How To Get Free Dental Implants In The UK
Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to get free dental implants in the UK. But as you might be expecting… there is indeed a ‘but’.
Implants are an option on the NHS to a limited few people; there’s a strict criteria to meet in place. This is mostly due to their cost and the resources needed to carry out treatment.
How to get free dental implants in the UK
Dental implants are usually only associated with private dental care, whilst tooth replacement on the NHS involves crowns and traditional non-implant-supported bridges and dentures.
However, there are some scenarios where dental implants can be prescribed on the NHS, such as when:
Teeth have been lost as a result of an accident or assault.
Teeth have been lost due to cancer or surgeries.
A person has congenitally missing teeth (hypodontia).
A patient has persistently tried to wear dentures and cannot get on with them.
Where can I access free dental implants on the NHS?
You cannot access implants through your GP, but through a dental hospital. Your NHS dentist will refer you to a dental hospital to have implants placed on the NHS if you meet the criteria.
Having a dental implant placed is a surgical undertaking, and the NHS will provide you with the necessary aftercare. Your NHS dentist will then monitor how your jaw heals at follow-up check ups.
How do I go about accessing free NHS dental implants?
To access NHS dental implants you must:
Be registered with a dental practice.
Have a referral from your NHS dentist for your local dental hospital.
Meet the clinical criteria for free dental implants (as outlined earlier in the blog).
Dental implants aren’t available on the NHS if you have lost your teeth to conditions such as decay and gum disease (which are the two most common causes of tooth loss in adults).
You will also be unsuitable for free implants if you are a smoker, which significantly impacts the success of the integration between the implant and the jaw.
Are there downsides to getting dental implants on the NHS?
Whilst it’s undeniable that the free element of NHS dental implants is alluring, there are a few downsides compared with private dental care.
Waiting lists are lengthy compared with private dental care. It’s not uncommon to have to wait months (and even years) for your implant surgery.
The NHS does not have access to the same technologies as many private dental practices.
If any complications arise during the healing period, you may need to wait several weeks to be seen.
Some top tips for choosing an implant dentist
Free NHS implants are only available when all other clinical solutions have been explored and are deemed not suitable.
Even if you are eligible for NHS implants, you may want to consider:
How quickly you can get treatment.
Who will be carrying your implant treatment? Some dentists have significantly more experience than others, and implant placement is a complex procedure that requires a great deal of skill.
How streamlined and simple you would like your implant journey to be. Private dental practices have the time and resources to ensure a smooth implant journey without any unexpected delays or hiccups. It’s entirely possible that on the NHS, appointments could be cancelled at the last minute.
Want to talk to a dentist online?
If you want to discuss your eligibility for dental implants, you can chat to a dentist online at Nova Smiles. This is a super simple way of accessing dentist advice, especially if you are not currently registered at a dental practice.
We look forward to chatting with you.