Is Private Or NHS Dental Care The Way Forward?
The conversation surrounding private vs NHS dental care has been ubiquitous over the past couple of years. With the NHS struggling to provide routine check-ups and timely restorative treatment, many more people are choosing to go in the direction of private health care.
Whilst one of the new Labour government’s pledges is to create 700,000 new emergency appointments, this is unlikely to stretch far enough.
No real promises have yet been made to give restorative care an overhaul, nor does there appear to be a budget for improving technology and appointment slots.
Is private or NHS dental care the way forward?
There’s no doubt that the NHS is an incredible institution and that the clinical professionals working within it are nothing short of heroes. However, an increasing number of dentists are choosing to leave the NHS and go private, compromising the NHS’s capacity to offer timely treatment.
Some aspects to weigh up when choosing between the NHS and private care include:
How long are you willing to wait for treatment?
How long can you live with dental pain?
The kind of treatment you need (cosmetic dentistry is unavailable on the NHS).
How much can you afford to pay? (Private dental care is more expensive than the NHS band system.)
What are the advantages of NHS dentistry?
There is still very much a place for NHS dentistry within the general healthcare system; it’s simply that reform is needed. In an ideal world, the NHS would offer the basic care people need to prevent major dental problems from occurring. But this isn’t the reality yet.
This said the NHS does have some advantages in its current format:
It is cheaper than private dental care (particularly for restorative treatment like dentures, crowns and bridges).
There are some parts of the UK where NHS waiting lists are not months long, making it easier to access an appointment. You can check the waiting lists in your area by using the My Planned Care resource on the NHS website.
What are the advantages of private dental care?
We won’t be coy and pretend that private dental care doesn’t involve a bigger investment than if you were to choose NHS care. However, the quality of materials and facilities used can mean that treatment can often last much longer than NHS restorations, making value for money a very real possibility.
Other advantages of private dental care include:
Speedy appointments – most private dental practices can book you in within days.
Greater quality of care – private dentists have the luxury of time. This means more accurate diagnoses can be made, and minor problems are less likely to be missed.
A wider range of choice and services – NHS dentistry has limited choice, for example, dental implants are very rarely accessible for tooth replacement.
A better patient experience – the three points above add up to a greater patient experience. For many people, this equates to less stress, and a greater bond of trust with the dentist.
How do you choose a private dentist?
With more and more private dental practices popping up all over the country, it can feel overwhelming when you do your research.
Some of our top tips when choosing a private dentist include:
Observe the language they use on their website. Look for words that convey compassion and individualised care. Steer clear of practices that sound like they will treat you simply as ‘just another patient through the door’.
Look at the Team page. Who are their dentists? What experience do they have?
Check their treatment list. Are they offering the treatment you’re looking for? Do they offer sedation to help relax nervous patients?
Need help finding a dentist?
If you require further guidance on choosing a private dentist, we can help. Nova Smiles's very own Dr Zaeem has advised countless patients on how to find the right private dentist for their needs.
He is contactable free of charge – just click right here to arrange an online chat.