by maria |
Last Updated: February 9, 2021 Any complication with the dental system is bound to cause pain and discomfort. Beyond functional discomfort, people are now far more conscious of facial aesthetics, so they consult a dentist to improvise smiles cosmetically. If you have lost your one or more tooth due to any reason, dental implants can help you regain dental functionality and facial aesthetic.
Unfortunately, the cost of restorative dental treatments, like dental implants, is very high as the procedure is highly complex and technical. The U.K. government-funded National Health Service (NHS), and you can get dental implant treatment on the NHS, but you have to fulfill strict conditions.
The support system is to protect and maintain a good life, and not to waste funds in helping people improve the look. So, the NHS will pay for dental implants only when you will satisfactorily demonstrate the need of protecting and maintaining mouth, teeth, and gums. Here are some of the conditions you have to fulfill to avail dental implants on the NHS:
Eligibility criteria for Dental Implants on the NHS
Since the budget is very limited and demand is overwhelmingly high, the NHS prioritizes treatment according to the needs and benefits of people. Your eligibility for dental implants on the NHS depends on how effectively you could demonstrate that the treatment will result in a major benefit for you. Following a consultation to determine dental health and suitability of dental implants, the dentist will request approval for NHS funding. Dental implants are available under the NHS in the following categories:
- Dental implants are available on the NHS if the patient under consideration has congenital and acquired defects, such as severe hypodontia (more than six missing teeth), cleft lip, and palate.
- If you have lost a tooth and tissue accident, surgery for head and neck cancer.
- If you are facing continuing problems with complete dentures or you are unable to wear dentures as a fixed alternative.
- If you have lost all your teeth and you are below forty years old.
- Beyond specifics, some other considerations are age and life expectancy, oral hygiene, food, drink, smoking habits, and of course, general health.
If your request gets approval for funding, you will get support for only the current course of treatment. You might have to bear the cost of maintenance and replacements in the future. If you face any problem in the future, you have to get approval again for the procedure. Cost matters, but you should not wait long to improvise your smile as several private cosmetic dentistry practitioners are offering quality dental implant treatment at a very cost-effective rate with attractive financing options. NHS dentistry is not completely free, as you are required to contribute to your treatment. Under band-3 in which dentures, crowns, bridges, or any other laboratory work is done, you have to pay £256.
Why wait, when you could get the most advanced dental treatments and smile freely anytime, after all, life is too short to waste without the confidence to smile freely.