The cost of private dental treatment can be high in the UK, with NHS dental practices over-burdened in many areas and not taking on new patients. It is also rather difficult to get dental treatment at the moment, with many dental practices not doing non-essential appointments.
In light of these facts, it is oftentimes essential for most of us to figure out ways in which we can effectively reduce our cost of dental care to at least some degree. A lot depends on the kind of treatment one requires and the severity of the condition itself. Nevertheless, the following tips should help a lot of our readers to save money on dental treatments.
Going to the NHS is Significantly Cheaper than Private Treatment
The National Health Services has its hands full at the moment as it struggles to deal with Covid-19 once again. However, the dentists at the NHS are still available and if you are suffering from serious toothaches or gum pain, the government remains a much cheaper option than private healthcare in the UK. The price of dental care has been raised by the NHS as well, but compared to the private segment, that’s still (comparatively) affordable.
Make no mistake about the fact that the NHS has excellent dentists and orthodontists that you can rely on, even if they charge a lot less than private practitioners. However, understand that the choice of treatments they offer and the conditions which they deal with are limited. You will not be getting cosmetic procedures done for free from the government!
Mostly, they will handle patients who need true, urgent care, or at least prioritise them before comparatively less serious patients. Regular treatments and follow-ups are also offered, of course, but one will have to wait in line, and for a significantly longer time than they would normally have toat a private clinic. Nevertheless, the NHS offers the cheapest dental care possible to British citizens. However, be prepared to struggle to find an HNS dental practice is willing to take on new patients. Many are closed to new patients, and if existing patients miss appointments, they risk being removed from the practice’s patient roster.
Straighten Your Teeth at Home
One option if you need orthodontic treatment and your issues are not too severe is to try at-home aligners and braces.
If you are looking to straighten your teeth with teeth braces, but are hesitating on account of how expensive such treatments are in the UK, then you should be happy to know that it is possible to straighten your teeth at home. Take a look at this informative post on Straight My Teeth, titled,How Much Do Braces Cost in the UK? Aside from stating the usual price of teeth straightening procedures in the UK, the post is also an excellent source of knowledge if you have ever wondered about how do braces work exactly.
As you will see, traditional teeth braces are definitely not affordable if you go to an orthodontist, but even the more expensive, clear teeth braces are made affordable by Straight My Teeth. Not only do their online, home-delivered teeth braces cost a fraction of the usual expenses of going to an orthodontist, the website’s instalment plans make cosmetic treatments affordable for nearly anybody who needs relief from malocclusions and the confidence denting effects they usually have. Given that the NHS does not deal with cosmetic dental procedures for adults, at-home teeth straightening is the best option that you may have never even considered before.
See If You Can Qualify for Free Dental Care
Visit the official NHS website and check if you and your family members qualify for free dental care under the NHS. If you do qualify, the entire cost of treatment will be taken care of by the government and it does not get more affordable than that. In order to qualify though, the citizen will need to be eligible under the following criteria:
- The patient is a minor UK citizen, aged below 18
- The patient is in between the ages of 18 and 19, as well as being a full-time student
- The patient is below the age of 20 and registered as a low-income beneficiary dependent
- The patient is registered as a low-income beneficiary
- The patient is pregnant, or a new mother (12-months is the limit)
With millions of people in the UK losing their jobs due to the quarantines, the need for alternative treatment options is quite severe. This applies to not just dental treatments, but also medical treatments in general. Hopefully, the few tips discussed here will prove to be helpful as you attempt to do that.
Remember, taking care of your teeth is the best way to prevent future health problems. Regular flossing and brushing will make dental treatments cheaper, too!