Getting the Best Dental Insurance Available

Manor Road Dental Practice Ltd • June 18, 2019

If you've ever experienced a toothache, needed a filling, or had any other type of dental issues, you know how important it is to have dental care when you need it. With this in mind, you can avoid a great deal of dental issues by getting yourself the regular cleanings and checkups provided for you by dental insurance.

You may not realise it but there are plenty of options to choose from in terms of insurance. The premiums, deductibles and types of cover can vary massively and you may find comparing all of the details can be a little confusing. Visiting the dentist can be scary enough for some people (without even considering the bill), NHS services are of course a cheaper option, nevertheless, you'll still have to pay for treatments. Taking this into consideration, here we have compiled a few tips and tricks for comparing dental insurance plans options for you alone or you and your family.

What is dental insurance and how does it work?

Essentially, the best way to keep dental costs low is to take good care of your teeth, nevertheless, in accordance with the Oral Health Foundation, one out of three people have never flossed their teeth, and one in four don't brush twice a day. If your teeth are in good condition, an NHS dentist may be the best option, after all, one of the more cost-effective ways to care for your teeth. However, if your teeth require a fair amount of treatment, you'd like the alternative of private dental treatment or you want to be insured against the cost of dental emergencies or accidents, dental insurance assist you in lowering these costs.

There are 2 main types of dental insurance plans available:

●A policy to cover NHS treatment

●A policy to cover a certain level of private treatment

But these policies will generally vary between insurers, so with this in mind it'll pay to do some research prior to committing to an insurer.

Will I still have to pay if I use the NHS?

While many people are no doubt used to the idea of being able to go to an NHS doctor for no charge, this does not apply when it comes to visiting an NHS dental practitioner. Yes, it's less money than going to a private dentist as NHS treatments are capped, nevertheless, you'll still have to pay.

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

Your NHS dentist may could also be your private dentist

Most dentists perform both private and NHS treatment. Moreover, you could get a standard grey filling and this could be classed as an NHS treatment, or a white porcelain filling, which is classified as a private treatment and you'll pay for this.

If you can’t find an NHS dental service in the vicinity or you prefer to go private, the costs will ultimately be higher. Going private also means you'll surpass NHS waiting lists. However, as prices for private dentistry are set by the dentist, they vary across the country. This is due to the fact that the private dental industry is unregulated when it comes to costs, but not for treatments themselves. With this in mind, get a few quotes from a couple of different dentists to ensure you’re getting the best price.

Thinking of getting yourself dental insurance? Not all policies are the same

In short, dental insurance will have you covered for general, routine and emergency dental work, and a few policies also include worldwide cover. These policies often work by you paying the fees for the dental treatment straight away, and then claiming the money later from your respective insurer.

But don't assume all policies are the same. Prices tend to begin from around £6 per month and usually have different levels of cover to choose from. Moreover, a standard policy tends to cover all NHS treatments and tends to cost around £10 per month, in addition to this, a more comprehensive policy for around £20 may cover some private treatment costs.

What is typically covered in a dental insurance policy?

If you are in regular need of dental treatments, dental insurance can be great value for money. With this in mind, every dental insurance policy is different, and you'll need to check the details to see exactly what's included, though most cover the following:

●The cost of routine treatments, anything from checkups and a scale and polish.

●Cover for emergencies, this will require immediate medical attention, and accidents, where something has happened to damage your teeth or mouth and you need urgent attention to have it treated.

●Worldwide dental cover.

●Occasional private treatment, this could classify as cosmetic work, it won't be automatic and will generally only come with more costly policies.

Find out what plans are available in your area

Start by narrowing your search to the plans available in your area. Insurance companies do not offer all of their plans in every area, so keep things simple by only comparing plans that you can actually purchase.

Manor Road Dentist Based in Swansea Offering Dental Plans and Cosmetic Dentistry

Manor Road Dental Practice knows that you cannot always predict when dental work may be needed. Consequently, that’s why we offer our own monthly dental health plans to ensure you can seek treatment whenever you are in need of it. It’s really important to keep on top of your dental wellness, not just to keep your teeth looking good but also for your overall well being. Here at Manor Road Dentists, we have been providing the people of Swansea with state of the art dental procedures to make sure you can carry on smiling.

Our Swansea private dental team will talk with you about all of your options after a checkup, and receive a tailor made personalised treatment and maintenance plan. We also have plenty of experience when it comes to treating children at our Swansea dental practice and you can rest assured that we will do our level best to make sure your children are put at ease and hopefully help them to realise that visiting the dentist is not something to be feared in any way. Visit our website or schedule an appointment today by calling our friendly staff on 01792 653 826. We’d be happy to help!

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