• If you’ve been to the dentist and been told you’ll need a crown, veneer or root canal, you’ll likely to be told the estimated cost at the same time.
• We suggest before booking yourself in for the procedure; it’s worthwhile getting three quotes from other dentists. While they are likely to be estimates rather than fixed quotes, it will help you get an idea of where your existing dentist is charging something in line with the others.
• If you find a considerable cost saving by shopping around, you can check the reviews and reputation of a price-beating dentist and arrange an appointment. Be aware you may pay an additional consultation fee.

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With dedicated dental insurance costing at least $10/week (with a co-pay arrangement), putting money aside can work out cheaper. For example, with the NIB policy, you’ll pay around $500 a year and still have to cover 40% of the cost.

If you incur around $500 a year on dental bills, it’s almost certainly likely that self-insuring is better value. It’s reasonable to believe that the better condition your teeth are in, the less likely you’ll incur dentist bills. And when you need the money for dental bills, you’ll be able to draw down from the funds you’ve saved.

​If you’re concerned about the cost of check-ups and hygienist visits, there are plans offered by Lumino, Bupa and others which can assist with this. We discuss these below in point 6.
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Two cards, GEM Visa and Q Card, are aligned with many dentists all over New Zealand. Lumino, Smilecare Dental and many independent dentists all offer finance options. This can extend repayment periods between 6 and 18 months, depending on the financing options available.

Before proceeding with dentist finance cards, read our reviews of GEM Visa and Q Card to fully understand the costs and repayment terms.
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Dental insurance has less relevance for children, given the Ministry of Health funds a number of free treatments including:

1. Routine examination to check teeth for decay and look at the gums and mouth for any problems
2. X-rays used to find tooth decay and other problems that can’t be seen
3. Fluoride treatment, which helps make the surface of the teeth more resistant to decay
4. Fissure sealants, which are a thin layer of white filling, painted onto teeth that are at risk of developing tooth decay
5. Cleaning to plaque, staining and tartar from teeth
6. Fillings to restore teeth that have been affected by tooth decay
7. Extractions to remove teeth that have been badly affected by tooth decay

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Lumino, Bupa and Smile Club all offer dental plans. They are sold as preventative care, and won’t cover any dental work like fillings or root canals. The dental plans cost around $300 per year and include one full check-up and screening, two oral hygienist appointments and a limited number of x-rays (if needed). Lumino also includes 10% discount on all other treatment,which can add up for crowns and other higher-cost surgeries.

​Our view is simple: 

• Approach the policies with caution and think about whether you want to commit $300 a year to non-essential appointments.
• While it's almost certain that the benefits (dentist and hygienist appointments) would cost more if purchased outside of the plan, you're not buying dental insurance in any form.
• Some of the dental plans offer a discount on treatments, but it’s arguable that shopping around could get you a better deal.
• And, importantly, if you don't use the benefits (i.e. free check-up or hygienist visits), you lose them.

To see the plans in detail, visit:

• Lumino dental plan
• Bupa Smiles dental plan
• Smilecare dental plan

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