NHS Dentist vs. Private Dental Care – Which Should I Choose?

Private dental care is often considered as ‘Costly’. But don’t just assume that you’re better off financially with NHS dentistry. It’s worth taking another look, to see if staying with the NHS is really the best thing for you and your Dental health.

The majority of British dental practices offer a combination of NHS and private services. However, it’s become really difficult to find an NHS dentist who’ll take you on – a recent survey by the BBC and the British Dental Association found that 9 out of 10 NHS dental practices in the UK were currently unable to take on new patients.

So while it’s relatively easy to find a dentist… getting seen by one on the NHS? Not so much.

Let’s examine the pros and cons of NHS dentists vs. private dentists, according to how they measure up on the things that matter – the range, cost, availability, and quality of treatment.

Range of Dental Treatments Available on the NHS vs. Private Practice 

The NHS will only provide treatments classed as ‘clinically necessary’. These include;

  • dentures
  • root-canal treatment
  • crowns and bridges
  • fillings
  • preventative treatment (such as a scale and polish, when needed)
  • orthodontic (teeth straightening) treatment for under 18s.
  • emergency treatment

A private dentist offers all the above services as well as cosmetic measures the NHS can’t provide, such as Veneers, adult orthodontics, Dental Implants, or Teeth Whitening.

Cost of Dental Treatments Available on the NHS vs. Private Practice 

NHS dentistry isn’t free. Unlike the majority of health services offered by the National Health Service, NHS dental treatment isn’t free. It’s subsidised, which for most of us means that you’re expected to pay for the treatments they offer, including routine check-ups, fillings, and emergency treatment.

NHS dental fees are divided into three bands, according to the cost of your treatment. The lowest band, Band 1, costs £25.80, and the highest band costs £306.80 and this increases every April.

If you’re under 18 years of age, pregnant, or receiving certain types of benefits , then you will have a viable exemption which allows you to access and receive  NHS dental treatments and care for Free.

Private dental care can be cost-effective. As you’d expect, private dental practices usually charge a little more for the equivalent treatments. However, most clinics offer a dental plan which amounts to a small monthly fee, similar in cost to a TV streaming subscription service.

As well as paying for your usual dental services, this pricing model can allow you to access significant discounts on the full range of dental treatments available for you and your family.

And the ongoing monthly cost also serves as a good reminder to attend regular check-ups and oral hygiene treatments, so you can make sure you’re getting value for money, along with keeping dentally fit!

Availability of Dental Treatment on the NHS vs. Private Practice

It’s hard to get taken on by an NHS dentist. As we already mentioned, accessing NHS dental services in 2022 has been a challenge. Outside London, it’s even harder – across the whole of Lancashire. Some combined practices will only accept children for NHS treatment if at least one parent agrees to join as a private patient.

NHS appointments are limited. As you can imagine, when NHS dentists are so heavily oversubscribed, it’s much harder to get an appointment when you need one, even if you’re currently ‘on the books’. Reports of long waits and delays are common, as NHS dentists continue to struggle with the backlog of appointments that were cancelled due to Covid 19 restrictions.

In contrast, a private dental plan will generally include immediate or next-day appointments, with a much larger range of appointment times to choose from, including evenings and weekends.

Quality of Dental Treatment on the NHS vs. Private Practice

There are several reasons why private practices often deliver a better quality of dental treatment than the NHS.

Materials and equipment. Due to funding restrictions, NHS practices use cost-effective materials whenever possible. So even for something as simple as a filling, an NHS dentist can only use a basic silver amalgam, rather than a less-noticeable white or colour-matched filling that would be provided by a private dentist, usually for a similar price.

Identifying symptoms of serious health issues. Private dental appointments are often longer, giving dentists more time to conduct thorough examinations. Dentists provide a crucial first line of defence in the battle against serious illness. Diseases like Crohn’s, leukaemia, and pancreatic cancer can be identified early by symptoms visible in the mouth, such as bleeding gums or loose teeth.

The level of quality provided by private dental care is also effectively a cost factor –high quality dental work lasts longer, and is less prone to weakness or failure. Budget dental care can prove to be a false economy, leaving the patient facing further tooth problems, and an expensive, time-consuming return visit to the dentist’s chair.

Private Dental Care You Can Count On

If (like us) you believe that your family’s dental health is worth investing in, then get in touch  today to discuss how we can help. We have a range of Membership Care Plans to suit every budget, and we can arrange 0% finance arrangements for up to 2 years on any treatment costing more than £350.