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Private dentist charges

(69 Posts)
Extratime Fri 01-May-26 17:42:01

I have just had a dental check up- it took 5 minutes literally and cost £49. I’ve been booked in for a clean with the same dentist which last time took 15 minutes and will cost £50

Is this reasonable? I can remember the days when a check up took at least 20 minutes and a clean 30 minutes or is it because now I’m retired my teeth don’t need to be checked or cleaned so thoroughly?
I’d be interested to know how long check ups and cleans are for NHS patients too as maybe it’s now a nationwide dental practice.

Greciangirl Sun 10-May-26 14:57:34

I also belong to Denplan and my monthly charge is £51 .

I don’t have an awful lot of teeth left so I’m always surprised at the assessment.

Of course, everyone will pay a different rate as you are assessed on the state of your teeth etc.

I also get two hygienist visits pear year.

Lixy. You are getting of lightly paying £15 per month.

Chocolatenoodle8 Sun 10-May-26 14:50:35

I had a private dental check-up last Thursday. The cost was £76.00! The hygienist charges the same. We see the dentist twice each year; and the hygienist twice each year. I had a tiny chip on a lower front tooth in April this year. The repair cost was £300.00!!

WithNobsOnIt Sun 10-May-26 14:29:40

Came across a few articles last week about the Japanese hoping o regrow teeth in the next five years

Lots of research in this area.

Do appreciate that Private Dentists do have a lot of overheads.And prices will vary throoghout the contry.

.But many do well from implants.

Also, apparently Private Dentists form one of the largest groups of professions whose children attend Private School.

So they are not doing too badly..

knspol Sun 10-May-26 14:08:24

3 monthly hygienist visits and 6 mthly dentist check ups but costs me just over £50 per month with Denplan. When I look at the Denplan details there's a discount on some treatments and nothing at all towards others so it's a real rip of imo but very difficult here to find a dentist so I'm stuck.

pen50 Sun 10-May-26 14:08:22

I pay just over £100 for seeing the hygienist and the dentist in the same visit. I'm normally there for about 35-40 minutes. Thankfully not much work needed - yet.... I do put aside £25 a month into a saving pot for when my teeth finally start to give up.

shoppinggirl Sun 10-May-26 14:05:52

I pay £9 a month and for that I get a check up and clean twice a year. Looking at some of the comments on here I think my dentist is good value for money!

4allweknow Sun 10-May-26 14:02:09

Deedaa Root canal treatment usually takes two visits. 1st to access and fill with "antiseptic". Second access again and complete filling. X-ray usually taken to ensure the reamer used in the canal has reached the end of the canal. Any space will allow bacteria to grow. Your dentist probably did what was needed hence two visits.

Momac55 Sun 10-May-26 13:57:12

Sounds like you are a dentist justifying the astronomical fees

SallyatBaytree Sun 10-May-26 13:49:03

I pay £30 per month with DPAS which gives 2 checkups and 2 hygienist per year, inclusive of xrays etc ( so an appnt every 3 months for one or the other). I am very happy with the service and agree that dentists have expensive equipment nowadays, and high support staff wages. Getting an NHS dentist in my area is almost impossible,except for children as many private dentists will see children under NHS umbrella.

Janetashbolt Sun 10-May-26 13:46:23

My clean costs £79 one of the chespest in the area and I can walk there so convenient. My daughter pays more and has to drive 30 minutes

Stella14 Sun 10-May-26 13:43:55

A check up at mine is £99, hygienist is £79

Franbern Fri 08-May-26 08:59:12

I use NHS dentist. Fortunate that I am still able to access one. At the age of 85 and having given birth to five children, I still have nearly all of my teeth (just two have been taken out over the years. I go about every nine months for a general check-up and not required any work of any sort for the past six years.

I do a good twice daily cleaning routine.

The last time I visited a hygenist - nearly seven year ago - it was very brutal and cost me a hundred pounds (two visits). Left my mouth sore for a good week following. Will never go to one again. At my check-ups I ask the dentist to give me a clean and polist.

