How Much is Dental Insurance?

Your dental health is a critical component of your overall well-being, yet many individuals in the UK face considerable challenges when attempting to access affordable dental care. The rising cost of treatment and increasing demand for NHS services have made understanding the financial aspects of dental care more important than ever for modern Brits.

If you’ve found yourself wondering, ‘How much is dental insurance?’, you’re not alone. Many Brits seek out dental insurance to cover the costs of private dental care, especially with NHS dental services becoming increasingly difficult to access.

In this blog, we’ll break down the average costs of dental insurance in the UK and work out whether it’s worth the investment. We’ll also provide a range of key statistics to help you make an informed decision about your dental health, as well as advise you on where to go should you want to open a dental negligence claim against your dentist.

If you already have dental insurance and you think your dentist may have acted negligently towards you, we may be able to start a dental claim – please contact our expert team here for more information.

Understanding Dental Insurance: An Overview

UK-based dental insurance is usually designed to alleviate the financial burden associated with dental check-ups and treatments. Every policy is different, but they typically cover a wide range of services, with more comprehensive plans offering more than cheaper, basic policies.

Some basic plans will only cover things like routine check-ups and preventive care, whereas more expensive policies may cover complex procedures like fillings, tooth extractions and root canals. The extent of coverage and the associated costs may vary significantly based on your chosen plan and provider, so it’s worth consulting with several different companies before making a decision.

These types of insurance policies typically work by having you pay for the dental treatment upfront, before claiming back the money from your insurer. This means that you’ll need to keep a record of your expenses, although your dental surgery should keep your dental records for at least two years.

Prices usually start from around £10 per month, with different levels of cover to choose from. However, the cost of your policy will differ depending on the provider you choose to use. For example, a basic policy may cover all of your NHS treatment and cost £12 per month, whereas a more comprehensive policy for £20 may also include some private treatment costs – find out more about the difference between NHS and private dentists here.

The Role of Dental Insurance in Accessing Care

According to the British Dental Association (BDA), over 12 million people in the UK were unable to secure an NHS dental appointment in 2022. This statistic shows that for some people, private dental insurance has become a crucial financial safeguard for their dental health.

Nearly one in eight Britons now has private medical insurance of some kind, which is the highest level since 2008. This figure shows that dental insurance plays a pivotal role in providing access to necessary dental treatments that patients might not otherwise be able to access. Another article by The Guardian shows that at the end of 2023, around 4.68 million individuals in the UK had some form of private medical insurance, with spending on dental insurance exceeding £1 billion for the very first time.

These statistics and trends underscore the growing reliance on dental insurance in the UK, enabling patients to navigate the challenges posed by rising treatment costs and limited NHS appointments.

If you’re currently struggling to find an NHS dentist in the UK, our in-depth guide may be of use.

The Average Cost of Dental Insurance in the UK

Dental insurance premiums can vary widely depending on your chosen coverage level, your provider and your individual circumstances. However, industry data suggests using the following prices as the average costs for dental insurance in the UK at the moment:

• Basic plans: Basic plans usually cost between £5–£15 per month
• Mid-tier plans: Mid-tier plans are typically between £15–£25 per month
• Comprehensive plans: For the most comprehensive plans, you’re usually looking at around £25–£50+ per month

According to Vitality, the average UK consumer pays around £10 per month for dental insurance – annual premiums can range from £60 to £600.

Here are some other key statistics about dental insurance in the UK:

• Private dental insurance uptake is at a record high, with more than 1.1 million people insured at the moment.
• This has led to the market size increasing by around a fifth, going from £710 million to £868 million.
• 41% of Britons cite cost as the main barrier to receiving dental care (Oral Health Foundation, 2022).

The Rising Cost of Dental Care

In recent years, there has been a significant surge in dental treatment costs within the UK, particularly within the private dental sector. There is some research available to back this up, indicating that private dental fees have escalated dramatically as a response to the heightened demand for non-NHS treatments.

According to The Guardian, root canal procedures can now cost up to £775 in certain regions, representing a substantial increase since 2022. My Tribe Insurance has also stated that routine check-ups for existing patients have seen a 14.58% rise, seeing costs climbing from £48 in 2022 to £55 in 2024.

The escalation of these expenses has led to dental care becoming unaffordable and unattainable for many Brits, leading to a growing number of individuals avoiding essential dental services and treatments. The situation has been exacerbated further by increased operational costs, long waits for dental treatment and a shortage of dentists, particularly in the NHS. These issues highlight the need for more viable financial solutions for dental treatment in the UK, which may include taking out private insurance policies.

What Factors Influence the Cost of Dental Insurance?

