To wonder how people pay for dental work?

[HollieTalbut1997]

I recently found out a check that I needed some very pricey dental work - removal of 2 wisdom teeth which is costing almost £500. This got me wondering what on earth people do when they require dental care! Thankfully I have some emergency savings but appreciate that many don’t.
I used to be with an NHS dentist but it changed to being a private surgery a year or two back. There is one other NHS dentist in my area but has a super long wait list and I’ve not heard good things…

Does anyone have denplan? Would be interested in your thoughts and whether you feel it’s good value.

I was going to say this, as I said we have no NHS dentist who will to do work on anyone who hasn't been with them for years. They are also kicking people off NHS and going totally private here as well. Unless you have one of the few dentist left and been here more then 40 years (I'm really not kidding on that one). Then you get no dental care or pay for it, we are an NHS desert.

I have denplan care which covers everything except lab fees

I have a cash plan with work that pays up to £200pa for dental and I'm lucky to still have an NHS dentist. I've not have any pricy dental work since my teenage braces.

My work health insurance covers 80% of any dental treatment up to £500 a year so that covers the basics of 6 monthly check ups and hygienist appointments plus any minor work. Prior to this job I spent thousands rectifying a ton of issues and doing some cosmetic work to give me a decent smile for the first time in my life, that came from savings.

This is not my experience with a private dentist. Quite the opposite in fact. I go regularly. It covers almost everything. If I have a crown done, I have to pay for the technicians fees of about £150 and the rest is paid by insurance - without it would be about £800. The crowns are made to match the colour of my teeth too. It is well worth it.

Not if they don't have access to a NHS dentist.

which company is that please, as we looked and found it not to be worth it. a friend had bupa and it only covered check ups and x rays and cancelled it as was cheaper to just pay as needed.

My crown fell out recently after the tooth underneath completely shattered leaving nothing above the gum.

I didn't fancy having a missing tooth so I'm having an implant. £2800!

I don't have the money but got a money transfer offer on my credit card so will spread it out over 18 months. The fee on the credit card is £75

I’m in Scotland and our family are with the local NHS dentist who is fab. Kids go free until they’re 27 in Scotland. My DD who is 25 is taking full advantage of that and getting all necessary dental work done now (wisdom teeth out etc).

I will look tomorrow for you and get back to you. I havent got the details on me now and I did change insurers at some point so need to make sure I am telling you the correct thing. I do wonder though if the dentist also decides what they do under the insurance or not though but someone else may know the answer to that. It is not cheap but does include all check ups, most treatments and I also go to the hygienist 3 times a year. I feel it is worth it though as I never get an unexpected bill and if I have any problems, they usually see me that day. I don't have the strongest of teeth so need to be careful.

Some people have money and pay the cost.

Some people still have access to an NHS dentist because they've stayed with them for years.

Some people use something like Denplan to spread the cost.

Some people can't really afford it and get into debt.

Some people don't go and suffer poor dental health - you might notice in areas where a lot of poorer people live, they often have visibly bad and/or missing teeth.

Some people use whichever NHS dentist they can find and don't have the luxury of choosing one with good reviews.

If you're not registered with a dentist you can often access to free or cheap emergency dentistry when in pain - if you call 111, they will tell you how to access this, a relative has done this a few times.

Sometimes people go to 'the dental hospital' where they have their treatment done by dental students under supervision, this is free and could be an option if you're near a city with a dental school.

It's not great, but there are solutions other than paying privately if you don't want to or can't pay.

Can you ask for a referral to a dental hospital on nhs for those wisdom teeth?

I have Denplan Essential which costs me about £23 a month and covers check ups and appointments with the hygienist, and 10% off treatment. My dentist doesn't offer Denplan Care, which is more expensive but more comprehensive (I would opt for this if it was offered).

Also near me there is a BUPA dentist, who offer their own plan and several 'MyDentist' offices, again they have their own plans.

There are no NHS dentists accepting new patients in my area, not even for children.

Very few of the people I know have an NHS dentist. They split about evenly into people who have a plan, insurance through their employment or pay out of pocket; and those who have no dentist.

Those who have no dentist sometimes have noticeably poor oral health, if they are desperate they will either sit outside the dental hospital every morning until they are seen, pay a one-off fee for an emergency appointment or subsist on painkillers and emergency repair kits that you can buy.

As requested, I have looked up the name of the company. Having looked at the info, I believe it works that the dentist themselves sign up to the company (I think Denplan is the same ) and then the dentist themselves claim on the insurance for the work they carry out. I have always had no problems with my treatment being covered within their rules. (I have sometimes needed to pay technician fees.) So it might be that you cannot join as an individual but just under your dentist. I might of course be totally wrong with how it works but that is the way i understand it. Their name is DPAS ltd.