Private health insurance and dental: the essentials
What dental cover a policy includes
Usually not, for routine care. Core private health insurance is designed to pay for eligible private diagnosis and treatment of acute medical conditions, and most policies exclude routine dental work such as check-ups, hygienist visits, fillings and crowns. Some policies cover dental treatment needed after an accident, or certain oral surgery carried out in hospital, and some insurers sell a dental option that you can add for an extra premium.
This guide explains what core cover usually includes, how dental options work, how NHS charges compare, and what the alternatives are. It is information, not advice.
What core private health insurance usually covers
Private health insurance focuses on hospital treatment for conditions that respond quickly to treatment. Routine and preventive care, including most dentistry, is typically excluded from the core policy. Where dental-related cover appears in a core policy, it is usually limited to:
- Treatment to repair damage to natural teeth caused by an accident, often with a limit and a time window for treatment.
- Some oral surgery carried out in hospital by a specialist, such as the removal of impacted wisdom teeth, depending on the insurer.
- Treatment of conditions affecting the mouth or jaw that are treated as medical rather than dental.
The policy wording decides each case, so check the exclusions section and the definition of dental treatment. See what private health insurance covers.
| Treatment | Core policy | With a dental option |
|---|---|---|
| Routine check-ups and X-rays | Usually excluded | Often covered up to an annual limit |
| Hygienist visits | Usually excluded | Often covered up to a limit |
| Fillings, root canals, extractions | Usually excluded | Often covered, sometimes as a percentage of cost |
| Crowns, bridges and dentures | Usually excluded | Sometimes covered, often with lower limits |
| Accidental damage to teeth | Sometimes covered | Usually covered |
| Cosmetic treatment such as whitening | Excluded | Usually excluded |
| Oral surgery in hospital | Sometimes covered | Depends on the insurer |
Dental options and add-ons
Some insurers offer dental cover as an optional extra on a private health insurance policy. These options usually reimburse part or all of the cost of routine and restorative treatment, up to an annual limit per person, and may have a waiting period before some treatments are covered. They often pay a percentage of each bill for major work, and may treat NHS and private dentists differently.
Because limits are usually set per year, a dental option suits people who want help spreading routine costs rather than protection against very large bills. Compare the annual limit with what you actually spend on dental care, and include the extra premium in your sums.
NHS dental charges compared
In England, NHS dental treatment is charged in three bands. Band 1, which covers an examination, diagnosis and advice, X-rays and a scale and polish if clinically needed, costs £27.90. Band 2, which adds treatment such as fillings, root canal work and extractions, costs £76.60. Band 3, which adds crowns, dentures and bridges, costs £332.10. [1] If you need treatment from more than one band, you pay only the highest band charge.
| Band | Charge | Examples of what is included |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | £27.90 | Examination, advice, X-rays, scale and polish if clinically needed |
| Band 2 | £76.60 | Band 1 plus fillings, root canal treatment, extractions |
| Band 3 | £332.10 | Bands 1 and 2 plus crowns, dentures, bridges |
| Urgent treatment | Band 1 charge | Emergency care to stabilise a problem |
Some people do not pay NHS dental charges at all — including under-18s, under-19s in full-time education, pregnant women and those who have had a baby in the last 12 months, and people receiving certain benefits. [2] GOV.UK sets out help with health costs, [4] and the NHS explains how to find a dentist. [3] Charges differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, check the charges that apply there, because each nation sets its own NHS dental charges and exemptions, and the figures above apply to England only.
Dental insurance and dental plans
If you want dental cover without private health insurance, there are two main alternatives. Dental insurance pays towards treatment costs up to annual limits, often with a waiting period. Dental payment plans, offered by many private practices, spread the cost of routine care through a monthly fee and may give discounts on other treatment.
Dental payment plans are usually not insurance; they are an arrangement with a particular practice. Dental insurance is regulated insurance, so disputes can go to the Financial Ombudsman Service. [6] When you apply, answer questions about your dental history accurately; the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 applies. [7]
Dental cover through work
Some employers offer dental insurance or cash plans as a staff benefit. If your employer pays, it is usually a taxable benefit and must be reported to HMRC, in the same way as employer-paid medical insurance. [5] If you pay for it yourself through payroll, ask how it is taxed.