There are several factors that can have a large influence on the cost of dental insurance premiums in the UK:

• Coverage level: Comprehensive plans that include more complex treatments tend to be more expensive than basic policies covering only routine care.
• Annual claim limits: Policies with higher annual limits (e.g., £1,000 vs. £500) will cost more money. However, they should also offer better protection against expensive treatments.
• Geographic location: Your insurance costs can vary depending on where you live in the UK, reflecting regional differences in dental treatment expenses. Areas like London and the southeast tend to have higher treatment fees than the north of England, leading to pricier insurance plans.
• Oral health history: Individuals with a history of oral health issues may face higher premiums due to the increased likelihood that they will require treatment.
• Policy type: Some insurers offer policies that cover only NHS treatments, while others include private care, having a large impact on the overall cost.

Every policy is different, but basic plans tend to cover things like checkups, hygienist visits and emergency care. Mid-tier plans usually cover these things, as well as fillings and X-rays, whereas comprehensive top-level plans will often cover major treatments like dental bridges, crowns and orthodontics (such as adult braces).

Understanding these factors in full may help you select a dental insurance plan that aligns with your individual needs and budget. It may be worth shopping around first before making a commitment, so you can ensure you get the right plan for you.

How Much is Dental Insurance? Comparing Insurance Providers

When evaluating your dental insurance options, it’s important that you try to compare policies from various providers to find the best fit for your needs. Key considerations should likely include:

• Your premium costs: You should assess the monthly or annual premium costs of your chosen policy and determine if they fit within your budget.
• Coverage details: Another idea is to examine what treatments and services are covered by your desired policy, including any exclusions or limitations. If you have a particular health problem you’d like addressing, you should ensure your provider can cover it.
• The claims process: It’s important that you understand the procedure for claiming reimbursements from your policy, as well as any associated waiting periods.
• Customer reviews: Researching customer feedback will help you gauge the provider’s reputation and service quality. For example, at the Dental Law Partnership, we have a high-ranking Trustpilot score, showing our clients that we can be trusted to pursue their dental negligence claims.

By thoroughly comparing the factors laid out above, you should be able to make an informed decision that ensures both your dental health and your financial well-being.

Dental Insurance vs. Private Treatment Costs

Is dental insurance worth it? Let’s compare the cost of treatment to see how much you could pay with an insurance policy. The following private treatment costs have been taken from the Bupa website:

As you can see, having dental insurance can lead to long-term savings, particularly if you require multiple procedures. However, if you only need occasional check-ups, paying out-of-pocket for private treatment might be cheaper.

NHS Treatment vs. Private Dental Insurance

NHS prices are split into different bandings, with treatments and procedures within the same band having the same cost.

There are three main NHS bands:

• NHS Band 1 (Check-ups, scaling and simple cleaning): £26.80
• NHS Band 2 (Fillings, root canals, wisdom tooth removal, etc): £73.50
• NHS Band 3 (Crowns, bridges, orthodontics, dentures, etc): £319.10

However, NHS access remains a challenge for many people, with the BBC finding that over 90% of practices were not accepting new adult patients in 2023. Taking out private insurance offers quicker access to treatment for patients, but at a higher cost, so it’s something you need to think over before committing to a decision.

Is Dental Insurance Right for You?

So, how do you know whether dental insurance is the right option for your needs at the moment? It can be a difficult decision to make, but we hope we can help you make the right choice.

The following factors should be considered before purchasing a policy:

• Frequency of visits: How often do you visit the dentist, and do you need regular dental work?
• Your budget: Can you afford to pay your insurance premiums or any unexpected dental bills?
• Existing dental issues: Do you have any pre-existing dental conditions? Some policies will not cover pre-existing issues, so you may need to get them rectified first.
• Alternative options: Are there any alternatives to dental insurance you can take advantage of? For example, some employers offer discounted dental plans for employees, so it may be worth checking if your workplace offers dental insurance.

The more boxes you’ve ticked above, the more likely it is that you may need to take out dental insurance. If in doubt, we would recommend speaking to a few different providers to see what they can recommend for your circumstances.

Before choosing a plan, you should compare providers and assess your dental needs to work out whether it’s worth taking out a plan at the moment. If you’ve experienced dental negligence leading to unexpected costs, consulting with a specialist dental solicitor like the team at the Dental Law Partnership may help you explore your compensation options. For more insights on dental claims and your legal rights, please see our in-depth page about the dental negligence claims process.

If you’d like to speak to a member of our team about making a dental negligence claim, we’ll be happy to help you. Please contact us on 0800 152 2039 or request a callback at your convenience today.