It can be intimidating for many people to go to the dentist. There are many reasons that people are scared of going, but the most popular include cost (the majority of the people in the country have to pay for their oral health), being lectured and a fear of needles.
Why is it So Expensive?
In the UK, we have a health service that is free at the point of use. This applies to the vast majority of services offered by the NHS, but not all. Dentistry is an example of a service that charges at the point of use. You can still find NHS and private dentists, but both types require payment. The NHS services are usually subsidised by the government whereas private ones aren’t. This creates a cost difference for services.
| Treatment | NHS band | NHS price | Private price |
| New patient consultation or check-up | Band 1 | £23.80 | £20 to £120 |
| Simple X-rays/radiograph* | Band 1 | £23.80 | £5 to £40 |
| Hygiene clean/scale and polish | Band 1/Band 2 (deep scaling) | £23.80/£65.20 | £25 to £85 |
| Amalgam/metal filling | Band 2 | £65.20 | £30 to £175 |
| Composite/white filling | Band 2 | £65.20 | £40 to £250 |
| Root canal treatment | Band 2 | £65.20 | £45 to £970 |
| Tooth extraction | Band 2 | £65.20 | £50 to £370 |
| Crowns | Band 3 | £282.80 | £250 to£1,180 |
| Dentures/bridges | Band 3 | £282.80 | £355 to £2,520 |
It is important to shop around to make sure that your dentist has the correct prices for you. In some cases it may even be that a private dentist could suit your needs or price point better than using the NHS. This is becoming more commonplace now with more and more dentists leaving the public sector.
So with these 2 massive issues, why bother going to the dentist at all?
Well, here are a couple of reasons:
Oral Hygiene
One of the most obvious reasons is oral hygiene. A yearly check-up can help you make sure your teeth and gums are clean and free of disease. Your dentist can help you come up with a plan to ensure your dental health, as well as work with information of any health problems to make sure they are screening for the correct potential oral diseases. For example, if you have diabetes, your dentist will be on the lookout for signs of gum disease. A regular check like this once a year gives you the tools to look after your teeth properly, and minimises the number of times in a year you are likely to go to the dentist (for those who dread every part of the visit.)
Preventative Dentistry
Preventative dentistry may just sound like preventing disease. And this is a very big part of it. Preventing things like oral cancer and gum disease is a vitally important part it and these benefits shouldn’t be understated. But there are other things a regular check-up can prevent and they vary from large to small.
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Fillings
When you look after your teeth and have a check-up regularly, it can prevent things like fillings, as your teeth are less likely to develop cavities.
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Dental Decay
As with fillings, this is easily preventable with a good diet and regular dentist visits.
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High Costs
The more complex procedures you need, the higher the cost overall. It is more financially viable to pay £30 a year to have regular checks than to have to cough up for £70 tooth extractions.
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Dentures in Old Age
If you start looking after your teeth at a young age, they will be able to last you into old age. It will save you pain if you can keep your teeth at 90, as well as money (Dentures are expensive!)
Visiting the dentist has many drawbacks for a lot of people. However, visiting the dentist is very important for your oral health for a number of reasons. Despite the higher cost and the reluctance many people have, everyone should still get their teeth checked on a consistent basis. Making sure you are registered and getting a check-up every year or so is vital for your oral health.
To book an appointment with Cheadle Village Dental Practice, click here.