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With fees spiralling to hundreds of pounds for some treatments, a visit to the dentist can feel more like a kick in the teeth than an oral health check. To help people cover the costs, Bupa has launched a new dental care allowance for private medical insurance.
The provider claims it is the only UK health insurer to include dental care as standard for all customers and pays up to £300 towards treatments, including crowns or fillings. But, as with all policies, there are some important exclusions to watch out for.
Which? examines Bupa's offer and considers whether it is the best way to cover the cost of dental treatment.
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Many private health insurance policies cover dental treatment, but choosing to include this element can push premiums higher. Bupa, however, now includes it as standard for all customers - whether they are starting a new policy or renewing their current cover.
For help finding the right provider and policy, visit our guide to the best private health insurance.
While Bupa's £300 allowance sounds generous, that money won't go far if you need more than a filling. Our analysis of dental treatment prices shows the price for a crown on the NHS in England is already £319.10, but could cost up to £950 with a private dentist. For dentures or bridges, private treatment can cost as much as £1,050.
You may therefore want to consider these other ways to cover the costs of dental care:
Dental care can be bought as an add-on to your health insurance, but if that's the only reason for taking out a policy, it may be cheaper to take out standalone dental insurance.
Which? analysis of dental insurance shows an annual premium can cost anywhere between £114 to £414. Prices for private medical insurance depend on age and medical history, but couples aged over 35 will struggle to find one cheaper than £800 a year before even adding dental cover.
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.
With a dental payment plan, you pay a regular monthly amount instead of settling the bill after a treatment. How much you pay will be decided by the dentist based on your oral health and dental history.
These are an effective way to spread the cost of your treatment throughout the year, so you don't have to worry about the cost of a filling or hygiene appointment upfront.
You can read more about how dental plans work in our guide.
Healthcare cash plans are generally much cheaper than private health insurance but are only designed to cover everyday health expenses such as dental work, glasses, contact lenses or physiotherapy.
You pay a monthly premium, and the cash plan provider will reimburse you for expenses covered in the plan. There's an annual limit on how much you can claim, with more comprehensive policies having higher limits.
Rather than pay an annual premium to an insurer, why not pay the same amount into a savings account?
With interest rates still high, consider opening an easy-access or regular savings account. For the latest rates, take a look at our guide to the best savings accounts.
The downside is that if you need expensive dental treatment before you've saved enough to pay for it, you might end up in debt.
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Paying on a credit card means you can repay the full amount in manageable chunks over several months - especially if you get an interest-free purchase credit card.
The danger is that if you don't pay off the balance in full and don't have an interest-free deal, you'll end up accumulating interest on whatever is still owed and spending a lot more than the original bill.
Credit cards also have borrowing limits and if your dental bill ends up in the thousands, you may find yourself unable to cover the full amount.
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