The difference between private and NHS dental care
When deciding on whether to opt for private or NHS dental care, there are several important considerations to make.
In this article, we compare different options while offering a broad overview of what each has to offer.
Both the NHS and private practices offer a wide range of oral health services and safe, regulated care, but they will not necessarily offer all the same answers to your dental needs. Before undertaking any kind of dental surgery, you will need to be sure it is both suitable and affordable.
The NHS offers many services and treatments that are considered fundamental to dental wellbeing. These include routine checkups, X-rays, extractions and emergency surgery.
Operations might feature restorative work for crowns, fillings and dentures, but not cosmetic treatments like composite bonding or teeth whitening.
Some patients may have dental implants, but only in circumstances where there is a clear medical justification. Similarly with children’s braces, they will need to qualify for treatment and be added to a waiting list where applicable.
Those with more pressing dental concerns will be prioritised using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN).
Private patients are also able to book general check-ups and hygiene appointments and access to a wider range of services. These might include anything from basic fillings to complex cosmetic services and advanced restorations. Unlike on the NHS, veneers, teeth whitening, composite bonding and white fillings are available privately for cosmetic purposes. There are also options for dental implants and more sophisticated orthodontic solutions and bespoke smile makeovers.
Eligibility
Everyone in the UK is entitled to receive NHS dental care. It is broadly available to everyone for clinically necessary treatments. Similarly, you will find that with private dental care, no contract, insurance or membership plan is needed.
Fees
The NHS is subsidised, which means that private care is typically more expensive. The NHS tier system is divided by fixed bands that determine how much you should pay for dentistry.
People who are eligible for free treatment include under 19s, fulltime students, pregnant women and recent mothers, in addition to other social groups classed as exempt. Private payment plans are usually calculated on a pay per treatment or monthly plan basis.
Waiting times and appointment lengths
While private treatment is generally pricier, it also means easier or faster access to treatment. Also consider that at 10 to 15 minutes, NHS appointments tend to be shorter than private consultations, with services prioritising urgent treatment. They are, therefore, narrower in scope. Other services such as deep cleans by hygienists may take more time.
Waiting times will be subject to demand. Private practices offer the advantage of faster and more flexible bookings. You may find that longer private consultations allow for longer discussions and more detailed prevention advice.
Availability
It is worth bearing in mind that dental practices won’t necessarily always have the capacity to receive new NHS patients. There may be circumstances in which you have to join a waiting list or get seen privately. Practices that offer NHS appointments will have agreed a contract with the NHS to provide a set amount of NHS dental treatment.
If NHS consultations aren’t available, you might have the option of private appointments instead, in those clinics where dentists opt to provide private services. As a result, private appointments offer greater flexibility, including some evenings and weekends.
When it to comes to personnel and continuity of care, the NHS won’t necessarily ensure you see the same dentist, whereas the private sector makes it easier to see the same clinician on each visit.
Preventative care
In the event you need preventative dental care, the NHS will focus on essential work, whereas private surgeries accommodate prevention plans and regular hygiene visits.
Emergency visits
It is worth recalling that in the event of an emergency, the NHS can provide only limited slots, whereas a private dentist can usually offer same day or next day attention.
Materials
There are also a number of other aspects to think about when weighing up NHS versus private dental care.
The NHS offers effective, functional materials, whereas a private practice might include a premium or more aesthetic product.
For a dentist in Chester that covers the full spectrum of medical and cosmetic surgery, contact the advanced care team at Art of Dental Care today to set up an appointment.