Idea Transcript
Financing Dental Treatment “Even if I could somehow work up the courage to see a dentist, I wouldn’t be able to afford dental treatment.”
There is no doubt that the cost of dental treatment can be a major deterrent from seeking help. Usually, there are a variety of treatment options available to fit different budgets. Financing options vary from country to country – this page covers the UK and the U.S.A. only. Financing Dental Treatment in the UK Financing Dental Treatment in the USA Add Your Suggestions!
Financing Dental Treatment in the UK NHS There is of course the NHS. Unfortunately, the NHS dental service in England and Wales has been cut back to a relatively basic standard of care over the last years. As a result, fewer dentists in England and Wales who want to give their patients the care they deserve now provide NHS treatment. Dentists may start out working in the NHS to gain experience and then move into private practice, making it difficult to build up a lasting relationship with a dentist you get on well with. The NHS charge bands in England from 1 April 2013 are as follows: Emergency dental treatment: £19.70. This covers emergency care in a primary care dental practice such as pain relief or a temporary filling. Band 1: £19.70. This charge includes an examination, diagnosis and preventative advice. If necessary, it also includes X-rays, scale and polish and preventative care such as the application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant if appropriate. Band 2: £53.90. This charge includes all the necessary treatment covered by the Band 1 charge, plus additional treatment, such as fillings, root canal work or removal of teeth. Band 3: £233.70. This charge includes all the necessary treatment that is covered by the Band 1 and Band 2 charges, plus more complex procedures, such as crowns, dentures, bridges and other laboratory work. You can find out more about free and paid NHS treatment here: Am I entitled to free NHS dental treatment? How much will I pay for NHS dental treatment?
Community Dental Service If you suffer with extreme dental phobia, you may be able to avail of the Community Dental Service. This is provided on the NHS. Unlike “normal” NHS dentists, dentists who work for the Community Dental Service are paid an income directly by the NHS. They are not as restricted in their choice of materials, will have more time to spend with you, and usually offer various sedation options. Community Dental Officers cater to special needs patients and, in many areas, to dental phobic patients as well. This service is not available in all areas, and waiting times may be long. Our Special Needs and Dental Care page explains how to find out what services are available in your area. If you’re not having any luck, you can also try contacting your local PALS (Patient Advice Liaison Service). Feedback on PALS with regard to dental queries has been mixed, ranging from “extremely helpful” to “very unhelpful” – depending on the area where you live and the person who you happen to speak to.
Why is NHS dentistry in such a mess? In 2006, a new contract for NHS dentistry was introduced which ostensibly was going to make things easier for consumers by introducing only 3 possible prices you will pay, depending on the complexity of the work needed (bands 1, 2 and 3). But for dentists, the new contract was a disaster. Basically, NHS dentists in England are now paid for providing a certain number of “Units of Dental Activity” (UDAs) per year (this is not the case in Scotland, where dentists are paid per item of service). Here’s the problem: within each band, dentists receive exactly the same amount of UDAs regardless of how much treatment they provide! For Band 1, they get 1 UDA, for Band 2, they get 3 UDAs, and for Band 3, they get 12 UDAs. Say for example a dentist provided a small filling for a patient, which falls into Band 2. They would get 3 UDAs for that. But say they provided 5 fillings and 3 root canal treatments which would obviously take much much longer to do and would take more appointments – they would still get only 3 UDAs. The big problem with this is that dentists are required to produce a certain (very high) number of UDAs per year, otherwise they get kicked out of the contract. Trying to get the required number of UDAs means they may have to rush things, and few have the extra time available that most people with dental phobias need to feel comfortable. You can see now why some NHS dentists strive to provide as little treatment as possible. Also, NHS dentists may be tempted to space out treatment, because the charge for each band “expires” after 2 months, so then you will have to pay another charge and the dentist will receive more UDAs for the same amount of work. The following graphic illustrates what has been happening since the new dental contract was introduced:
The graphic shows that teeth which in the past would have been saved with root canal treatment are now more likely to be removed, despite the advances in dentistry over the last decade. And preventative care like cleaning teeth (scale & polish) has taken a back seat, because dentists get the same number of UDAs regardless of whether they just take a quick look, or do an exam, x-rays and cleaning. You can read more about the 2006 NHS Dentist Contracts here. In December 2010, the Health Minister Lord Howe finally admitted that the UDA system isn’t working. They are now introducing three different pilot schemes in different parts of England to see which model will be used in the future. It remains to be seen whether the introduction of new models will actually improve anything, as the amount of money available per person for dental care is way too low to provide quality dentistry for everyone.
