Dental Health Insurance

With increasing dental costs and the fact that finding a dentist who will provide treatment on the NHS dental insurance is becoming a necessity.

This guide will explain what dental insurance is and what it covers, as well as the various types of dental plans available.

Defining dental health insurance

Private dental insurance allows the user to claim treatment for dental services whether by way of the NHS or via a private practice. However, since many dentists have chosen to open private practices, it is increasingly difficult to find a NHS dentist who is taking new patients or who does not have a months-long waiting list (even for patients in need of urgent care!).

What dental insurance covers and what it does not

While every dental insurance plan is different, private dental insurance generally covers regular check-ups in addition to dental emergencies and major dental issues. Some policies allow you to choose what services you would like to have covered. The more expensive insurance plans tend to offer more cover.

Some dental insurance policies are specific to NHS cover – and include preventative treatment as well as small and larger dental treatments. You may also choose to seek out cover for dental emergencies and accidents.

When selecting a plan be mindful of the treatment and services that dental insurance will typically not cover including sport injuries (unless a mouthguard was worn during the time of incident), dental implants, cosmetic treatments and orthodontic treatment.)

Cost of dental insurance

Given that each plan varies tremendously in what is and what is not covered, it is impossible to present an average cost. It is important to educate yourself by gathering several quotes from various insurance companies and comparing them to find the insurance plan best suited to you.

Types of dental insurance

The following details the various types of dental insurance:

Dental cash plans

Due to the fact that there is no standard among dental insurance policies, each insurance company can offer various levels of cover and be discretionary when it comes to what "add-ons" they choose to cover. Most will include routine dental visits as well as prescriptions, but when it comes to emergency visits or post-accident treatment, each insurance company differs on what it covers.

Dental cover for children

While NHS dentists offer free treatment to children, the NHS will only cover a portion of some dental services. Private practice dentists used to offer free NHS treatment to children, but many discontinued this after April 2006. Selecting a separate dental plan for your child may be the best way to ensure that your child's dental needs are covered.

Some dental insurance policies may cover children up to 16 years of age (and some up to 18 years of age) for no cost, so as long as they are in school. You may even be able to add children to your existing dental plan for an addition to your monthly/annual payment, of course.

Dental maintenance plan

Dental maintenance plans offer the assurance that you are a routine private patient with a specific practice. This plan allows you to make monthly payments in return for routine treatment, check-ups, fillings, X-rays, and preventative care. Cosmetic treatment is rarely covered, and you may purchase supplementary cover that will contribute towards the costs of dental accidents and emergencies.

Dental implant cover

Dental implant policies cover costs if a dental implant does not integrate, as well as accidental damage and emergency treatment. As with many other plans, it will not cover cosmetic treatment, damage from normal use, and treatment needed as a result of playing sports without a mouthguard.

Tooth whitening cover

Tooth whitening insurance will typically cover about 40 to 50 percent of the costs of a specialty procedure including tooth whitening, dental veneers and home treatment kits.