Us the dental insurance part of the health insurance or do you have to take out a separate policy.

If it is separate, is it very costly?

Whether its covered by your suplimentary insurance will depend on your particular plan. Most employment plans cover most dentistry, but there are many different levels of coverage and exceptions, so its not a question thats crystal clear to answer.

If you are getting your own insurance, then its entirely up to you what level of coverage to go for. All health insurance is very costly...thats what keeps doctors and dentists so well paid

FWIW out of necessity most dentists offer payment plans for the uninsured.

Same experience as other posters. 3 Crowns & 1 root canal, a little over $5000. Fortunately for a few weeks I had overlapping coverage (two companies), primary picked up the first 50% and the other the balance. Hell of a week that was, four wisdom teeth removed, one root canal and three crowns in a week. What we put ourselves through to save a few bucks.

Did the work needed to be done in one week?. Other way to avoid being out-of-pocket too much is if you had split the work in 2 different calendar years, ie: Dec. and January, of course nature of problem + pain cannot always wait. I am sure for all that work I would not have paid more than $4,000 tops, however, my DDS is not a specialist and sometimes the difference in price between a GP and a specialist can be rather large, you're lucky you had co-ordination of benefits.

Mr Y-C-D pays $40 every two weeks (through his employer) for family insurance to cover up to 80% of medical/dental/opthalmic treatment.

I would definitely get any and all extensive work done in the UK before you come - for costs.

However, hark at me. Can't take my own advice on this issue. I too absolutely hate the dentist with a passion - a huge weakness - and have not been to the dentist for nearly 5 years. As and when I do eventually go here in Alberta, I'll be heading off to some nice fluffy, cloud-like place with the sedation option. I dread what will be required. I want a new cap on a front tooth for cosmetic reasons. I have already had so many root canals, there can't be many nerves left.

A friend needed one filling when she got here, then 'used' the rest of her allocated annual allowance to replace the UK-style dark fillings (mercury?) with nice white ones .... my motto on teeth is if it ain't broke, don't touch it. But I am a self-confessed, dentist wuss

Unfortunately yes, I only had double coverage for a week as policies changed.

You are very lucky to have an NHS dentist. I lost mine about ten years ago and I know of only one person with one.
I paid recently Last year £550 for a crown. I dont know if that was with root canal work or not. Just wanted to get out of there. :curse:

I had an NHS dentist right up to leaving the UK for Canada. It was the same surgery throughout my childhood to when we left.

I've not been to a dentist since moving here simply because of cost and it certainly is one of the things I regret about moving here. I just don't know when I'll be able to go again and of course the longer I leave it the more expensive it'll be.

I've never been more careful with looking after my teeth by thorough cleaning and flossing than I am now!