General insurance such as private medical and dental insurance is usually subject to Insurance Premium Tax, which is included in the premium. [8]
Working out whether dental cover pays for itself
A simple calculation can show whether a dental option or separate dental insurance is likely to be good value. Start with what you actually spent on dental care in the last two or three years, including check-ups, hygienist visits and any treatment. Then compare that with the annual premium for the option and the maximum it would have paid back under its limits and percentages.
For someone who sees an NHS dentist once or twice a year and rarely needs treatment, the Band 1 charge of £27.90 per course of treatment [1] may be lower than a year of dental premiums. For someone who uses a private practice, has regular hygienist appointments or expects restorative work, the picture can be different, but annual limits and percentage payments can still leave a significant share of a large bill for you to pay.
Waiting periods matter too. Many dental options and dental insurance policies do not cover major treatment for an initial period after you join, and some exclude treatment that a dentist had already recommended before the policy started. If you know you need work soon, a new policy is unlikely to pay for it.
Finally, think about access as well as cost. In some areas it can be difficult to find an NHS dentist taking on new patients; the NHS explains how to find one. [3] If access is the main issue, a dental payment plan with a local private practice may be more useful than insurance, because it secures a place with that practice. If cost spread is the main issue, insurance or a dental option may suit better. Whatever you choose, keep receipts and treatment plans from your dentist, because insurers and plan providers usually need itemised invoices to process a claim, and a written treatment plan helps you check in advance what will be paid.
What to check before relying on dental cover
Check any insurer or adviser on the FCA Register before you buy. [9]
Looking at cover with PremierPMI
PremierPMI is a specialist private medical insurance broker and the publisher of The Health Guide. If you want to talk through what this means for your own cover, you can start there.
Or, if you would rather start here, send an enquiry and PremierPMI will contact you.
Common questions
Does private health insurance cover dental work?
Is a dental add-on worth it?
Does health insurance cover wisdom tooth removal?
Who gets free NHS dental treatment?
What is the difference between dental insurance and a dental plan?
Is dental insurance from my employer taxable?
Sources and methodology
- [1] NHS. “Understanding NHS dental charges”. View source(opens in a new tab)Primary source
- [2] NHS. “Get help with dental costs”. View source(opens in a new tab)Primary source
- [3] NHS. “Dentists”. View source(opens in a new tab)Primary source
- [4] GOV.UK. “Help with health costs”. View source(opens in a new tab)Primary source
- [5] GOV.UK. “Expenses and benefits: medical or dental treatment and insurance”. View source(opens in a new tab)Primary source
- [6] Financial Ombudsman Service. “Medical insurance complaints”. View source(opens in a new tab)Primary source
- [7] UK Parliament (legislation.gov.uk). “Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012”. View source(opens in a new tab)Primary source
- [8] GOV.UK. “Insurance Premium Tax”. View source(opens in a new tab)Primary source
- [9] Financial Conduct Authority. “The Financial Services Register”. View source(opens in a new tab)Primary source
We cite primary sources wherever possible. Read about our sourcing methodology.
Dior Teshayev
Health Insurance Editor, PremierPMI
- Health insurance editor
- Insurer product and literature research
Dior works alongside senior advisers to research and refine content about private medical insurance, producing articles, guides and updates that reflect the latest market and product changes. He tracks market trends, reviews insurer literature and prepares plain-English summaries for the advisory team.
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Stuart Hendy
PMI Expert and Head of Publishing, PremierPMI
- 20 years in UK private medical insurance
- Underwriting and corporate placement specialist
Stuart brings over 20 years of experience advising on UK private medical insurance. He is a key member of the private medical insurance team and Head of the Publishing Team, gathering detailed client requirements, liaising with insurers on tailored quotes, and running training on insurer product changes and underwriting nuance.
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