Can You Get Dental Implants on the NHS?

If dental implant treatment becomes cheaper in the future, there is a chance that this may be adopted by the NHS as a viable treatment course, but we’re still a long way from this happening.

Why can’t you get dental implants on the NHS?

NHS dentistry was established in 1948 and intended to make quality dental care accessible to all members of the public in the UK. This was in response to poor community dental health in the wake of WWII.

Just a few years later, the service was updated to make it free for certain patients, but subsidised for most patients. This service remains to this day, and patients can now access a limited range of treatments to help keep their teeth healthy.

NHS dentistry includes treatments that are deemed medically necessary and is limited to routine, preventative and restorative treatment. It does not include cosmetic procedures. Orthodontics is included for under 18s, but not for adult patients.

Dental implants are not available on the NHS as this would be considered a cosmetic dental procedure. There are also cheaper ways to restore a missing tooth, including bridges and dentures.

When are dental implants available on the NHS

There are limited cases when it is decided that it would be in the patient’s best interest to have a restoration completed with dental implants rather than an alternative.

This might include cases where patients have suffered severe trauma to the face, or when they have had surgery to the head, face or neck. This treatment might also be offered if there is documented extreme physical inability to wear traditional removable dentures.

The patient’s age will often be taken into consideration, and younger patients are more likely to be offered dental implants if they have suffered a severe facial trauma and might suffer psychologically from having to wear a denture.

Treatment would only be discussed and offered in an NHS hospital, and it wouldn’t be something that your usual dentist would offer.

What are the alternatives?

If patients are looking for NHS treatment to address tooth loss, there are several treatments available. This could include a dental bridge to help restore one or more teeth in a row. This is a popular choice following tooth loss due to decay.

Another treatment option for more extensive tooth loss would be a denture or a partial denture. A denture is a set of artificial teeth connected to an acrylic base plate. This sits over the gums and the roof of the mouth and allows the patient to continue to eat certain foods after treatment. Dentures need to be replaced periodically as the shape of the jaw changes over time.

If you’re struggling with tooth loss and want to know your options, get in touch with our team today to arrange a consultation.