Denplan - or similar - what have you got?

[Martyn76]

So following a checkup at the dentist this morning I've been told by my missus that our daughters (10 yr old twins) will need braces and one will need caps as her canines are not going to be fully grown, she mentioned a dental plan as it's something they don't do on the NHS as it's deemed cosmetic(?), so I was wondering if anyone here uses a dental plan and likely costs?

The only one I have come across is Denplan, surely there are others out there?

[Saleen836]

Bupa, Simply health, Axa, Boots...
Have a google

[Sheepshanks]

We (wife and I) have Denplan and I think it's basically designed to just spread the cost of private care - it's like a service plan on a car.

I know for adults it doesn't cover things like implants, unless they're required following an accident. I think the coverage for crowns is quite limited too.

[Slushbox]

Thought I'd signed up for DenPlan in 2004. Fees were £18 a month. By 2018 they were £32 a month, despite teef in perfect health and no work for three years.

Queried prices but receptionist 'didn't know.' Cancelled 'DenPlan' Direct Debit to find scheme had been replaced by some third party outfit affiliated to one of the practice partners' They said I had to pay an 'extra months notice' to leave. Naturally, I hadn't kept the original paperwork. Nor had they.

I'd get firm quotes for the work, and compare any payment plan with a bank loan.

[stevensdrs]

We have Denplan and it costs me £57.82 a month. Is it worth it? We get instant treatment if needed anywhere in the world, accidental damage to teeth insurance, a check up every 6 months and the hygienist every 3 months. The price rises with inflation every year regardless of the state of your teeth. It has never gone down! Over the years I have collected 4 crowns and a bridge all paid for on the insurance, I fell off my bike a lot it seems. It is really just paying for private treatment on the drip but worth it as getting an appointment with a good NHS dentist is near impossible.

[Sheepshanks]

stevensdrs said:

We have Denplan and it costs me £57.82 a month. Is it worth it? We get instant treatment if needed anywhere in the world, accidental damage to teeth insurance, a check up every 6 months and the hygienist every 3 months. The price rises with inflation every year regardless of the state of your teeth. It has never gone down! Over the years I have collected 4 crowns and a bridge all paid for on the insurance, I fell off my bike a lot it seems. It is really just paying for private treatment on the drip but worth it as getting an appointment with a good NHS dentist is near impossible.

Yes - my dentist re-attached an old crown (done by a previous dentist) that fell out on the Saturday before Christmas 17 - she came in on the Sunday morning (Christmas Day was Monday) to stick it back in again, 'saving' Christmas for me.

The dentist sets the fee - I have the same regime as you, wife is similar but with 6 monthly hygienist appts and we pay about £45/mth. I hate paying it though - we got rather bounced into it as she was our NHS dentist but then went private for adults but still does kids on NHS.

[randlemarcus]

Braces - check with your dentist about the cosmetic thing - two of mine had NHS orthodontics as their teeth were more than 3mm out. I think it's a regional thing, and while the wiry bits do exactly the same job, the wait was ridiculous.

[stevensdrs]

Sheepshanks said:

Yes - my dentist re-attached an old crown (done by a previous dentist) that fell out on the Saturday before Christmas 17 - she came in on the Sunday morning (Christmas Day was Monday) to stick it back in again, 'saving' Christmas for me.

The dentist sets the fee - I have the same regime as you, wife is similar but with 6 monthly hygienist appts and we pay about £45/mth. I hate paying it though - we got rather bounced into it as she was our NHS dentist but then went private for adults but still does kids on NHS.

They can charge Denplan about £200 if they have to come in out of hours. My dentist did the same for me and I remember signing the form so he could charge them. A nice little earner.

[Jag_NE]

is there any value in denplan if you have a decent nhs dentist? I’m thinking that checkups and basic stuff for the family is either low/zero cost and if we ever fancy any cosmetic it’s potentially better to bite the bullet at the time? Are private check ups or routine work delivered better by a dentist if you have a private plan, assuming the dentist is the same?

[stevensdrs]

Jag_NE said:

is there any value in denplan if you have a decent nhs dentist? I’m thinking that checkups and basic stuff for the family is either low/zero cost and if we ever fancy any cosmetic it’s potentially better to bite the bullet at the time? Are private check ups or routine work delivered better by a dentist if you have a private plan, assuming the dentist is the same?

The dentist isn't the same though in most cases. My dentist doesn't do NHS work as it's too much form filling for not enough reward.

[Jag_NE]

stevensdrs said:

The dentist isn't the same though in most cases. My dentist doesn't do NHS work as it's too much form filling for not enough reward.

I know our one does both has he did a big private job on my father in law. Up here it’s probably different as there may not be enough private work available, compared to somewhere like London for example. I’m just struggling to accept that in my case he elects to be a bit negligent on the nhs jobs to justify the private work! Obviously cosmetic is a separate kettle of fish!

[Sheepshanks]

Jag_NE said:

is there any value in denplan if you have a decent nhs dentist? I’m thinking that checkups and basic stuff for the family is either low/zero cost and if we ever fancy any cosmetic it’s potentially better to bite the bullet at the time? Are private check ups or routine work delivered better by a dentist if you have a private plan, assuming the dentist is the same?

Not if your NHS dentist is decent, and accessible. And Denplan doesn't cover cosmetic work anyway.

On Denplan our dentist comes and gets us herself from the waiting room rather than sending her assistant - is that worth anything?

I had a check-up a few weeks ago and was probably in there 5 mins and that's about the longest I've ever been, although before I see her I have had a session with the hygienist so she looking into a beautifully clean gob. On the NHS I felt she only ever once did a through check-up, with scale and polish, as they're supposed to. She mainly pushed for me to have a hygienist appt - that seems to be a newish thing in dentistry, I don't recall them existing years ago.

Paying really grates with me though. I don't understand why there's even the NHS charges. My glasses should be free too.

[randlemarcus]

Sheepshanks said:

Paying really grates with me though. I don't understand why there's even the NHS charges. My glasses should be free too.

Because I'd rather not pay for your treatments There has to be a limit somewhere, and I'm OK with things the way they are. Am sure I'd change my mind if I needed new glasses every six months, or signficant non-cosmetic dental work.

[Martyn76]

Thanks for the replies, always good to hear real world experiences..

[Driller]

Martyn76 said:

one will need caps as her canines are not going to be fully grown,

Could you explain that one further please?

[Jag_NE]

stevensdrs said:

The dentist isn't the same though in most cases. My dentist doesn't do NHS work as it's too much form filling for not enough reward.

I know our one does both has he did a big private job on my father in law. Up here it’s probably different as there may not be enough private work available, compared to somewhere like London for example. I’m just struggling to accept that in my case he elects to be a bit negligent on the nhs jobs to justify the private work! Obviously cosmetic is a separate kettle of fish!

[272BHP]

Private is the only way to go with teeth though isn't it?

The NHS are just fillers and extractors - absolutely nothing else will get done in my experience especially in recent years.