Dental insurance

While we're used to being able to go to an NHS doctor for free, this is not the case when it comes to seeing an NHS dentist. Yes, it's much cheaper than going to a private dentist as NHS treatments are capped, but you'll still have to pay.

In England and Wales, NHS dental charges fall into three costs (bands 1 to 3) depending on what treatment you need, and in Scotland and Northern Ireland, patients have to stump up 80% of the dental fees to a maximum of £384 per treatment. Basic dental insurance policies would cover these costs.

When you pay for NHS dental fees, you pay one fee and it covers all the treatment within the band. If within two months of finishing a course of treatment you need more treatment covered under the same band, or a lower one, it's included, so you won't pay again.

If it's after this time, you'll need to pay again.

You also won't pay again if you need repair work or a replacement for certain types of restoration within a year of the original work being done

When you pay for NHS dental fees, you pay one fee and it covers all the treatment within the band. If within two months of finishing a course of treatment you need more treatment covered under the same band, or a lower one, it's included, so you won't pay again.

If it's after this time, you'll need to pay again.

You also won't pay again if you need repair work or a replacement for certain types of restoration within a year of the original work being done.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, patients pay 80% of the dentist's fee, to a maximum of £384 per treatment. Each treatment is priced individually, and a scale and polish, for example, costs £12.09. The costs of some of the most common treatments are listed below.

I heard some people will get free NHS dental work – who are they?
Some groups in the UK are exempt from paying, such as children under 18, those under 19 and in full-time education, pregnant women, those who have given birth within a year, and people receiving means-tested benefits, but everyone else has to pay.

What's not covered by NHS dental treatment?
The NHS is there to make sure your teeth are healthy, but it's not there for cosmetic improvements to your teeth or treatments which aren't necessary for oral health – such as teeth whitening. If you want something like this, your only option is to choose a private dentist.

How do I find a local NHS dentist?
Although everyone is entitled to NHS treatment, finding a dentist can be tricky depending what part of the country you live in. Contact your local Primary Care Trust, or visit the NHS website to find your nearest NHS dentist.

When do you pay for NHS dental work?
It all depends on your dental practice. Some may ask for the whole payment for your treatment upfront, while others will ask you to pay after it has all been completed. Check with your surgery at your first checkup.

Are braces covered?
Braces are available on the NHS for children and occasionally for adults if there is a clinical need.

Most dentists perform a mixture of private and NHS treatment. For example, you may get a standard grey filling (amalgam), which is considered an NHS treatment, or a white porcelain filling, which is classed as a private treatment and you'll be charged more for.

If you're unable to find an NHS dentist or you prefer to go private, the costs will be higher. Going private also means you'll bypass NHS waiting lists. However, as prices for private dentistry are set by the dentist, they vary across the country. This is because the private dental industry is unregulated when it comes to pricing, but not for treatment.

Therefore, before you book yourself in, get quotes from a few different dentists to make sure you're getting the best price.

A sensible alternative to buying dental cover is to self-insure. Instead of paying £10ish a month for dental insurance, stash away the same amount in a high-interest-paying savings or bank account (for full info and our best buys see our Top Savings Accounts and Best Bank Accounts guides).

When you need treatment, use this cash to pay for it. And if you don't need any treatment, you get to hang on to your cash and the accrued interest.

If you don't want to pay your dentist upfront for dental work, there are three other ways to pay:

• Use a healthcare cash plan, which gives basic dental cover (you'll pay for it and can then claim the money back) and includes other things such as cover for optical and physiotherapy costs.

• Buy a dental insurance policy. If this is your preferred option, see below for more information.

• Use a 'capitation' plan, which spreads out your routine dental costs over a year. These work by a dentist estimating how much you'll spend each year on treatment, then averaging out the cost over a year in 12 monthly payments. Be wary though as these policies can be expensive.

In a nutshell, dental insurance covers routine and emergency dental work, and some policies include worldwide cover. These policies typically work by you paying out for the dental treatment upfront, and then claiming back the money from your insurer.

But don't assume all policies are the same. Prices start from around £11 per month and usually have different levels of cover to choose from. For example, a basic policy may cover £500 of your NHS treatment and cost £11 per month, while a more comprehensive policy for under £20 may cover similar private treatment costs.

What is typically covered by a dental insurance policy?

Each dental insurance policy is different, and you'll need to check the small print to see exactly what's included, though most cover the following:

• The cost of routine NHS treatments, such as checkups and a scale and polish.

• NHS costs up to a certain maximum limit that will cover treatments such as fillings, crowns and bridges.

• Emergency cover, for incidents which require immediate medical attention, and accidents, where something has happened to damage your teeth or mouth and you need urgent medical attention to fix it.

• One-off payment for oral cancer.

• Worldwide dental cover.

Some private treatment, such as cosmetic work, may be included but it won't be automatic and will generally only come with more expensive policies.

What is typically NOT covered in a dental insurance policy?

As with all insurance policies, there are several things providers won't pay for – although you always need to check the small print of your policy to find out. Things to watch for:

• Most providers won't let you claim for the first three months, unless it's for a routine checkup.

