It's undoubtedly a pain in the mouth, but since public dental cover was slashed by the government back in 2010 going to the dentist has increasingly become a pain in your wallet too.
Thankfully dentists have responded by offering more competitive rates as well as treatment plans to entice customers. Not only that but it has become increasingly easy to shop around thanks to dentists displaying their prices not just in their practices but also online.
This means that even if you are tied to a particular dentist for reasons of habit, loyalty or satisfaction, it does give you room to negotiate somewhat if you’re getting extensive treatment by suggesting alternative prices available.
But this is not to suggest that going to the dentist is an inexpensive experience. Before you gird your loins and prepare a visit take some time to consider how you can make it as cost-effective as possible.
What’s free?
While PRSI payers may be receiving substantially fewer dental benefits than was previously the case, it's worth remembering that, providing you have the stamps, you are entitled to one free dental check-up each year. Ensure your dentist has your relevant details on file so you don't have to pay for this.
If you’re a medical card holder typically you will be entitled to a check-up, two fillings and extractions as necessary per year. If you have a particular medical condition you may be entitled to additional treatment for free.
In addition, the schools screening services cover children in second, fourth and sixth class. However, due to cutbacks these classes are not always reached. If a child needs braces, depending on the severity of the case, they may be referred on to their orthodontic clinic for further treatment for free.
Tax relief?
Given that you can only claim a tax refund on your dental expenses at the standard rate of tax, 20 per cent, extensive medical treatment is going to hurt a lot more than just your mouth.
However, it’s still important to claim this relief as it can reduce the overall cost. Typically, if you get a crown, bridgework, orthodontic treatment, veneers, root canal treatment or dental implants you will be eligible for this relief. This means, for example, that the net cost to you of a crown costing €500 will be €400 (ie, relief at 20 per cent).
Unfortunately routine treatment, such as check-ups, cleanings, fillings, extractions and dentures, are not eligible for relief.
However, if you pursue medical treatment outside the State it should also be allowable for tax relief provided that the dentist is a qualified practitioner.
You can claim your relief after the end of the tax year in which expenses were incurred but it must be made within four years. So, to claim for 2011 for example, you must submit your claim before the end of 2015.
For non-routine dental expenses you need to fill out a Med2 form following treatment. Typically you will be given this, signed by your dentist, when your treatment is completed.
According to the Revenue Commissioners, a PAYE worker can claim tax relief by claiming online via Revenue’s PAYE Anytime service or by completing an eForm 12 Tax Return (if the claim refers to years 2013 or 2014) or by completing a Form Med 1 - Health Expenses Claim for Tax Relief and submitting it to their local Revenue office. If you’re self-employed you can claim your relief when you file your annual Form 11 tax return.
According to the Revenue Commissioners, claims made by electronic means are generally processed instantly and refunds dealt with within a week, but be wary of filing paper returns. These usually take much longer, particularly at peak periods, and could take up to two-three weeks or longer, the Revenue says.
Health insurance
If you struggle to cover the costs of dental treatment for your family, or fear the impact unexpected treatment might have on your finances, it may be worth considering taking out a private health insurance (PHI) plan.
Generally all PHI policies offer some cover for dental expenses but it’s typically quite low. For example, VHI’s Family Plan Plus Level 1 offers €25 for seven visits a year.
And while rival HSF’s plans will give a cash-back on dental expenses, the amount depends on the policy you hold. Others offer discounts towards the cost of dental treatment; Aviva, for example, offers refunds to its customers at Smiles Clinics around the State, including a check-up, X-ray, scale and polish for €50.
Other policies however, such as Laya’s Advantage 125 Explore, offer no cover for routine or emergency dental visits.
To really get decent dental cover you need to take out a dental-specific plan which, of course, costs additional money. And depending on your dental needs in any particular year, you may find it to be poor value as no provider offers full cover for the cost of dental treatments.
Glohealth’s Dental & Optical plan will give you €350 towards the cost of emergency dental care; €25 for two visits to the dental hygienist; €25 towards retainers and fitted gum shields; and a 60 per cent discount on teeth whitening.
VHI’s Dental Plan will you give 70 per cent back on the cost of fillings, extractions and will pay for two visits to the hygienist each year.
However, when it comes to the big expenses it will only give you 50 per cent back on root canal treatment and crowns, and an excess of €100 applies. The policy costs €138 for children up to the age of 17, and between €280-€344 thereafter depending on your age. A 10 per cent discount is offered for upfront payment, while a further 10 per cent is given to existing VHI members. This means that unless you regularly need dental treatment the figures may not stack up.
Another option is Decare Dental, which used to offer cover via the VHI. It now operates on a stand-alone basis and has adult plans starting from €114 a year. At this level your policy will cover two dental exams a year; two visits to the hygienist and one emergency treatment, up to a maximum of €500 a year.
Opting for the Level 4 plan will cost €228 a year, but benefits will include 70 per cent back on fillings and extractions (after three months) and 70 per cent back on major treatments such as root canals after 12 months.
Dental plan
Another option to help you keep dental costs in check is to sign up for a dental treatment plan offered by your dentist.
While the benefits may not be as great as that offered by insurers, such plans should not be as expensive either. Increasingly popular in recent years, a host of dentists around the State now offer such plans.
In Dublin’s north city centre, for example, IFSC Dental Care offers a plan for €12 a month (€144 a year). It covers the cost of two check-ups and two visits with a hygienist, including scale and polish and periodontal advice.
In addition, the plan covers two X-rays, oral cancer screening, a 10-15 per cent discount on routine dental treatment, 50 per cent discount on orthodontics consultation appointments. A set-up fee of €12 also applies.
Something else to consider if you’re in need of more expensive dental treatment is getting a loan to cover the cost. This is now something many dentists around the State offer.
At Church Street Dental in Cavan, for example, you can get an interest-free payment plans to pay for your treatment over an arranged period of time.
MyDental in Ballsbridge, for example, offers 0 per cent finance over three, six and nine months.
Sign up for a deal
If loyalty to a dentist, or their familiarity with you, is not a concern then shopping around on a discount site such as Groupon or Living Social can throw up some tasty offers.
For example, Deal Rush was recently offering a check-up with a scale and polish for €39 with KBM Medics in Tallaght, while Living Social has a deal for a root canal with MyDental in Ballsbridge for €199 for a front tooth and €380 for a molar.
If you’re getting your teeth whitened it can also make sense to look for a deal.
The White House, with outlets in Cork, Galway and Dublin, has discounted its hour-long in-clinic whitening treatment from €250 to €99 via livingsocial.com
Go foreign?
Dental tourism was once all the rage and Irish people still have an interest in travelling abroad for cut-price dental treatment.
If you travel (and bear in mind the usual caveats – do your research on any foreign dentist before getting treatment and remember that foreign operators may have a propensity to over-treat by doing a lot of work in a short period of time), it can save you money.
Travelling across the Border is usually the first point of call but, given the strength of sterling versus the euro, it may not be as financially attractive.
A trip across the Border may save you some money but it may not be enough to compensate petrol costs, etc. Going further afield may be a better option.
Budapest-based clinic Dental Hungary, for example, is holding free consultations in Dublin this weekend (March 7th/8th), although a fee of €50 will apply for X-rays.
Once you get to Budapest its prices range from €47 for an extraction, €103 for a root canal, and about €253 for a porcelain crown.
Of course you’ll also have to factor in the cost of travelling.
