Millions of patients face re-registering for NHS treatment with a new dentist as 4,000 dentists threaten to quit the NHS over new NHS service contracts.

Since 1997 almost 10,000 dentists have left the NHS and the exodus of a further 4,000 expected this April, will throw the service into total turmoil. The cause is a controversial new contract being implemented by the NHS in April.

Over recent years over 400 charges have been introduced for NHS treatments and at the time, this broke the camels back for many dentists – they simply went 100% private. The new row is about the removal of six monthly check ups and not allowing people whose teeth are in good condition to make a return visit within 3 years. Somewhere mixed in with his are disagreements about surgery opening hours and changes to the way NHS dentists are paid.

The result is that wherever places on NHS dental lists become available, the queues stretch around the bloc! Many will be refused HHS treatment by their existing dentist. Clearly, many patients will be profoundly frightened to find themselves without dental care. If they can’t find an NHS place, their only alternative on the NHS will be to attend an NHS Community Dental Practice and join the daily queue - that is if they know where the nearest one is and they can get there!

The alternatives are go private and pay as you go, or get some form of dental insurance. Some dentists have even introduced what amounts to their own insurance scheme – a practice in Felixstowe has introduced a scheme where all adult patients have to pay a service charge of £11 per month. This then entitles them to free check-ups and discounted charges for treatment. In practice this is around the same cost as many dental insurance policies.

If you decide that going private backed with insurance, you’ll find the “most welcome” signs on many dentists’ doors. But there are lots of policies available with a wide range of benefits from cover for just emergency treatment, to cover for a full dental service. Your best bet is to use your search engine to look for dental insurance sites. You’ll find lots of insurance company sites, but the best solution is to go for specialist online brokers who can search the whole dental insurance market and present a range of alternatives for you.

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