As I am on Pension Credit I do not have to pay anything and feel I get excellent service on the NHS>

LaCrepescule Fri 08-May-26 07:16:11

Times have changed so much since my dad was a dentist. Nearly all of his work was NHS and he had a good reputation as being thorough and proficient. He didn’t race through his patients like his partner who earned a lot more and mum sometimes complained. But he made a decent living and wasn’t money-grabbing. I was (and am) very proud of him. The landscape is very different now.

nanna8 Fri 08-May-26 06:36:40

Cheaper than it is here in Australia. They charge like wounded bulls here.

grandMattie Fri 08-May-26 05:35:46

There are extremely few (as in none) NHS dentists in this area. My dentist charges about £80 for a checkup, the hygienist (who is very thorough) about the same! X-rays every 2 years are extra, ditto everything else.
I see the dentist twice a year, the same for the hygienist.
An expensive game.

Bigred18 Fri 08-May-26 05:17:01

I'm in Sydney and have 2 check-ups a year. This includes cleaning. Dentists here are private and unless you have health insurance you will pay about $180. Xrays are extra.

M0nica Thu 07-May-26 20:13:42

Having my first NHS check-up after 30 years of having to pay for private care was uite interesting. The private checkup was longer and much more thorough.

At the NHS surgery. I first had dental xrays and then the dentist looked in my mouth, as a new patient she listed the teeth I had and where the fillings were , looked at my xray and said that my teeth wee fine, nothing wrong with them and that was it.

When I had private check-ups the private dentist examined each tooth, one by one and used a probe on every filling and between my teeth to find any changes and any fillings that might be loose.

I must say, uick and efficient as the NHS service was, I did not feel I had had a proper check up - and if I want to see a hygenist - that is only available as a private service and costs £80.

I may well choose to go back to private treatment.

watermeadow Sat 02-May-26 20:58:20

It has been said many times by experts that six monthly check ups are unnecessary unless you have ongoing problems.
I have found that I’ve had no tooth decay for at least thirty years, my problems in later life have all been chunks falling off my teeth, which were repeatedly filled in the days when dentists were paid to fill teeth and always did.
I have a check up roughly yearly and have only once, long ago, seen a hygienist. The dentist always says my teeth are clean and doesn’t suggest a hygienist.
Many people are paying far more than necessary.

NanKate Sat 02-May-26 20:40:42

I Don’t begrudge paying more for our private dentist. Get great treatment, they sort out any problems quickly.

I was in the post office the other day and the Assistant said ‘what nice teeth you have’. I’m 79 ! It made my day. 😀

M0nica Sat 02-May-26 18:16:07

They need to have a standard price, but somepeople's checkups will take longer than others. look after your teeth and they will be short, neglect them and they will take longer, usually.

Happygirl79 Sat 02-May-26 16:08:13

I do look after my teeth well and use a private dentist. I pay £30 per month. This gives me 2 x hygienist check ups annually. I would be referred to my dentist if there was a problem detected. In the 12 years at the practice this has never happened. My appointments rarely last 10 minutes. But thats OK because as they always comment my mouth is clean. I don't judge value by the time spent in the appointment. I judge it by my oral health.

JdotJ Sat 02-May-26 13:53:20

lixy

I belong to Denplan which gives me two ‘free’ check ups and hygienist visits a year.

Each check up takes about 20 minutes and usually includes an X-ray, along with a check for any growths along my jawline.
Hygienist visit takes 20 - 25 minutes.

The scheme also gives a discount on any work needed. I did need quite a lot of complicated work a few years ago, so I think I just about break even (contributions are now £15 a month).

Thats cheap for Denplan Lixy.

I was paying over £30 a month in London, before I moved where there isn't a local Denplan dentist

Norah Sat 02-May-26 13:45:14

Samsara1 We have a 6 monthly check up and hygienist which leaves small change from £200. Precisely what we each pay.

Well worth the price, IMO.

Harris27 Sat 02-May-26 13:18:23

Silver lining I would definitely say you’ve got the best priced dentist.

JaneJudge Sat 02-May-26 13:10:52

Put off