Please note: Dencover policies are no longer available and the program will close completely at the end of the year.
Having trouble selecting the right dental insurance cover for you and your family? There are so many providers to choose from, but here we take a detailed look at Dencover dental insurance. Find out all about the various plans this company offers so you can make a more confident decision.
About Dencover
Dencover, as the name suggests, is a company that specialises in dental insurance – nothing else. The company’s aim when it formed back in 2006 was to address the lack of simple, affordable dental cover options for individuals.
As of 2017, Dencover’s parent company is Unum Limited. Unum also offers corporate dental plans and other types of health insurance to the UK market.
In 2016, Dencover became the first dental insurer to receive recognition from the Oral Health Foundation as an approved supplier of a consumer product. All of its dental plans are certified by this leading dental health organisation.
Dencover dental insurance plans
There are five plans to choose from with Dencover; one designed for NHS treatment and four offering greater levels of cover for private treatment.
Each type of treatment under these plans comes with different:
- Reimbursement percentages
- Annual claim limits
- Waiting times for eligibility
It’s important to keep all three of these factors in mind when calculating each plan’s value to you as a customer. If you’re comparing Dencover with other insurers, it can be tricky to compare like-for-like because of these variables.
With all five policies there is no allowance for cosmetic or elective work, but this is the case with most insurers. This means if you choose to have your teeth whitened or straightened, or you want veneers or dental implants, you’ll have to pay the full cost yourself.
Dencover NHS dental insurance
The cheapest plan covers the cost of certain treatments with an NHS dentist. In fact, you’re allowed to visit any dentist (NHS or private) and still claim under this plan, but the amounts reimbursed are unlikely to cover the cost of private treatment.
This plan won’t necessarily cover all treatment costs with an NHS dentist, either – especially if you need more complex work.
For example, you may claim £23.80 per year for a routine checkup, which is equivalent to one NHS visit. The limit for dental treatment is £130.40, which works out at two courses of NHS treatment for fillings, root canals and extractions. This charge would also include your initial checkup.
If, however, you need a crown, bridge or denture, the cost with an NHS dentist is £282.80. Despite this, the policy still only pays £130.40.
There is no allowance for hospital cover under this basic policy. Cover costs from £6 per month but this is subject to a personal quotation so actual costs may be higher. Here is a summary of the annual benefits:
NHS cover | Waiting period | |
Checkups and x-rays | £23.80 | Immediate |
Scale & polish | £23.80 | Immediate |
Dental treatment (fillings, root canals, extractions, dentures, crowns, bridges) | £130.40 | 60 days |
Accident cover (including worldwide) | £2,500 | 15 days |
Dental emergency (including worldwide) | £425 | 15 days |
Oral cancer | £2,500 | 60 days |
Information correct as of March 2022. | ||
If you’re looking for dental insurance that will reimburse the full cost of NHS treatment with more generous annual limits, consider WPA dental cover or Boots dental insurance (but expect to pay a higher premium, too).
Dencover private dental insurance
The remaining four policies all cover the same types of treatment but with annual reimbursement limits that increase in line with the premium paid. Again, you’re free to see any private or NHS dentist in the UK.
However, Dencover will only reimburse just over half of your expenses for any routine treatment – like fillings and root canals – up to the annual limits. This means that if you need to have extensive work carried out you’ll have to pay your portion of the costs on top of your monthly premium. If you see a private dentist this could easily amount to hundreds of pounds.
Here are the details of all four of Dencover’s policies designed for private treatment. Percentages stated are the percentage of each treatment amount that will be reimbursed, up to the annual limits.
Silver | Gold | Platinum | Diamond | Waiting Period | |
Cover starts from | £9 per month | £14 per month | £19 per month | £24 per month | |
Checkups and x-rays | £30 | £55 | £80 | £105 | Immediate |
Scale & polish | 80% up to £35 | 80% up to £65 | 80% up to £95 | 80% up to £125 | Immediate |
Dental treatment (fillings, root canals, extractions, dentures, crowns, bridges) | 55% up to £210 | 55% up to £410 (max £210 for root canal, crowns & bridges) | 55% up to £610 (max £310 for root canal, crowns & bridges) | 55% up to £810 (max £410 for root canal, crowns & bridges) | 60 days |
Accident cover (including worldwide) | £5,000 | £7,500 | £10,000 | £12,000 | 15 days |
Dental emergency (including worldwide) | £850 | £850 | £1,100 | £1,100 | 15 days |
Oral cancer | £5,000 | £7,500 | £10,000 | £12,000 | 60 days |
Hospital stay | £50 per night, max 20 nights | £50 per night, max 20 nights | £50 per night, max 20 nights | £50 per night, max 20 nights | 90 days |
Information correct as of March 2022. | |||||
Note that the policy prices given are ‘from’ prices only. The insurer will give a personal quote after checking some of your details.
Other considerations
If you choose Dencover dental insurance you’ll have to pay for any treatment up-front and then claim back the amount your policy allows. Make sure you have sufficient funds set aside to cover any treatment you might need until the claim is settled.
Pre-existing conditions that you knew about, saw a dentist about, or had treatment for in the 12 months prior to taking out the policy are not covered. The same is true for any problems identified during the qualifying period for each type of treatment.
If you haven’t had a checkup in the past 12 months then you’re ineligible to claim for any dental treatment identified as necessary at your first examination once your policy starts.
Also be aware that the following are NOT covered:
- Damage to dentures while not being worn
- Accidents that occur from eating, chewing or drinking
- Treatment for an accident if you don’t seek treatment within 48 hours of the incident occurring
All insurance providers have their own conditions and exclusions so always check the policy carefully. You might not be covered for every situation imaginable, but at least nothing should come as a surprise.
Ultimately, you want the peace of mind that should the need for dental treatment arise, you won’t be hit will the full cost of it.