Shambolic is how many have described the recent overhaul of the NHS dental service. Seven in every ten dentists have either quit the NHS or have signed their new NHS contract “under dispute”. This means that they’ve given notice to the NHS that in three months time they have the right to refuse NHS patients and switch to private practice.

The rumpus is about the new contract which many dentists claim has been rushed and forced upon them without proper consultation. The new contract was designed to streamline the service by replacing some 400 different dental charges with just three charges. From now on patients will be charged £15.50 for a check-up, £42.40 for filling irrespective of the number of fillings and £189.00 for more complicated work such as bridges and crowns. Each charge pays for a complete course of treatment, no matter how long it takes and no matter how many teeth have to be treated.

But dentists claim that these price bands will frighten many patients off and make them delay treatment leading to an explosion of tooth decay. Dr Anthony Halperin from the Patients’ Association says, “I’m concerned that many patients will wait until they need multiple treatments to try to get value for money. If that does happen, it is likely we will see a significant rise in tooth decay”.

The exodus of dentists from the NHS means that up to 16 million patients could be left without state dental care. What’s more, if you have to switch to private care, there’s no certainty that you’ll find a dentist who will accept you onto his list. There are signs that dentists are going to be very choosey about who they treat. It seems possible that many dentists will only accept those who are either well off or who have dental insurance.

So how do you set about getting insured? Well without doubt, the Internet is going to be the place to find the best deals. Many dentists will leave details of one or two schemes in their waiting rooms but they aren’t insurance experts.

Specialised dental insurance brokers will essentially offer you two key options: dental insurance and dental capitalisation schemes. There is a third option - cash plans – but they tend to cover a wide range of medical treatment with dental treatment being but one small part of the cover.

Dental Insurance
The problem for the customer is the range and complexity of the policies on offer. Almost every policy is different with its own pros and cons. The broker’s job is to understand your needs and come up with options within your budget.

A typical example helps to set the picture. With Western Provident the policyholder pays the first 25% of each treatment but can claim up to £250 per year towards routine treatment including check-ups, fillings and visits to the hygienist. Emergency dental treatment is covered up to £1,000 per year but the maximum cover for accidental dental injury is £250 per treatment. The cost? If you’re aged between18 and 49 the premium is £12.48. Older and up to 69 it’s £15.90 per month.

Capitalisation Schemes
A capitalisation scheme is the most expensive option and the option favoured by many dentists. It’s also the most expensive option! Before you take the policy, your dentist makes an assessment of your dental health and places you in one of five or so, treatment groups. The group you’re in then controls the cost of your scheme. The better your dental condition, the less you pay.

For example, a dental care scheme from Denplan costs between £9 and £30 per month.

Cash Plans
The final alternative is a composite health cash plan. These insure you for a wide range of health treatments including dentistry but also such things as eye treatment, hospital treatment, physiotherapy, chiropody even allergy testing. Each type of treatment has a maximum claim value for each kind of health treatment but they tend to be a bit on the mean side. In our view, you’re much better off with a dental insurance policy or a capitalisation scheme.

You pay your money and take your choice!

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