Knowing how the Dental system in England works is as important as knowing how to brush. When you have the right information at your disposal regarding dental costs, where you can get the best care and what options are available we believe you are more likely to regularly visit a dentist and take care of your pearly whites.

Unfortunately, we see a lot of confusion around the NHS and Private set up in England. Many are unsure what they should be paying, what NHS Dental Care costs, how much they should be paying for private care, and where to go for which treatment. At time of writing, dental decay, particularly among children, is increasing at an alarming rate in the UK – and dental visits are few and far between among adults as well. Oral cancer is also on the rise, and scientists are finding more links between poor oral health and your overall health – links between gum disease and heart health is but one example. 

So what do you need to know?

First of all, the budget for NHS dentistry in England is relatively small, meaning in some areas it can be difficult to find an NHS dentist with available appointments. Some will be displaying signs saying they are not accepting new patients. Read more about the Nhs Dental system here.

Meanwhile, we see evidence of private dentistry becoming more and more affordable as check-ups are offered for as low as £25, even in London. Also interestingly, many new financing options are entering the market. Apart from standard insurance plans, dental discount plans are gaining in popularity. Keeping up with the trend, Toothpick is just about to launch our own discount plan called Toothpick VIP, giving you 20% off for a year at selected dentists.

The infographic below outlines the pros and cons of using Nhs Versus Private Dental Care, including costs, time with the dentist, treatments available and quality of care. For more information about exactly what is included in the NHS dental costs, see this article.

A key point to note from this infographic is that you do not need to register with one dentist; you are free to shop around between visits and go to whichever practice can see you and gives you the best price. Use Toothpick to see what dentists are near you and what they charge. All our dentists adhere to the Toothpick Promise, meaning they promise to charge you exactly as is stated on our website.

Note: if you have a dental emergency, here is what to do.

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