Dental insurance - how it works
With most dental insurance policies you pay your dentist for any treatment received and then claim the money back from the insurer.
Most policies require you to be signed up for around three to six months before they will pay out for treatment. Some only cover you for NHS dentists but others cover some private treatment, too.
Find out more: Dental insurance - pros and cons
Dental insurance: what treatment is covered?
Dental insurance policies cover maintenance such as check-ups, scale and polish, and X-rays as well as treatments such as fillings, root canals and crowns at NHS practices, private clinics, or sometimes both. Cosmetic dental work, such as teeth whitening, is generally excluded.
Most NHS-only dental insurance policies will pay out an unlimited amount towards treatment on the NHS over a policy year. All of the private policies we looked at set maximum benefit levels for check-ups, scale and polish/hygienist visits and treatment as well a cap on the percentage that they would pay towards it.
Dental insurance policies compared
The level of cover depends on whether the dental treatment you receive is from an NHS or private clinic as well as providers' fee schedules. The table shows the starting annual premium for dental insurance policies covering maintenance and treatment for a 60-year-old.
| Dental Insurance Policies | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | Annual premium (60 year old) | Limit (£) checkup / scale and polisha | Months before claim: checkup / scale and polish | Limit (£) routine treatmentb | Limit (%) routine treatmentb | Months before claim: routine treatment | Limit (£) emergency treatment | Limit (%) emergency treatment | |||||||||||
| NHS Clinic only | |||||||||||||||||||
| AXA PPP Core Cover | £123.60 | No limit | 1 | No limit | 100% | 1 | £2500 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18+. Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% Emergency treatment limits: Up to 4 incidents per year | |||||||||||||||||||
| Boots Core Plan | £126.94 | No limit | 3 | No limit | 100% | 3 | £500 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18+. Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Bupa Dental Cover 10 | £199.32 | No limit for NHS treatment | 0 | No limit | 100% | 4 | No limit | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Benefit: NHS maximum benefit for maintenance and treatment follows England and Wales NHS banding prices - not guaranteed in Scotland or Northern Ireland Ages: 18+ Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dencover NHS | £5.99 per month/£71.88 | £19.70 checkups & x-rays / £19.70 polish | 0 | £107.80 | 100% | 2 | £425 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18+ Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% | |||||||||||||||||||
| WPA Level 1 | £164.40 | No limit | 1 | No limit | 100% | 3 | £500 | 75% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18-65 Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% Emergency treatment limits: Up to 2 incidents per year | |||||||||||||||||||
| Private Clinics only/Private and NHS Clinics | |||||||||||||||||||
| AXA PPP Premier Cover | £247.80 | £125 | 3 | £1,000 | 50% | 3 | £2,500 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18+. Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% Emergency treatment limits: Up to 4 incidents per year | |||||||||||||||||||
| Boots Private Level 1 | £185.57 | £750 | 3 | £750g | 100% | 3 | £1,000 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18+ Limit £ checkup/scale and polish: Overall limit combined costs - checkups, polishes and routine treatments Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Boots Private Level 2 | £270 | £1,000 | 3 | £1,000g | 100% | 3 | £1,500 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18+. Limit £ checkup/scale and polish: Overall limit combined costs - checkups, polishes and routine treatments Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Bupa Dental Cover 20 | £355.20 | £150 | 0 | £700 | 75% | 4 | £600 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18+ Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dencover Silver | £8.50 per month/£120 | £30 checkups & x-rays / £35 polish | 0 | £210 | 55% | 2 | £850 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18+ Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% checkups & x-rays/80% polish | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dencover Gold | £13.99 per month/£167.88 | £55 checkups & x-rays / £65 polish | 0 | £410 | 55% | 2 | £850 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18+ Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% checkups & x-rays/80% polish £ limit routine treatment: A maximum of £210 can be used to cover crowns, root canals and bridge treatments | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dencover Platinum | £19.99 per month/£239.88 | £85 checkups & x-rays / £95 polish | 0 | £610 | 55% | 2 | £1,100 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18+ Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% checkups & x-rays/80% polish £ limit routine treatment: A maximum of £310 can be used to cover crowns, root canals and bridge treatments | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dencover Diamond | £25.99 per month/£311.88 | £115 checkups & x-rays / £125 polish | 0 | £810 | 55% | 2 | £1,100 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18+ Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% checkups & x-rays/80% polish £ limit routine treatment: A maximum of £410 can be used to cover crowns, root canals and bridge treatments | |||||||||||||||||||
| Simplyhealth Level 1 | £8.68 per month/£104.16 | £40 checkups & x-rays / £35 polish | 0 | £200 | 50% | 3 | £500 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18-79 Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% checkups & x-rays/75% polish £ limit routine treatment: A maximum of £200 can be used to cover crowns, bridge treatments, inlays and onlays | |||||||||||||||||||
| Simplyhealth Level 2 | £14.47 per month/£104.16 | £70 checkups & x-rays / £65 polish | 0 | £400 | 50% | 3 | £500 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18-79 Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% checkups & x-rays/75% polish £ limit routine treatment: A maximum of £200 can be used to cover crowns, bridge treatments, inlays and onlays | |||||||||||||||||||
| Simplyhealth Level 3 | £20.51 per month/£246.12 | £100 checkups & x-rays / £95 polish | 0 | £600 | 50% | 3 | £500 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18-79 Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% checkups & x-rays/75% polish £ limit routine treatment: A maximum of £300 can be used to cover crowns, bridge treatments, inlays and onlays | |||||||||||||||||||
| Simplyhealth Level 4 | £26.24 per month/£314.88 | £130 checkups & x-rays / £125 polish | 0 | £800 | 50% | 3 | £500 | 100% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18-79 Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 100% checkups & x-rays/75% polish £ limit routine treatment: A maximum of £400 can be used to cover crowns, bridge treatments, inlays and onlays | |||||||||||||||||||
| WPA Providental 2 | £232.80 | £250 | 1 | £250g | 75% | 3 | £1,000 | 75% | |||||||||||
| More info Ages: 18-65 Limit (%) checkup/scale and polish: 75% £ Limit checkup/scale and polish: Overall limit combined costs - checkups, polishes and routine treatments £ Limit routine treatment: Overall limit combined costs - checkups, polishes and routine treatments £ limit emergency treatment: Covers up to 4 incidents per year | |||||||||||||||||||
| More info Table notes: All information correct March 2017. a Maximum benefit is per year b Includes cover for fillings and crowns | |||||||||||||||||||
