NHS dental care is free for certain individuals, such as those under 18, pregnant women, and those who apply for certain benefits. However, you must demonstrate the benefits to the dental clinic. You can also pay for dental treatment in the NHS or as a private patient, depending on the arrangements you make with your dentist. If your dentist's NHS list is complete or if they don't see NHS patients, you may only be able to treat you privately.
If you can't afford it, your local primary care trust will help you find a dentist in your area who will treat you as an NHS patient or you can visit www.nhs.uk. The NHS is organized differently in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The NHS won't cover cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening, which improve the appearance of teeth but aren't clinically necessary. If you want cosmetic treatment, you'll have to find a private dentist and pay to have it done. Your NHS dentist cannot deny you the treatment that is available in the NHS and instead offer it to you privately. The frequency of dental appointments depends on your dental health.
Your dentist will tell you how often you should see an appointment. You won't be charged for individual parts of the work after each appointment if they are part of a larger treatment cycle. You will only pay once for your treatment and this payment will be made at the end once you have finished all the work. If you are receiving private treatment and don't attend an appointment, there's nothing to stop private offices from imposing a fee for missing a private appointment. The Health Service provides the dental care and treatment needed to keep your mouth and teeth healthy.
Depending on your circumstances, you may have to pay for all or part of your dental treatment. The difference between the prices of the NHS and those of private dentists is quite simple: with the NHS, you pay a fixed amount for treatment, but you don't pay the full cost. If you go to a private dentist, the prices are usually significantly higher, as you pay the full cost of the treatment. The prices of dental fillings in the United Kingdom range from 40 to 250 pounds sterling, depending on the choice of filling, the tooth that needs filling and the dental office. Everyone in the UK can get dental treatment in the NHS and some may be eligible for free dental treatment, but there doesn't seem to be any other help with dental expenses for low-income families. If you need to go back to the dentist within two months because of a problem with the treatment and you don't need anything extra to correct it, the dentist won't charge you anything more. Not only are dental costs high, but they can vary from dentist to dentist and by location across the UK.
