago, I went on a website, it gave a list of available appointments which I could click on to choose. Being private I had the luxury of picking one the very next morning. I had to pay a £60 deposit online to go towards what it said would be £100 total. Was very easy 👍

Mine's a bit cheaper for the hygienist at £75 and regular check up £50. There's then a real incentive to keep your teeth in shape so that's all you'll ever need! You can see prices on their websites.

If you don't have dental insurance you just pay using cash or a credit card, no different to buying something in a shop. If you do have insurance, sometimes you pay first and claim it back, sometimes you have to call them to authorise - depends on the insurance (I have the cash-back kind of insurance now, but for years I just paid cash.)

So the first one I googled by me said this

Also my dentist offers early and late appointments, and also weekend ones!

You’ll need to have a new patient examination and X-rays (approx £150-200), a dental nurse will then compose a treatment plan that breaks down all works needed and costs for you. You’re not required to book any further appointments at that point, and don’t let anyone pressurise you to. Lots of surgeries offer finance now.

You book in for a consultation and check up.

From the dentist will they make a treatment plan - I needed a couple of fillings replaced (this was about £800 but they were very specialised normal ones are much less) amd now see a hygienist every 4-6months (that’s £90 but it’s an hour session! And I love going!)

Ours encourages use of Denplan, so you pay an amount each month and get two annual checkups, two hygienist appointments and any necessary fillings included -- but the cost per month depends on the state of your teeth at the start, and you pay an initial £90 for the 'new patient' examination.

You can also pay as you go: about £40 per checkup, £60 for the hygienist, £150 for a filling.

I pay denplan, I think I’ve been with them about 15 years. My monthly payments started about £8pm and I think I pay about £18 now? I never have to pay for anything. The twice yearly checkups and carts are included plus treatment. I had a root canal which was included as was the teeth guard they gave me.

my dentists are amazing. During Covid we didn’t miss a single appointment. Our appointment was delayed by a grand total of 36 hours!

Thanks all, no insurance so looking at pay as you go. That’s not as horrific as I was expecting, and I know I could have looked up local websites, but I needed a push and posting here was the first step I could manage. I will do better!

We’re with Denplan which is effectively a monthly payment plan. Before we were accepted we all had check ups and any work that was needed was carried out. They then allocated us onto the payment level depending on the state of our teeth. I pay £40 a month for DS and I.

Will have a look at denplan too. Guessing if I need a few fillings my monthly premium might not be worth it

If you do have to have fillings they’ll do them first before they’ll take you onto Denplan

I pay £50 for a check up and £60 for the dental hygienist. If work is needed they print you off a plan that shows what needs doing and how much each part costs.

am ashamed I haven’t been to the dentist in years,

Don't be ashamed, neither have I and I'm not bloody going to either.

Last lot I went to were money grabbing bastards, always trying to flog you something you don't need and get you to have an X-ray you don't need.

I know this is an old thread but just wondering how you got on as I'm in a similar situation. I've not been in years so they took me off the NHS list and I need to go private. Was it as bad as you thought (treatment-wise) I have anxiety and I'm thinking worst case scenarios like root-canal on every tooth and gum transplants 😅