Why Do People Go Private Dentist?

What is the difference between an NHS dental practice and a private dental practice?

An NHS practice is one that offers NHS services as it takes subsidies from the government. Because of this NHS dental practices have a fixed budget and therefore have certain limitations. This includes using less expensive equipment and only being open Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.

Some people are entitled to free NHS dental treatments but most are not. People under 18, those currently being treated in an NHS hospital, those on low-income benefits and pregnant people are among those who are exempt from charges.

So, at an NHS dentist, you will likely still be paying for the majority of your treatments apart from some such as having stitches removed or denture repairs.

The government will subsidise some of the amount of your treatment but the way this works again depends on where exactly you are located. If you live in Scotland you will pay 80% of the cost of your treatment but if you live in England or Wales then different treatments are in one of three bands with different pricing.

At a private practice, you will pay for all of your treatments. However, this makes knowing what you will pay much more simple. You will also be able to set up a payment plan with your dentist that suits your personal financial situation.

Private dental practices usually use more expensive equipment and technology and also offer a much wider variety of treatment options including things you cannot get on the NHS (for example, some cosmetic treatments).

When choosing between private and NHS you have to do what is right for you. If you are struggling to choose read our article ‘can you have 2 dentists?’

Are private dental practices really expensive?

Expensive is subjective and we cannot tell you what will be expensive for you. What we can tell you is that we think private dental practices offer treatments at good value for money.

Pricing of different treatments will of course vary from practice to practice but will always reflect the higher quality of treatment and services you will receive at a private practice. Compared to NHS treatments they are still reasonably priced and you will often find that private dentists recommend looking around at pricing. This is so you can better understand the pricing and get what you want out of your appointment.

Being able to have more time and transparency with your dentist means that you can not only figure out a bespoke treatment plan but ensure that you fully understand it every step of the way. Private practices are fortunate to be able to spend time with you to make sure that you are comfortable with everything.

You will be able to fully talk through cost and treatment plans so that you have more control over everything.

Below we have guide pricing for some of the most common procedures we do at Didsbury Dental Practice:

Examinations from £45
Hygiene appointments from £64
Fillings from £50
Teeth Whitening from £95

Is it worth going to a private dentist?

First and foremost, there is absolutely nothing wrong with NHS dental practices. Unfortunately, they just do not have the same flexibility as private dental practices. This is because the fixed budget that is provided to them by the government leaves them with high targets to meet.

This immense pressure that is then put onto NHS dental practices makes life very difficult especially when they are already having to deal with high numbers of patients that need their help. This also means that patients face a long waiting list as a result of less treatment availability and reduced opening hours.

Like a lot of problems we currently face this has only been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

At Didsbury Dental Practice we believe that choosing to be a dedicated private practice will reap long-term benefits for not only patients’ oral health but their overall well-being as well.

We cannot ignore the fact that private dental practices are more expensive. We believe though that this cost is completely justifiable. Private dental practices offer so many advantages:

Wait times for appointments are shorter.
More flexibility for appointment times – for example, evening appointments, weekend appointments, and appointments outside of regular office hours.
More flexibility for emergency treatments.
In general, with a private dentist, you will be able to have more time. This is great as it means you can treat immediate issues and apply preventative measures.
Higher quality of care because there are no funding restrictions on private surgeries.
Wider variety of treatment options (e.g. cosmetic treatments).
More access to treatments that are not offered by all NHS practices (for example, dental implants or veneers).
More access to dental specialists (including orthodontists, periodontists and endodontists.)
More easily accessible for nervous patients as specific services such as sedation are available.
A private practice will have fewer patients registered at it than an NHS practice. This means more attention for you as a patient and better customer service.
More cosmetic treatments are available than on the NHS (e.g. lip fillers).
You can often pay with payment plans that are set up to suit you. This way you do not have to worry about paying for everything all at once.
Private dentists have more time with you and as a result, your waiting room will not be as busy and will be much more relaxed which is especially important if you are someone who gets nervous at the dentist.
Your minor inconveniences (such as breaking your dentures) will be solved and sorted much more quickly as you can get an appointment much faster.
You will receive better aftercare as your dentist can take the time to offer you more specific advice for you.
More access to cutting-edge, advanced dental technology and equipment (e.g. 3D scanning to custom-make retainers for a patient’s mouth.)
You will be guaranteed that you can see the same dentist each time. This means you will become more comfortable with coming to the dentist and you will be known on a more personal level by your dentist helping them to meet your individual needs.
Private laboratories have a much quicker turnaround.
You will be supporting a local business by going to a private dental practice as they are normally independently owned.

Didsbury Dental Practice

So, what can we offer you at Didsbury Dental Practice?

We have a team of experienced dental specialists who can help you with whatever you want and needs along your dental journey.

We have highly skilled dental professionals who have a lot of experience helping patients with a plethora of different dental issues.

We can properly assess your gums and teeth and make sure that we prescribe you any medications that you could need.

We offer specific services for our more nervous patients. Our dentists will take great care of your teeth and we can provide you with sedation (of which we have two types, Dental Sedation and IV Conscious Sedation. This can help to relax patients and help to calm any anxieties throughout an appointment.

For nervous patients or anyone who would prefer it, we can also use pain-free laser treatment which can reduce tooth decay without the pressure and vibration you normally get with a regular dental drill.

Implant Dentistry

We offer everything from dental implants and All on 4 dental implants to Zygomatic dental implants and Bone Grafting, to support patients experiencing issues such as tooth loss and bone loss.

Restorative Dentistry

Whether you need a root canal, crowns or bridges, or dentures, we at Didsbury Dental Practice have got you covered. We have years of experience in eliminating the problems that are caused by issues such as missing teeth and gaps in the teeth.

We can also provide our expert care if you need treatment for gum inflammation and periodontal disease.

Cosmetic Dentistry

We offer a choice of cosmetic dental treatments including teeth whitening, white fillings, dental veneers and inlays & onlays. We enjoy working with patients to enhance their smiles and improve their self-confidence.