• Cosmetic treatments are not usually covered.

• Treatments that are not clinically necessary, unless as part of a course of NHS dental treatment, may not be covered.

• If a condition is new, you will be covered for it, but if it is related to an incident that happened before you took out the policy – such as a car accident – you may not be covered.

Many providers, such as SimplyHealth and WPA, only pay out a percentage of costs. For example, SimplyHealth will only pay up to 75% of the cost of dental treatment (to a maximum of £200 if you have its cheapest cover) and you'll have to cough up the rest. Others, like WPA and AXA, restrict the number of claims per year.

How do I pay?

Most dental insurance policies require you to pay upfront for the treatment and then claim back within six months. This means you'll need to have the money to pay for the treatment. Once you've paid, you'll need to send off the receipt and a claim form to the insurer to get your money back.

If you don't have the cash to pay upfront, you could use a 0% purchase credit card to do so. But this doesn’t mean there’s nothing to repay each month – you still need to make the minimum repayments, or you’ll loose the 0% deal. And make sure you fully clear the card(s) by the end of the 0% period. See our 0% Credit Cards guide for more details.

Is it more expensive for older people?

Unlike other types of insurance, dental cover usually costs the same regardless of your age – so a 25-year-old and a 45-year-old will pay the same. Some (but not all) have age caps, while others adjust the price depending where you live.

How often is the policy renewed?

Dental policies are typically renewed once a year, and it's crucial you check what's covered before you buy a policy. When the year's over, don't rely on sticking with the same provider to get the most competitive price – always get a few different quotes to see if you can get a better deal.

Are my children included?

Most dental insurance policies cover only the person who has bought the policy. Plus, as children get free NHS dental care up to the age of 18, they usually won't need one of these policies. However, as the NHS only covers dental treatment that is necessary for oral health, things like white fillings aren't included.

What's the difference between a dental emergency and an accident?

Dental emergencies include such things as a tooth breaking, cracking, becoming loose or being knocked out. They can also happen if a filling or other dental work fails, or if you have an acute dental infection.

If you are in severe pain or need to see a dentist urgently because problems with your teeth are affecting your general health, it's classified as a dental emergency.

If you are in an accident and your teeth are damaged, it's a dental accident. If you're unsure, check the wording in your policy.

What if I change my mind after I bought the policy?

Most policies will have a 14-day cooling-off period in case you change your mind. You should get a full refund unless you've made a claim.

If you're thinking about getting dental insurance, the first thing to check is if you already have cover, so that you don't end up paying for it twice.

This could be through a healthcare cash plan. These are often offered by employers as an employee perk (but you can also buy them yourself).

Healthcare cash plans are a cheap way to cover dental costs. They are a type of insurance policy that lets you claim back the cost of a range of treatments, such as eye tests, dental treatment or physiotherapy (see our Healthcare Cash Plans guide for more detail).

You pay a monthly premium, from £9 (or nothing apart from the tax if it's through your employer). Once you've had your treatment, you send the receipt to the insurer and it reimburses you, depending on the terms of your policy.

If you know you're going to need to spend a fair bit on your teeth, or you want a larger safety buffer in case of emergencies, a stand-alone dental insurance policy may be better because the cover will be higher.

Is dental insurance available via your employer?

Some employers offer private dental plans for employees, so check if this is an option.

If you have it, although the cost of the dental policy may be free, you'll still pay tax on it. This is because it's known as a 'benefit in kind'. However, this is still much cheaper than paying for the policy yourself.

Can I get help with dental costs if I'm on benefits?

You do not have to pay for NHS dental treatments if you receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Pension Credit guarantee credit

• Universal Credit

Pre-existing conditions typically aren't covered under dental insurance. You may be able to get cover for some basic treatments – such as checkups and a scale and polish – but anything more serious won't be covered.

The definition of a pre-existing condition depends on the insurer, but most say it's anything you've had in the past year, with the exception of oral cancer. If you've had oral cancer before, or you get it within 90 days of the policy start date, you usually won't be covered – but always check.

Some insurers will require you to have had a checkup within the last past year to get a policy, so always check.


I've been told I need a filling, is it a pre-existing condition?

Most insurance policies don't cover pre-existing conditions and any treatment which has already been given can't then be claimed for if it was started before you bought the insurance policy. Therefore if you've already been to a dentist and been told you need a filling, and then buy dental insurance, you won't be able to claim on it for the filling.

Not to be confused with living the high life during the festive period or a long afternoon at the local all-you-can-eat buffet, an excess - in the insurance sense - is the amount you pay towards any claims you make.

For example, if your excess is £50 and you have had an dental appointment with a £150 bill - you'll pay the first £50 and the insurer will stump up the rest.

This is very common if you have a car insurance or home insurance policy, but not so common if you have a dental insurance policy or healthcare cashplan.

The nearest similarity is having a 'no claim period' on your policy, or if the insurer will only pay a percentage of each claim, ie; 75%, meaning the remaining 25% is sort of classed as an excess.

