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What is Denplan's role in private dentistry?
Denplan plays a leading role in the private sector, helping more people to access and afford high quality private dental care.
Unlike fee-per-item private dentistry, where patients pay for treatment after each session, Denplan allows patients to budget for high quality private dentistry, with an affordable monthly payment. It has added benefits such as Supplementary Insurance, which provides mandatory dental accident and emergency cover.
Most Denplan member dentists have moved from the NHS because they want to offer a better service to their patients, focusing on preventive care. This approach can assure them of a fair and reliable income so they can plan practice services and development. Denplan allows dentists more time with their patients, freedom to choose the best treatments available and to recall patients at their discretion.
Is Denplan an insurance scheme?
No it offers a range of payment plans (Denplan Care, Denplan Essentials and Plans for Children) that enable patients to budget for their dental care. There is no'claim' procedure when treatment is necessary. The monthly payment that patients make covers them for their dental care (depending upon which scheme they are on). Each plan does include Supplementary Insurance which provides accident and emergency cover.
However, Denplan's Company dental plans are insurance products and provide reimbursement towards routine dentistry and worldwide accident and emergency cover. For more information on these plans visit the
Denplan Company plans section.
Do Denplan member dentists only offer Denplan products to their patients?
Dentists generally operate within a 'mixed' practice environment, with Denplan products normally being offered alongside private fee-per-item and NHS dentistry.
Does Denplan 'own' dentists who offer the Denplan product range?
No. Denplan offers private practice dentists a range of payment plans which they, in turn, can offer their patients. Denplan's role is to offer administrative support to dentists' offering it's products.
How do Denplan Care and Denplan Essentials payment plans compare to other methods of private treatment?
Under the 'fee-per-item' system, patients pay for each item of dental treatment as they receive them. They could incur large dental bills following each appointment. However, with Denplan the patient spreads the cost of dental treatment by paying a set monthly fee and encourages regular attendance as cost concerns are removed.
How does Denplan's success impact on the NHS?
The NHS system tends to require the dentist to have a large list of patients and speed them through the surgery to achieve enough income to cover the practice's overheads. Payments to the dentist - even after the April 2006 reforms - will be largely based on treatments given, so there is little incentive to offer advice that reduces the level of invasive treatment. Of course, dentists are caring professionals trying to serve community needs and many choose to have a mixture of NHS, private
fee-per-item and Denplan patients. Dentists offer Denplan because they can give each patient the time necessary, offer the best preventive advice and still have a stable income.
What is an Oral Health Score©?
As part of the Denplan Excel accreditation programme, dentists will check a patient's Oral Health Score (OHS) on a regular basis. Depending on the health of the patient's teeth, a score of up to 100 can be attained. This process is ongoing so that patient and dentist can build up a picture of how the patient's oral health is changing over time on a practical and easily understood basis.
What are the benefits of Denplan Care and Denplan Essentials for patients and dentists?
For patients:
- Regular, affordable monthly payments
- No unexpected extras or surprise costs
- Range of plans to suit budget and dental needs
- Treatment is focussed on quality preventive care
- Range of treatment options
- Peace of mind through worldwide emergency cover
- Family discounts of up to 15%, plus special Plans for Children
- Accreditation scheme for dentists assures quality care
For dentists:
- Dentists can spend more time with each patient
- The practice can focus more on preventive care
- Regular income allows better planning and patient care
- Assured clinical freedom to do the best for the practice and patients
- Reduce time and money spent on administration and paperwork
- Professional accreditation, training and development support from Denplan
- Patients make and keep regular appointments - thus limiting empty care time
- Because of the continuity of funding for the practice, often the dentist can invest in the most up to date equipment, usually in more convenient and attractive purpose-designed premises.
For benefits of Company Dental Plans visit the
Denplan Company plans section.