NHS vs private dental care — what’s the difference?

If you’ve always visited an NHS dentist, you might never have given much thought to how private dental care actually works. Many people just assume it means paying more for the same general dentistry treatment, or that going private is only worthwhile if you want cosmetic dentistry.

In reality, both NHS and private dentistry are there to help you look after your teeth and maintain good oral health. The difference is largely in how your care is funded and delivered.

At AP Smilecare, we provide both NHS and private Denplan services, so we understand the value of both services. However, we also know that accessing NHS dentistry can be difficult at the moment, and if you don’t already have an NHS dentist, you may be wondering what other options are available.

So, whether you’re considering going private for the first time, struggling to find an NHS dentist, or you just want to understand the differences, here’s what you need to know about NHS and private dental care.

What is the difference between NHS and private dental care?

NHS dentistry is designed to provide the treatment that is clinically necessary to keep your teeth, gums and mouth healthy. This can include everything from routine examinations and preventative advice to fillings, root canal treatment, extractions, crowns and dentures where your dentist determines they are clinically necessary.

Private dentistry has the same fundamental aim of keeping your smile healthy, but your care isn’t provided within the same NHS arrangements. This gives us greater flexibility around the treatments we can offer, the choices available to you and how your ongoing dental care is planned.

That said, it’s important to remember that choosing private dentistry doesn’t mean you’re choosing a ‘better’ dentist. At AP Smilecare, both our NHS and private patients are looked after by the same team and receive the same high standard of care that we pride ourselves on; private dentistry simply gives us more freedom to tailor certain aspects of that care around you.

What dental treatment is available on the NHS?

There’s sometimes a misconception that NHS dentistry only covers very basic dental care, but NHS treatment is there to provide the care your dentist considers clinically necessary to achieve and maintain good oral health.

Exactly what treatment you need will depend on your individual circumstances and your dentist’s clinical judgement. If you have healthy teeth and gums, for example, you may not need to visit as frequently as someone who needs closer monitoring or ongoing treatment.

Where NHS and private dentistry differ is in the amount of choice available. NHS treatment focuses on what is clinically necessary, whereas private plans can give you the opportunity to explore additional options based on your preferences.

What do you get with private dental care?

For many of our Denplan patients, one of the biggest advantages of going private is having more choice around their dental care. This could be greater flexibility with appointments, more time to discuss your concerns or access to treatment options that may not be available through the NHS.

Private care can also give you more freedom to explore what you want from your smile. Alongside maintaining your oral health, you might want to improve the appearance of your teeth with cosmetic dentistry treatments like teeth whitening, dental implants or dentures.

If you’re wondering if it’s worth going to a private dentist, the answer will ultimately depend on what you value from your dental care. For some people, NHS dentistry provides everything they need, while for others, the additional flexibility, choice and convenience available privately can make the extra cost worthwhile.

More choice and flexibility with private dentistry

Life doesn’t always fit neatly around dental appointments. Work, family and other commitments can make getting to the dentist difficult, especially if there isn’t much flexibility around when you can be seen.

Private appointments give us more flexibility when arranging your care. At AP Smilecare, we offer evening appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as Saturday appointments by arrangement, giving you more options for fitting dental care around your routine.

Private dental patients don’t automatically get seen quicker in every situation, as availability will always depend on the practice and the treatment required. However, private care isn’t subject to NHS capacity in the same way, which can mean greater appointment availability and more flexibility when arranging your visits.

What if you don’t have an NHS dentist?

Finding an NHS dentist that is taking on new adult patients can be incredibly difficult. Oftentimes, demand for NHS appointments can be greater than the number of places available.

If there are currently no NHS dentists in your area accepting new patients, one option is to widen your search. However, that can mean travelling further afield for your check-ups, treatment and any unexpected dental problems, which may not be convenient when your dentist is someone you ideally want to see regularly.

Before committing to travelling a significant distance, it’s worth looking at the private options closer to home. Anyone can enquire about becoming a private patient; you don’t need to already have an NHS dentist or wait until something goes wrong with your teeth.

Choosing a local private dentist in Blackburn could mean having your regular dental care much closer to home, with the added benefit of greater flexibility around when you’re seen. And if cost has always been the reason you’ve dismissed private dentistry, you may find it’s actually much more affordable than you might expect.

How much does private dentistry cost?

Cost is probably the biggest concern people have about going private. Mention private dentistry, and it’s easy to picture expensive treatments and large dental bills, particularly if you’ve always paid NHS charges.

Private dental fees are higher than NHS charges because private care isn’t subsidised in the same way. However, the amount you actually spend will depend on the care and treatment you need, and going private doesn’t necessarily mean facing a large bill every time you visit.

At AP Smilecare, you can choose to pay privately for your treatment as you go, with our fees explained clearly so you know what to expect. Or, if you prefer to spread the cost of your ongoing dental care, a monthly dental plan can make budgeting much more predictable.

In fact, you can join us as a private Denplan patient for under £10 a month, which is often much less than people expect! We offer different levels of Denplan cover, so we can help you find an option that includes the care you want at a monthly price you’re comfortable with. Whichever package you choose, your routine dental examinations, hygienist visits and X-rays are included, with higher tiers providing additional cover depending on your dental needs.

Making private dental care more manageable with Denplan

Denplan offers a different way to pay for private dental care. Rather than paying separately for all of your routine care as you need it, you make regular monthly payments towards a plan that includes specified dental care.

For someone who has never considered private dentistry because they assume it will be too expensive, seeing what is actually included for the monthly cost can make it feel much more achievable. Having regular payments can also make your dental spending easier to plan for rather than treating every routine visit as a separate expense.

As a Denplan dentist in Blackburn, we can talk you through the plans available, what they include and how much you’ll pay before you decide whether it’s right for you. That way, you can compare your options properly rather than assuming private dental care is automatically outside your budget.

NHS and private dentistry at AP Smilecare

At AP Smilecare, we’re proud to provide both NHS and private dental care to our patients in Blackburn. Demand for NHS dentistry is currently extremely high, which means we aren’t presently able to accept new adult NHS patients, but we continue to provide NHS care to our existing patients.

If you don’t currently have an NHS dentist, have been struggling to find somewhere locally or are curious about whether private dentistry could work better for you, our private and Denplan options give you another route to accessing regular dental care with our team.

Whether you want to understand the cost, find out what’s included with Denplan or simply talk through your options before making a decision, we’re always happy to help! Just give our friendly team a call on 01254 297000 or get in touch online to find out more about joining us here at our Blackburn practice.