If you do come across a policy offering an excess option, the larger the excess the cheaper the premium usually is. But be careful when picking one as you need to make sure you can afford it.

One of the most common ways of paying for dental treatment is through a 'capitation' plan, especially those with dental insurance have one.

They're designed for covering routine treatments such as checkups, and the biggest provider is Denplan (owned by SimplyHealth).

Most people buy these plans because they want the peace of mind of knowing they won't pay anything upfront at the dentist, because the cost is covered through regular payments.

Unlike standalone dental policies which you buy from an insurer, you buy a capitation plan through your dentist. They will analyse your teeth and then decide how much you should be paying based on how much they think you would usually spend each year on your dental care.

You agree to the monthly charge and then pay the insurance company, and it pays the dentist.

Each year the dentist has the option of reviewing the fees (they don't have to) so if you've got one of these plans it's worth asking for a review once a year to check you're not paying too much.

Sounds great in principle but we've heard stories of people being charged far more than they would ever claim for. For example, one MoneySaver's paying £30 per month while only requiring two checkups in a year.

We'd say approach the policies with caution and if you don't think the price adds up, don't be afraid to say no to your dentist and go elsewhere. For example, basic dental insurance policies start from £11 per month and these will cover the same routine NHS treatment.

Can a dentist sell you an insurance policy?

It depends - if you buy a capitation plan instead of standalone dental insurance, you'll buy it through your dentist.

The two, slightly confusing, ways in which your dentist will sell you the policy are as follows.

In the first instance, your dentist will give you a brochure about the company, eg, Denplan, where you can then arrange the cover via your dentist with the insurer/provider.

The second is if your dentist passes on your details to an insurer. To do this the dentist will need authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or be registered as an "appointed representative" of an authorised insurer – you can check if it has this on the "'firm search" or "individuals search" on the website – the insurer will then be able to contact the patient directly and organise the insurance.

Can I only use certain dentists with a capitation plan?

Yes – you can only visit your registered dentist, unless it's an emergency or accident.

I like the idea of a capitation plan simply because I am worried about the upfront cost of dental care. Is there another option for me?

Instead of choosing one, which could be significantly more expensive, a dental insurance plan could cut your costs.

If you don't have the cash to pay upfront for treatment and then claim back later, a 0% purchase credit card is an option (make sure you fully clear the card(s) by the end of 0% period). See our 0% Credit Cards guide for more details.

If you are in need of major private treatment for your teeth, costing £1,000s, it could be cheaper to go abroad for it.

Many foreign clinics advertise on the internet, and some have offices in the UK where you can go for an initial appointment.

We've heard positive reports from MoneySavers of top-class overseas dentists where treatment is a fraction of the cost. Here are a few for inspiration...

If you're unhappy with your insurer, say you think it's unfairly rejected your claim, the first thing to do is complain to it. If after eight weeks it hasn't replied, or you're not happy with the response, you can escalate your complaint to the free Financial Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman is an independent adjudicator that will make the final decision on a claim if you are locked in a dispute with your insurer. For more on how to make a complaint, read our Financial Rights guide.

• To whom do I complain about NHS dental work?
  
  For NHS dentists, if you aren't able to sort out the problem by complaining directly to your dentist you can escalate the complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. It's a free independent body that can investigate the issue for you.
  
  If it rules in your favour it'll make recommendations to the dentist to put things right. This could through an apology, compensation and/or making sure the same mistake doesn't happen again.
  
  

• To whom do I complain about private dental work?
  
  For private dentists, first complain to your dentist directly. If that doesn't solve the problem then go to the Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service (ISCAS) if your dentist is a member (it's not mandatory). It has a Complaints Code of Practice which includes an independent adjudication service.
  
  It will look into your issue and if it rules in your favour it can ask the dentist to act to put things right. This could be by apologising or paying out compensation.
  
  Alternatively, you can contact the Dental Complaints Service. It's also free to use and funded by the General Dental Council, the organisation that regulates dental professionals in the UK.
  
  It will only deal with complaints about problems that occurred in the past year and if it rules in your favour it can ask the dentist to give a full explanation and apology, give you a refund of your fees and even pay towards further treatment you may need.
  
  

• Can I get a refund if I've been overcharged for an NHS treatment?
  
  If you've been wrongly charged, first talk to your dentist. It will know what treatment was carried out and can refund you if you've paid too much. You'll usually need to apply for a refund within three months.
  
  

• How can I tell I'm not getting ripped off?
  
  Most dentists carry out a mixture of private and NHS dental treatment. They are required to examine your teeth and then clearly explain to you the costs of both before you make a decision on what treatment to have. Some reports suggest dentists aren't always forthcoming with the price of NHS treatments, so make sure you're aware what's available to you before you get in the chair.
  
  

• Do I have more protection if I've paid by credit card?
  
  If you pay for your dental treatment on credit card there is an extra layer of protection available. This comes under the Section 75 protection which covers anything you buy which is priced between £100 and £30,000. The credit card provider must protect purchases over £100 and up to £30,000 for free, so if there's a problem you could get your money back.