Choosing dental care
Choosing a dental maintenance plan: what new patients should compare
If you are joining a new dental practice, learn what to ask about routine examinations, hygiene appointments and ongoing care.
Get answers before you decide
Choosing dental care should feel straightforward. A £30 consultation gives you the opportunity to explain your wishes, ask about our approach and understand your options.
When choosing a new practice, it helps to understand what a maintenance plan includes and which appointments or additional treatments may be charged separately. Compare the scope of care, not simply the headline price.
Identify what is being monitored
When you join a practice, the team should explain which care suits your mouth: routine prevention, treatment for gum disease, checks around implants or reviews of repaired teeth. These may overlap, but each has a different purpose. Your plan should make clear what will be checked and when the approach might need to change.
Compare time, purpose and clinical responsibilities
To compare plans fairly, look at who sees you, what the appointment involves, how long it lasts and which reviews follow. Our published fees describe named services; your examination will show whether you need anything more. Similar prices do not always cover the same care. [1]
Ask how continuing care adapts to risk
If you are considering implants, guidance recommends a structured supportive-care programme after the replacement teeth are fitted. Reviews for natural teeth should also reflect your findings. You should know which changes mean you need to be seen sooner and how the team will contact you, rather than choosing care solely by a fixed appointment interval. [2]
In practical terms:
Before comparing fees, be clear about what each appointment includes and why it has been recommended for you.
Compare what is actually included
Two maintenance plans may carry similar monthly prices but cover different care. One may primarily include routine dental examinations and hygiene visits, while another may include reviews for a patient with established gum disease or complex restorative work. Before choosing, ask for a written schedule showing the type and number of appointments as well as what is charged separately.
Your review schedule may need to change if your gums become inflamed, you have an implant restoration fitted or your teeth need closer monitoring. Check who makes that assessment and whether extra appointments or treatment would carry an additional fee.
It helps to compare plans against your actual clinical needs: what is the purpose of each visit, what measurements are taken, what treatment is included and what happens if you need more care than initially expected? A short consultation can clarify the difference before you sign up to a recurring payment.
Guidance: nice.org.uk
Research and guidance
Your next step, when you’re ready
We would be pleased to welcome you for a £30 consultation at your preferred Iconic Smiles practice. Bring your questions, and we can talk through the options that may suit you.
Any additional investigations and their fees will be explained before you decide.