| This April the Government is forcing a new service | | | | 1,000 per year for routine work but it won't pay for |
| contract on dentists that includes a new pay scale, | | | | check-ups. Accidental damage up to 1,000 per year |
| changes to their working hours and surgery | | | | and dental emergencies are insured up to 5,000 per |
| arrangements. Now dentists are not a cantankerous | | | | year. |
| profession, but there's widespread irritation and | | | | Many policies also limit the number of dental |
| disillusionment amongst them at the Governments | | | | treatments they'll pay each year. For example, the |
| seemingly heavy-handed action. And they're | | | | policy from Boot's limits your claims to two check-ups, |
| determined not to be pushed around. | | | | one crown and four fillings a year up to 500. Boot's |
| As a result thousands of dentists are registering their | | | | policies start at 9 per month. |
| refusal to accept the new contract and have given | | | | Capitalisation Schemes This is the most expensive |
| their notice to quit the NHS at the end of March. | | | | option. Prior to taking up the policy, your dentist has to |
| This will create mayhem for clients. Many seeking | | | | make an assessment of your dental health and places |
| treatment on the NHS will be simply turned away. | | | | you in one of five treatment groups. This will determine |
| Those dentists who do accept the new NHS contract | | | | how much your scheme costs. The better your dental |
| will then face a flood of new clients seeking treatment. | | | | condition, the less you pay. |
| The vast majority will again be turned away as even | | | | For example, Denplan's dental care scheme costs |
| before this bust up, there was a dire shortage of | | | | between 9 and 30 per month. We are told that their |
| dentists. Waiting lists are bound to be a mile long. No, | | | | average fee is 16. |
| sorry, two miles long! | | | | Cash Plans The last alternative is a composite health |
| As a result, if you are desperate for treatment to a | | | | cash plan. These pay out for dentistry but also a wide |
| broken tooth or an abscess, you'll be forced to search | | | | range of other health treatments such as optical |
| out a community based dental surgery operated by | | | | treatment, hospital treatment, physiotherapy, chiropody |
| the NHS itself. Ask your Doctor for directions to the | | | | even allergy testing. Each policy spells out exactly |
| closest to you. The odds are they'll be miles away. | | | | what is covered and the maximum value you can |
| This means a long journey plus a hospital style queue | | | | claim to for each kind of health treatment. You have |
| on arrival. Getting dental treatment will simply take all | | | | plenty of choice as most cash plans offer three or |
| day! | | | | four grades of benefit level. The more you pay, the |
| For many, private dentistry is the only alternative. Going | | | | more you can claim. Some plans allow you to reclaim |
| private means you'll get an appointment when you | | | | 100% of the cost up to the annual maximum set for |
| want one rather than waiting for ages with the NHS, | | | | each health category, some will only pay a proportion |
| and you can pick and choose your dentist. But it can | | | | of the cost. With cash plans, the maximum cover for |
| be expensive. The only good news is that there are | | | | dentistry tends to be in the range of 70 to 200 per |
| solutions to keep costs under control. | | | | year depending on the company you choose and the |
| You essentially have three key options: dental | | | | option you go for. |
| insurance, capitalisation schemes or cash plans. | | | | For examples of cash plans, visit and Click on cash |
| Dental Insurance The insurance industry has | | | | plans when you get there. |
| responded with a whole host of varying dental | | | | How to get top value in Dental cover As with most |
| insurance policies. The following are just some typical | | | | types of insurance, you'll get it cheapest on the Internet. |
| examples: | | | | Search for dental insurance but use the .co.uk variant |
| Western Provident has been in the dental insurance | | | | of your search engine otherwise you'll come up with |
| market for many years. Its Providential policy provides | | | | masses of American sites! |
| a basic level of dentistry cover with fixed monthly | | | | The best UK sites to visit are those that either enable |
| premiums. For those aged 18 to 49 the premium is | | | | you to compare plans or those operated by a |
| 12.48 and 15.90 per month for those between 50 and | | | | specialist dental insurance broker. With brokers, you |
| 69. Policyholders have to pay the first 25% of each | | | | submit your details and they'll come back to you with |
| treatment but can claim up to 250 per year towards | | | | the options and best dental policies available for you. |
| routine treatment including check-ups, visits to the | | | | If you do want to go direct to an insurance company, |
| hygienist and fillings. Emergency dental treatment can | | | | you can still do it on the Internet - but it's unlikely that |
| be claimed up to 1,000 per year but cover for | | | | you'll stumble on exactly the best policy for you |
| accidental dental injury is limited to 250 per treatment. | | | | amongst the many hundreds available. And the broker |
| 6 per month gets you basic dental insurance with | | | | may well be cheaper. It will come as no surprise that |
| Universal Provident. Their policy insures you for up to | | | | we recommend the broker route! |