NHS vs Private dentistry
One of the common questions that people ask is what type of dentistry is best – NHS or private?
On the surface the most obvious difference is cost. NHS dentistry is cheaper than private dentistry in general but cost shouldn’t be the only consideration in choosing your dentist. One common misconception is that private dentists earn more money that NHS dentists – in fact it is the other way round on average (source NASDA).
The fees for NHS dentistry are controlled by the government so the treatment options available tend to be more basic – metal crowns, metal fillings or plastic dentures. More advanced treatment such as dental implants or cosmetic treatments are not available. One of the main problems with the NHS system is that dentists are limited in the amount of time they can spend with their patients. Also the materials that can be used are often of a lower quality as are the laboratories that make your crowns or dentures. All of these things have a direct impact on the quality of treatment provided.
On the other hand private dentists have no cap on the fees they can charge so they can afford to invest in state of the art equipment, the best materials and laboratories. Time spent with the dentist is usually longer with private dentists and the most appropriate type of treatment can be offered rather than treatment that is allowed by the NHS. All of these things tend to suggest that private treatment should provide better quality but of course there is a greater cost that has to be paid by the patient.
So how do you decide what type of dentist is for you? At our practice we have made a committment to providing the highest quality of care that we can. Providing purely private dental care means that we don’t have to make the inevitable compromises that NHS dentists do. But we know that for some people private dentistry can be perceived as expensive so we do our best to keep costs as fair as possible and we offer payment plans and finance plans for bigger treatment options so even the most complex dentistry can be affordable. See our fees guide for more information.
