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        Updated: December 14, 2022

        Private Health Insurance: Dental Cover

        Considering private dental insurance? In this guide we'll look at the different types of cover available, and how to find the best policy for your needs

        No impact on your credit score

        Richard Angliss

        Author: Richard Angliss - Finance Expert

        Updated: November 20, 2019

        Private dental health insurance is one way to manage the expense of a visit to the dentist. But when is it worth taking out a dental plan, and what does it cover? This concise guide is intended to answer some of the most common questions on dental insurance.

        If you’re interested in getting private health insurance to cover your dental care, save time by speaking to one of the expert advisors we work with. All the experts are independent financial advisors with access to insurance providers across the whole UK. They have the knowledge, tools and experience to find you the right policy at the best available price.

        Save time and hassle by making an enquiry or call 0808 189 0463 for a free, no-obligation chat.

        What does UK private dental health insurance cover?

        In the UK, there are two main levels of cover you might want to consider when taking out a dental insurance policy:

        • A policy that covers the cost of NHS treatment: e.g routine examinations, extractions, cleaning and polishing, emergency dentistry and treatments, up to and including crowns, bridges and dentures.
        • A policy that also covers private treatment: this may include various types of cosmetic work, teeth whitening, veneers and fast-track access to private dentists.

        Does private health insurance cover dental?

        This will depend on the policy but, in most cases, private medical cover won’t include dental treatment by default. This is either taken out as an add-on or as a separate policy, so if you want private health insurance with dental cover included, speak to a specialist advisor who can guide you towards the best product for your needs.

        Make an enquiry to speak to one of the expert advisors we work with.

        Speak to an expert today

        How dental insurance works

        In most cases you pay a premium set by the insurer. When you visit a dentist for a check-up or treatment, you pay the costs as normal, then bill the insurance company afterwards.

        As long as your dental work is included in the policy, you will be reimbursed at the percentage agreed (typically 50-75%) but up to 100% on certain plans) in the timeframe set out by the insurer.

        Another type of dental cover you might encounter is called a ‘discount scheme’ or cashback plan, which is not strictly insurance, but it offers a percentage off the cost of any treatment you incur while paying into the scheme.

        How much does it cost?

        The cost of your premium will depend on various factors, including:

        •  The level of cover you choose (e.g. NHS only or NHS and private)
        • Whether you want cosmetic work included
        • The length of waiting period
        • The excess you select and other optional features you choose to include
        • Your state of health, age and other lifestyle factors such as whether you smoke.

        The best way to ensure you get the most affordable premium is to work with an independent advisor who has access to the whole market. They will be able to gather quotes for the cover you want and compare policies based on the level of cover they offer and the price of the monthly premium.

        Make an enquiry to speak to one of the experts we work with and they will find the most competitive and cost-effective solution for your circumstances.

        Do I need private dental insurance?

        If your oral health is generally good and you only visit the dentist for check-ups and a regular scale-and-polish, you’ll probably be better off paying the NHS charges directly, as these are likely to be lower than the premiums on a private dental plan.

        However, dental emergencies can happen at any time, and even if you stick to NHS treatment this can result in unexpected bills – so you may prefer to pay into one just in case. Also, most practices offer NHS and private treatments, many patients pick and choose from both ‘menus’, which also leads to higher costs.

        If you know you’ll want the flexibility and convenience of private treatment, or if you want anything cosmetic or other non-essential extras (which includes white fillings and fairly common treatments as well as more ad hoc work such as veneers and teeth whitening), dental insurance should leave you better off than if you were to simply pay out of your own pocket.

        Does private health insurance cover braces?

        If you’re insuring any children on your dental plan, orthodontic work including braces will usually be covered for under 18s. For adults, this will generally be considered an extra that attracts a higher premium, but it is absolutely possible.

        If you’re looking to make improvements to your smile sometime soon, the specialist advisors we work with can help you find the best private health insurance for orthodontics.

        Feel free to make an enquiry and we’ll be in touch shortly to discuss your requirements.

        Other treatments and procedures you might want to include on an enhanced policy may include:

        • Implants: It can be harder to find private health insurance for dental implants, but some policies will pay out towards them in the right circumstances. Don’t forget, for these more expensive treatments, you could quickly max out the benefit limit of your plan.
        • Wisdom teeth: As a type of extraction, clinically indicated removal of wisdom teeth should be covered by most plans, whether you have treatment on the NHS or go private.

        Can you get private health insurance dental cover with no waiting period?

        The ‘waiting period’ refers to the length of time after signing up for a policy before you can make a claim. This is intended to stop people from gaming the system by taking out insurance before a planned procedure in order to make a claim only to immediately cancel the plan.

        Most policies come with a waiting period, which can be anything up to six months. However, there are some dental plans on the market that offer immediate cover, although these will usually attract a higher premium than those that do not.

        Speak to an expert to find out which insurers are offering plans with no waiting period if this is something you want.

        Speak to an expert on private health and dental insurance plans

        The experts we work with will be delighted to help you find the best private health cover for dental. Call us today on 0808 189 0463 or make an enquiry and we’ll be in touch soon to discuss your needs and match you up with a suitable advisor.

        All the advisors we work with are independent financial advisors with access to insurance providers across the entire UK. They have the knowledge, tools and experience to make sure you get the cover you need at the best available price, saving you time, hassle and money.

        Speak to an expert today

        Richard Angliss

        Richard Angliss

        Finance Expert

        About the author

        Richard Angliss has made a career in financial services which stretches over 40 years.

        His early career was spent learning about the various financial products and applying them to prudent advice, working for one of the largest life assurance and investment firms. After that he joined the financial services arm of a very well-known firm providing independent advice to their 8 million customers.

        For the last 20 years he has been involved in building software solutions that help Advisers and clients work together to achieve good financial outcomes and helping to set up three independent advisory firms. He also has written many articles for financial services publications and provided commentary for newspaper journalists.

        At an early stage in his career he realised the great satisfaction that comes with being able to help people achieve their goals and protect their families. “Regulation of financial services has hugely impacted on ensuring people get appropriate advice. The issue these days is access to that advice and just as importantly regular reviews to make sure that everything stays on track”.

        With the growing development of online resources such as Online Money Advisor he sees a great future for people to access advice to make their pension and investment work harder for them.  Plus, of course, to ensure they have insurance products in place that will be required when unforeseen events happen.

        He knows getting that balance right is crucial to prudent financial planning and the wellbeing of individuals and their families.

        FCA Disclaimer

        *Based on our research, the content contained in this article is accurate as of the most recent time of writing. Lender criteria and policies change regularly so speak to one of the advisors we work with to confirm the most accurate up to date information. The information on the site is not tailored advice to each individual reader, and as such does not constitute financial advice. All advisors working with us are fully qualified to provide mortgage advice and work only for firms that are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. They will offer any advice specific to you and your needs.

        Some types of buy to let mortgages are not regulated by the FCA. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. As a mortgage is secured against your home, it may be repossessed if you do not keep up with repayments on your mortgage. Equity released from your home will also be secured against it.