NHS dental care can be a very different experience compared to private dental care and there are numerous reasons for this. A large portion of calls received at our practice are patients either looking to register with an NHS dentist, which unfortunately is a service we do not provide, or patients who have been unsuccessful in their search for NHS care.
Currently the NHS is overwhelmed and the imbalance between demand and appointments provided means registration with an NHS practice is now virtually impossible, therefore leaving private dentists as the only option.
“If you’re considering going to a private dentist, you may worry about how you’ll pay for your treatment. Most private dentists offer monthly plans that cover the cost of your routine check-ups and may also include discounts on other treatments. If you have private medical insurance, you can add dental insurance or take out an individual policy to cover your care. Insurance can be a more cost-effective option, depending on the level of treatment you need.”[1]
At Paulton Dental we have numerous patients who we provide with invoices so that they can claim back through their insurance company of choice. We also offer 3 different monthly plans for adults and 2 for children as well as 0% finance for any bigger treatment plans.
Not all dental treatments provided by the NHS are free, and they offer treatment based on the determined need for the patient.
A similarity between NHS and private dentistry is the base treatment offered. However, due to the limited time available to them, NHS dentists tend to provide more restricted solutions to physical dental issues, whereas a Private dentist doesn’t suffer with the same limitations, offering a broader scope to solve issues and an ability to take into account more aesthetic solutions too.
One of the differences between NHS and private dentistry is the patient experience. “Regular NHS dental check-ups can take on average 10… minutes”[2], whereas private appointments take between 25-30 minutes, giving the patient and dentist time to discuss treatments and any other questions and queries the patient may have. The difference in time between private and NHS can affect the dental treatment, “While the quality of care under the NHS is generally good, it can be affected by time constraints and limited resources. Dentists may have to see more patients in a day, which can impact the time spent on each appointment.”[3]
Private dentistry has a lot more focus on the patients need and experience, “Private dental practices focus on offering a tailored experience, from the comfort of the waiting room to the individualised treatment plans.”[4]
If you want to find out more about the higher level of care options available to you, as well as experience the higher-end patient journey for yourself, why not speak to a member of our team today to find out more?
[1] https://www.mytribeinsurance.co.uk/dental/private-vs-nhs-dentist
[2] https://www.bupa.co.uk/dental/dental-care/news/nhs-vs-private
[3] https://spadentalclinic.co.uk/2024/06/10/nhs-vs-private-dentist/
[4] https://www.mytribeinsurance.co.uk/dental/private-vs-nhs-dentist
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