How do ordinary working people afford major dental treatment costs?

[Heereforagoodtime]

My husband has just called, having been to the dentist, and he needs a back tooth to either be worked on and crowned or removed. The cost of the work is going to be over £1k. I don't know about the cost of the removal but, if he had it taken out, it would mean he'd be without two consecutive teeth on one side. I've just had a look at implants and they are so expensive.

I have a feeling this won't be the last of his issues, either. His teeth are terrible.

How do ordinary working people, who don't get any assistance, afford dental care?!

They don't or they go into debt. I've got no bottom teeth on one side of my mouth. I've got something wrong with my bite and they all got too damaged years ago. My other ones are lovely and straight and shiny white, but that one side is a disaster. I just live with it and don't get too judgmental about things like teeth. Lots of people on MN get really aerated about bad teeth but these things happen. In real life we just get on with it. Sorry about his crown!

I do have a private health insurance plan nowadays that gives me cash back on dentist and optician, so it's basically free to take out once you claim back your receipts. (But it won't cover thirty thousand pounds of multiple jaw surgeries and implants)

I don't have a dentist. I did have an NHS dentist before Covid but they knocked me off their list during Covid.I have enquired with a few dentists and been told that all I can do is join a dental plan where I pay 40 quid monthly and it entitles me to two check ups a year and a discount on any new treatment needed. I can't currently afford the dental plan.
However I do go to a bupa hygienist once a year to get a good clean and that costs me £90 a go.
I think it's a disgrace the way this has happened in this country.
I am currently paying 200 quid a month (which is why i can't afford my own dental plan) for my 14 yr old son's braces because his teeth were crooked, stuck out and gapped, but not enough for them to offer nhs orthodontics.
I feel your pain. If it's causing your husband real issues I think he is going to have to pay upfront.

I earn just about enough to cover my mortgage and bills, with my salary at the moment. I do get bits of freelance work here and there which pay much better.

The short answer is I see it as absolutely essential to pay for good dentistry. Health investment that just needs to be paid for. I remortgaged to move house recently and put some money in a pot for this sort of thing which other people may have spent on doing the house up. I pay a lot for a modern dentist, I just do not trust the NHS or those who use old methods. Prioritise, in short.

Credit card sadly. For my child! Who was under 7 at the time. NHS dilly dallied and the problem was getting worse. So we paid. A. Lot. Several thousand pounds.

Dentistry has effectively been privatised in the UK. The sooner people accept that and take out insurance to cushion the blow, the better.

We can expect many more health services previously covered by the NHS to go the same way, I’m afraid.

A relative paid thousands of pounds for a gall bladder operation that had a 2-year waitlist on the NHS.

I was wondering this. We have spent around £20 000 on dentists/orthodontists in the last 5 years (most of it due to an accident that knocked out front teeth). What I find particularly astounding is that all dentists just seem to assume that you have (or find) the money to pay for it. It seems clear that it is usually best first to try to keep the tooth and then implants and everything else is just not very good long term. None of the procedures were cosmetic. Something needed to be done to avoid more problems later. It is insane.

The costs of dental work is so high if you can’t get an NHS dentist. I do agree a bit with pp that lots of people don’t prioritise it over other things, however can see why as NHS is usually there to cover anything so it’s not really expected that we have to pay for healthcare. This is what it’s going to be like more and more though so people are going to have to budget for it and save money for the dentist over other things.

Private dental insurance.

I've just spent £2k on two crowns and a new retainer. No payment plan and 50% deposit upfront when booking in for the work. I'm lucky to have savings but I imagine many would just have the tooth pulled. Baring in mind also crowns can fail and the tooth can be pulled at a later date (and more cost).

I think for parents of young children the money now would be better spent on private dental plans and focusing on really good dental hygiene to avoid getting to adulthood and having really shit teeth. Historically I don't think NHS dentists in the past have educated people well enough and we are not a nation that prioritises looking after out teeth.

I'm pushing my 21 year old to take out private dental and healthcare now.

Do you have pets? Intrigued as I know quite a few people moaning about the cost of dentistry, but don’t think anything of paying a few thousand for a new puppy and all other costs that come with it. I think it’s a mindset.

MoneySavingExpert has a good guide to the various types of dental insurance (although doesn't solve the fact it's expensive)

Insurance and/or savings.

I used savings to pay for an implant - that had to be done privately as the NHS do not offer them.

NHS dentist, which is still possible where I live, so long as you’re not fussy and prepared to travel.

You go without. I cancelled my milestone celebrations because I had dental work to pay for.

Go abroad
if you do proper research then it’s a lot cheaper
I have a mouth full of crowns done abroad several years ago

no issues they look perfect paid 3k

British teeth are a trope for a reason. 😬

I'm lucky to have dental insurance through my employer. They cover all NHS costs.

I had 8.5k worth of work on my teeth. Chatting to my dentist (an ordinary one, in an ordinary area), he was telling me some people have full mouth implants and the costs mentioned were boggling. He said they often remortgage to pay for it!

I go without sky TV, nails, takeaways etc and prioritise my familys health including private dental care which costs me £23 a month and includes all dependant children.

I’ve had Denplan for many years - had no choice when my dentist stopped NHS treatment. For me it has been totally worth it - I very rarely have to pay anything on top of the monthly fee and I have had loads of work done.

Insurance or just remove it.

i have two consecutive back teeth missing. You can’t tell from my smile

I’m an NHS dentist who also does some private work. I won’t go into the reasons why dentistry is so expensive but unfortunately it is.
what I will say is that I have worked with the general public for thirty years and I have noticed that people find the money for nails, hair, takeaway coffee, eyebrows, holidays, gym, designer handbags, takeaway food, Botox, socialising, accessories, cinema, days out, fancy cars , restaurants…
Of course I’m aware that there are others who can’t afford these things, and that’s where NHS dentistry absolutely should be available and costs supplemented by the government. I’m not arguing that.
But my point is that I hear and see people every day moaning about the cost of a filling despite spending money on non essential luxuries.

surely the mindset should be that dental health is a priority?

I went abroad. Was quoted over £20k to fix my teeth and have a smile to be proud of. Went abroad and paid just under £5k.

If you are looking at 1 or 2 teeth instead of whole mouth, it would easily be affordable abroad. Eg, if you happened to be going to Turkey (other countries too) on holiday this year then get enquired with dentists there. However if no travel plans in place then you have to factor that into the cost too.

If you’re really broke you just pay the minimum you can - so that means having the tooth removed and accepting you’ve got a big gap. If you can’t get it done on the NHS and you can’t afford it otherwise you just don’t have it done, you wait until it becomes a raging infection, end up at a and e and have multiple IV antibiotics and they’ll remove it because it might give you sepsis. (Bitter experience).

I cant afford it so i tend to just have them removed. Luckily no front ones needed gone yet.