It is not all gloom and doom! All the above might suggest that it is no longer possible to get good quality dental treatment on the NHS. However, it still exists. Here is what one poster on our forum has said:
“I have lurked on these boards for a while now as I am dental phobic and was looking for some information and help as I knew I needed treatment … In fact I had not seen a dentist in 30 years. Anyway I visited four dental receptionists and did not like the feel of the places, I became sick and dizzy and just could not go through with booking an appointment … One day I woke up in awful more throbbing pain, and reluctantly rang another dentist which appeared to cope with anxiety and they were so helpful and empathic and said I could visit straight away. I was treated with respect and empathy. The bottom line is I have been allowed to have treatment at my pace in small doses. I did not know that I had serious gum disease and a couple of problems with my teeth too… Had I not got help when I went I would have lost my teeth, I have learnt that it is better to get help now than leave it too late. Basically I was scared of everything I thought I was going to faint on my first appt, I felt hot sick dizzy, my hearing goes all fuzzy and feared the worst, I could not even sit in the chair, I cried, became like a frightened toddler but my dentist and their staff were so helpful … I have started my treatment and it’s so good to not have pain and the awful tastes in my mouth and also my teeth look so clean now i am no longer ashamed. I can smile. Because I was so ashamed I couldn’t even open my mouth to show a dentist inside my mouth as they were so disgusting… Its not easy but little steps do desensitise you even if its just sitting in the chair and then having a mirror in you mouth and then slowly being able to lie back in a chair etc if it’s at a pace you can manage you can get there. I want to also add that my dentist is NHS and they are brilliant, I have not felt pain and my teeth & gums are improving.”
It is possible to find caring and ethical NHS dentists. Here are some tips: Visit several practices until you find one that you like the feel of. You are more likely to get quality NHS care in mixed private/NHS dental practices. This is because the private patients to some extent “subsidise” the NHS patients. Some dentists view the provision of NHS treatment as a charitable endeavour of sorts. Also, in some practices there is a good balance between patients who have minimal dental needs and those who have high dental needs, and this somewhat balances out the UDAs and allows the practice to offer a higher standard of care to NHS patients. Dentists are no different from the general population. Many have a deep attachment to the NHS and the values which underpin it, such as access to quality care for everyone. Find a dentist who really believes in the NHS and wants to make it work.
Going private If you can afford it, we recommend you go private. The advantages are that more time can be spent with you to get to know you and your fears, and you can avail of better treatments and materials. Obviously, just because a dentist is private doesn’t mean they’re good, so shop around and get recommendations from acquaintances, friends, colleagues, family, GPs, and/or the internet. There are huge differences in the fees which private dentists charge for their services – they should have a price list available so that you can compare! Some of the differences can be explained by location, but even within the same area, price differences can be enormous.
Denplan or Dental Insurance This can be a very good option. Here is some advice from someone who has researched these options extensively:
“I started with Boots dental insurance as they offered a very good deal a few years ago. When they changed their terms and conditions I went with the HSA, but recently they have also changed the terms and conditions so that it wasn’t such a good deal. Tesco, in my opinion, now offer the best cover, but who knows, once they have suckered the punters in, they will probably reduce the benefits too. It’s hard keeping the best deal, but as with any other insurance it’s worth shopping around. The 3 policies I’ve had, Boots, HSA, and Tesco have not had any conditions as to prior dental health whatsoever. The Denplan type of policy which is sold by private dentists, relies on the dentist assessing the patient’s dental condition, and then putting them into payment bands. I believe that is called a ‘capitation’ plan, and you have to have treatment with the dentist who has registered you on the plan. With the insurance I have you are free to go to any dentist of your choice. Usually with dental insurance you have to sign up for a year. After all, they’re not going to let you claim for treatment if you’ve only paid a few monthly premiums and then decide to cancel . Depending on the policy, after a year it’s generally on a monthly basis. Also, with some policies you can’t claim during the first 3 months apart from maintenance or accidents.” Please note: this info was provided in 2006, so it is likely that there have been changes since then! Always investigate insurance plans first.
