London Dentist Prices – A little about NHS Dentistry v Private Dentistry

Do I have to pay for a dentist in Britain?

Most of the time, you will have to pay for dental treatment in Britain. The only people who are able to have free dental treatment would be expectant mothers, or mums with a baby under 12 months, children under 18, anyone in full time education under 19, and anyone who can prove they do not earn an income that is enough to pay for dental treatment, or if you are a dependant of someone who receives low income benefits. There are different levels of dental treatment available to everyone. The most affordable tends to be NHS dental treatment, where most of the treatments are subsidised by the government. The most expensive dental treatment is the treatment which is provided in the private dental sector. The difference between the two will be the down to the quality of the dental treatments provided, the full spectrum of treatments available to the patients being limited on the NHS. Treatments such as bridges, implants, complex root canal treatments and tooth coloured composite fillings will not always be available from an NHS dentist. It has been reported that the level of service provided by an NHS dentist and hygienist may not be to the same standard as a private dentist, this is purely attributed to the limited amount of time an NHS dentist and NHS hygienist have available to provide your treatment.

How do I qualify for dental treatment on the NHS?

Anyone can have treatment on the NHS, all you have to do is to register with an NHS dental practice. You can search for an NHS dentist near you by clicking on this link. The most difficult part is finding a dental practice that is taking on NHS patients. Most people report that NHS practices are oversubscribed and do not have the capacity to take on new patients. This has resulted in many patients struggling to register with an NHS dentist. The patients end up seeking help from a Private dentist if they are financially able to, or they have dental health insurance to cover their dental treatments. Most Private dentists have the capacity to take on new patients.

Is a Private dentist better at doing Veneers than an NHS dentist?

Your Private dentist will spend time collecting all the necessary information required to provide your veneers treatment. This will start with professional investigative photography, 3D iTero scans, taking face-bow recordings for the laboratory. Your private dentist will provide you with a mock-up of your new smile as part of your treatment plan, so you are fully informed about the smile you will receive and this also gives you the chance to give your input on your smile design before you go ahead with the treatment. This is the best thing about going private for veneer treatment and any cosmetic treatment. The dental charges will be higher for private dental care, if you have dental insurance you can find out what your provider will cover for you and the level of cover they will provide. You may find you are not able to get veneer treatment on the NHS because it is cosmetic dentistry, it is not deemed to be essential dental treatment. NHS dental treatment does not cover cosmetic treatment.

Where can I get free dental advice from a UK dentist?

You may find you qualify for free NHS dental treatment. If you think you might, then best to call your local NHS dental practice to find out if they are taking on new patients, then let them know your circumstances and they will advise of you qualify for free dental care. In the event of an emergency, you can also call the NHS 111, which is available 24 hours a day, and they will put you in touch with an urgent dental service for free urgent treatment. Some people try to contact their GP for dental advice, but your GP will not be able to provide urgent dental care. Most of the time there will be an NHS dental nurse available to assess you over the phone and hopefully provide you with an appointment. There are also a few teaching NHS hospitals in Central London such as Kings Hospital or Guys and St Thomas’s, they provide free emergency dental treatment.

At the Covent Garden Dental Spa, we provide Private dental care and are available to provide you with emergency dental care. Contact us to find out more about booking an appointment with one of our Private dentists.