A Denplan plan saves you money only if its monthly fee is less than what you would pay for the same care at your practice’s normal prices. In London, 2 private check-ups and 2 hygienist visits a year cost about £260 at median prices. That is about £22 a month. So the simple test is: is your Denplan fee more or less than about £22 a month, for the same care?
There is more to it than that. Some plans include treatment, and most give a discount on it. This guide explains how Denplan works and how to compare it with paying as you go.
What Denplan is
Denplan is a dental payment plan, not insurance. Denplan is part of Simplyhealth. You pay a fixed amount each month, and in return your practice gives you an agreed set of care.
Your dentist sets the monthly fee, not Denplan. The dentist bases it on the health of your teeth and the treatment you are likely to need. So 2 people at the same practice can pay different amounts. Denplan does not publish typical prices on its website. To know what you would pay, ask your practice.
Denplan is for private treatment only. It does not cover NHS treatment.
The main Denplan plans
Denplan lists these plans for patients (checked on denplan.co.uk in October 2026):
- Denplan Essentials. An agreed number of check-ups and hygienist visits, routine X-rays and advice. You get a discount on treatment such as fillings and crowns.
- Denplan Care. Everything in Essentials, plus any fillings you need and bigger treatment such as crowns, bridges, dentures and extractions. Lab fees (the cost of making a crown or denture) are not included.
- Denplan Hygiene. Regular hygienist visits. The fee depends on how many visits you need.
- Denplan for Children. What it covers depends on the practice.
- Denplan Membership. A monthly fee that keeps your place at the practice. Some practices also give a discount on treatment.
Each practice decides which plans it offers, and how big any treatment discount is.
Emergency cover costs extra
Emergency and accident cover is not part of a standard Denplan plan. It is an optional insurance add-on called Dental Emergency and Injury Cover. It costs 60p per person per month. It pays up to £600 for emergency treatment in the UK when you are more than 40 miles from your practice, and up to £600 for emergency treatment abroad. It also covers treatment after a dental injury.
Comparing the cost
Here is what routine private care costs in London if you pay as you go. These are median “from” prices from our dental price list, based on 1,295 London practices.
| Care per year | Median price | Yearly cost |
|---|---|---|
| 2 check-ups | £55 each | £110 |
| 2 hygienist visits | £75 each | £150 |
| Total | £260 |
Your own practice may charge more or less. A quarter of London practices charge £75 or more for a check-up, and a quarter charge £95 or more for a hygienist visit. At those prices, the same care costs £340 a year, about £28 a month.
Now compare that with the Denplan fee your practice quotes:
- If the fee is lower than your yearly cost for the same care, the plan saves you money, before you even need treatment.
- If the fee is higher, you pay extra for the treatment discount or, with Denplan Care, for the included treatment. That can still be worth it if you often need fillings or other work.
Say your practice charges £150 for a white filling, the London median. If you need 1 filling a year and your plan gives a 10% discount, you save £15. Ask your practice for its actual discount. Do not assume a figure.
When a plan is good value
A plan is more likely to suit you if:
- You go to every check-up and hygienist visit the plan includes
- You often need treatment, and your practice gives a good discount, or you are on Denplan Care
- You want a fixed monthly cost instead of bills that change from year to year
- You plan to stay with the same practice
A plan is less likely to suit you if:
- You miss appointments. You pay for them whether you go or not
- Your teeth are healthy and you rarely need more than a check-up
- You might move or change practice soon
- You can get NHS treatment. NHS Band 1, which includes a check-up and a scale and polish if you need one, costs £27.90 in 2026/27
Other monthly plans
Denplan is not the only company that runs plans for practices. Practice Plan and DPAS also run dental plans, which usually carry the practice’s own name. Some practices run their own scheme. Ask your practice what it offers, and compare the fee and the cover in the same way.
Dental insurance works in a different way. You pay for treatment, then claim money back up to a limit. You can usually use any dentist. Our guide to whether dental insurance is worth it compares the two.
What to ask your practice
Before you sign up, ask 3 questions:
- What would my monthly fee be, and which plan is it?
- What would the same check-ups and hygienist visits cost me without a plan?
- What discount do plan members get on treatment?
With those answers you can compare the 2 costs directly. For other private prices, see how much a dentist costs in London.
Prices are London median “from” prices, read in early October 2026. Denplan plan details were checked on denplan.co.uk in October 2026.