There’s a comprehensive explanation of dental insurance on the excellent Money Saving Expert site: How dental insurance in the U.K. works
Financing Dental Treatment in the U.S. CareCredit and Payment Plans Care Credit specializes in loans for medical/dental care. If you can repay the entire cost of your treatment within a year, you do not have to pay any interest. You still have to make a relatively small payment each month. If you do not pay the loan back in full in the 12th month, interest for the entire year is tacked on, and the interest is very hefty! So this option will only work if you can save up enough money within the year to repay in full, and if you can make the monthly payments. Initially you must be referred by the treating dentist (in order to establish an account), but most dentists are glad to do that, because the company pays them immediately for the work. The good thing about this option is that you can save money to pay for treatment over the course of a year, rather than having to pay upon completion of treatment. If you are upfront with the dentist and tell him/her about your financial situation, you may discover that the dental office offers patients a payment plan. It is always worth asking about this!
Dental Schools If finances are tight, you may want to look into local dental schools. You will be treated by dental students, who perform the treatment closely supervised by their instructors. Expect to pay about 20% – 60% of what you’d pay for the same treatment by a private dentist. On average, it’s about a third to half the cost, but this varies quite a lot from state to state. Some dental schools have a graduated program based on the patient’s income – ask for their fee schedule to find out more. Pros: Generally inexpensive. Quality of treatment is generally excellent to superior, with the student getting checks at various points in the treatment. Patients appear to be generally very happy with chairside manner. You can get free consultations with every dental specialty. Cons: Each appointment takes much longer because of the instructor checks, and because it takes practice to become fast at dentistry. There can be long waiting lists. Treatment may be very drawn out, over several years. The students at times stand in line waiting for an instructor. You can’t choose your dental student. You may be treated by more than one person. Your mouth may be looked at by a dozen different people. To find out how happy patients at your local dentist school are with their treatment, you could schedule a consult (with the dental school), find out where the patient waiting area is and start asking questions of the patients that are being treated there. To locate and get more info about dental schools near you, try wikipedia’s List of Dental Schools in the United States by State.
Dental Insurance (Dental Benefit Plans) Usually, dental benefit plans (dental insurance) are based on a contract between your employer (or your partner’s employer) and a dental insurance company. Coverage is limited, usually to around $1000 per year. You can take one out yourself, but it’s not worth it. Here is why:
“No insurance company will allow an individual to buy a decent dental plan out-of-pocket. Why not? They are not in business to lose money. They will lose plenty if a patient needs say $1,000 worth of dental care for each of five years, but only pays $300 premium per year. And who would pay $300 a year and not go to the dentist? No one. That is why they sell to large corporations where the odds are 10% of the population has dentures and won’t go to the dentist, 20% are too scared to ever go to the dentist, 30% are too busy to really take serious advantage of it, another 10% will balk at paying a co-pay, often being 50% of the cost of a crown, and yes, 20% will exceed their premium.”
Dental Insurance comes in two basic flavors: Dental Managed Care Plans – comes in two subflavor: DHMO and PPO Dental Fee-for-Service Plans (Direct Reimbursement) Fee-for-Service plans are best! They allow you to choose any dentist and you get reimbursed according to dollars spent on dental care. This means that treatment decisions are not influenced by the dental plan – unlike Dental Managed Care Plans. Dental Managed Care Plans come in two subtypes: DHMO (short for “Dental Health Maintenance Organization”, and also know as DMO or dental HMO) and PPO (short for “Preferred Provider Organization”). With DHMO (capitation) plans, contracted dentists are paid a fixed amount (usually on a monthly basis) per enrolled family or individual. The dentists in turn provide some types of treatment to the patient at no charge, while for other treatments, a co-payment is required. Disadvantages of DHMO plans are: you can’t freely choose your dentist. it may encourage undertreatment (ignoring problems), because the dentist gets paid regardless, and it doesn’t make financial sense to perform (or put much effort into) treatments that are covered (such as simple fillings and prophy). treatments which require co-payment may be encouraged even though they are not indicated (e. g. crowns instead of fillings, or deep cleaning instead of a standard cleaning), because that’s where the money is. waiting times may be long if the office sees only one or two DMO patients per day appointments may be very short to fit more people in, or there may be long waiting times both for the appointment and in the waiting room. The above is not to say that “HMO dentists are bad” – merely that finding good care with a DMO plan is harder because of the way the system works. PPO programs are better than DHMO. These are plans under which patients select a dentist from a list of providers who have agreed, by contract, to discount their fees. In PPOs that allow you to choose a non-participating dentist, you will be penalized with higher deductibles and co-payments. If you have a PPO plan which allows you to freely choose your dentist, you shouldn’t base your decision on who’s on the list. Pick someone you think is right for you – if s/he happens to be a provider, all the better – the difference in what you’ll save is usually minimal. Be aware that some services may be either poorly covered or not covered at all by your insurance company, and every insurance plan has its own exceptions, limitations, maximums, and fee schedules. For example, very few insurance companies cover implants, even though implants are often a more conservative and better option than bridges. Let your dentist explain the pros and cons of your options, and try and base your decision on what’s best for you in the long run (as long as you can afford it), rather than on what’s covered by insurance. This may mean having to space treatment out a bit.
Dental Discount Plans Dental discount plans are also known as “referral plans”. You pay 100% of the rates negotiated by the dental plan company directly to your dentist – these discounted fees are about 10% to 60% lower than what a dentist normally charges, depending on the procedure and materials in question. The dentist gets paid 10% to 60% less than they normally would, and the difference goes to the dental plan provider, for acting as the referral agent. Some dentists participate simply because there is a lot of competition in their area and if they’re starting up a new office, they may feel forced to participate in dental discount plans to get new customers. Some dentists take discount plan patients hoping they will refer their next-door neighbors at full fee. In these cases, dental plans may work to your advantage. However, to make up for the losses, some dentists who accept these plans may do one of the following: run a production line, where they’re chasing from patient to patient, to make up for the losses through sheer volume. recommend more expensive and/or more extensive procedures than necessary. That’s the rumor, anyway. The net result could be that you pay more than you would’ve done otherwise. some may bait-and-switch you to non-covered procedures. some may cut corners to get their overhead costs lower. some do not have enough patients to pay all their bills and will do anything to get warm bodies in the door. It has been alleged that most offices will not provide the highest level of care under discount plans. Dental plans come with a membership card and a complete list of all dental procedures covered and what the discounted price will be. Unlike with dental insurance benefits, there are no claim forms, pre-existing condition checks, or paperwork hassles. Be aware that some of these plans don’t give you the list of participating dentists until you have signed up.
If you decide you’d like a discount plan, you should choose it based on which plans the dentist of your choice accepts, NOT the other way round (don’t take out a discount plan and then see which dentists partner with that plan!).
Medicaid Dental Coverage Medicaid-eligible people under the age of 21 are entitled to Medicaid Dental Coverage in all U.S. states. For people aged 21 and older, it varies from state to state. While most states provide at least emergency dental services for adults, less than half of the states provide comprehensive dental care. Try contacting your state Dental Association to see what services are available in your state.
Offering Services or Skills Got a skill or service you can barter with? Tell or write to dentists in your area what you can provide in return for dental treatment, or as a part payment. Examples might include landscape design/gardening, website design, building/carpentry/plumbing, or anything else that would otherwise cost big bucks.
Borrowing Money from Relatives There may be family members who are willing and able to lend you the money, or offer you a part time job.
Your Own Savings Account You may want to open a savings account and draw out what you need to pay your dentist. He or she may even give you a percentage off for paying in full at the time of your appointment. You can work out a treatment plan with your dentist which allows you to space out treatment over a considerable period of time, and pay as you go along. The same goes for some of the other options on this page.
Fee Reduction Dentists may offer fee reductions (usually about 5%) for payment in advance or at the time of treatment, if you ask them.
Charitable or Religious Organizations You can check with your state dental board if you are eligible for any programs in your area. For example, for victims of domestic violence there’s a scheme called “Give Back a Smile”. You can find a list of state dental societies here. You can also do a Google search for “donated dental services” in your state or area. If you are elderly, disabled, or medically compromised, try the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped (NFDH) website, where you can find contact numbers and addresses for donated dental services in your area. More detailed information is available on our Special Needs and Dental Care page.
Low-cost Neighborhood Clinics, Public Health Services, and Other Community Resources Some communities have low-cost health clinics or similar whose services also include dental care for people with limited resources. The Bureau of Primary Health Care, part of the Health Resources and Services Administration, has federally funded community health centers that provide dental care. A call to your local health department might give you additional leads.