Looking for ways to get dental implant grants in the UK? Dental implants are a terrific way to restore your smile when missing some of your teeth. Unfortunately, these implants don't come cheap, leaving many people wondering how they can get a government grant on the NHS or from another source.
The good news is that there are various ways to access dental implant grants in the UK. In this article, we'll be exploring some of those ways, including:
- Government grants on the NHS
- Free dental implants at dental schools in the UK
- Clinical trials
- Charity programs for low-income adults in the UK
- Other ways to lower the cost of dental implants
Despite these numerous options, many patients are unable to access the treatment that would benefit them most due to a shortage of free dental work. Let's now look at how to get free teeth implants in the UK, and what the alternatives are if you have trouble being accepted into any of these programs.
- How do you get a dental implant grant? Do your research, and ask around. Go to your local community health center, and ask your dentist. It's not easy to find dental implant grants, and you may need to consider your alternatives.
- Other ways to finance dental care: Dental loans, dental insurance, and dental savings plans are all ways to help you pay for treatment like implants. A dental loan gives you money to pay upfront; insurance provides partial coverage, and savings plans gives you discounts.
- Dental tourism: You can save money on implants by travelling to Hungary, Poland, Turkey, or Spain, where clinics provide low-cost quality care, thanks to the lower cost of living in those countries. Not sure how to get started? DentalyGo can help you organize your dental vacation.
- Talk to a dentist: Learn more about dental implants and financing options by talking to a dentist right now onlinel Just go to JustAnswer to chat with a certified dentist 24/7.
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Getting dental implant grants in the UK
Getting dental implant grants in the UK is a difficult but not impossible process. The reality is that teeth implants are already expensive, costing around £2,300 each, and up to £25,000 for a full-mouth restoration. Even if you opt for a cheaper option like full mouth implant-retained dentures, you're still looking at £12,000 or more for both jaws.
Besides the money going towards the dentist, the materials and tools needed to insert dental implants are also pricey. Therefore, any dentist offering free dental implants is losing a large amount of money.
As a result, very few dentists and charitable organizations in the UK offer free dental implants, causing slim chances to receive this treatment for free.
Luckily, this doesn't mean that you have to live with missing teeth for the rest of your life if you can't afford the implant procedure. Bridges are a good solution for one or two missing teeth, and dentures can replace a whole mouth of teeth at a fraction of the cost of implants. Besides having their downsides, they are much more financially accessible.
Government dental implant grants on the NHS
The NHS provides subsidised dentistry to anyone with a valid medical need for it, however, dental implants are rarely included in the options.
Most patients with missing teeth can get dentures or perhaps bridges on the NHS, but as long as this treatment is sufficient to sustain your oral health, there is no reason you'll be offered implants.
There are some exceptional cases where patients can get free dental implants on the NHS (or at least pay a heavily reduced fee). These might include patients who:
- Have had oral cancer
- Have lost teeth as a result of facial trauma
- Are missing teeth because of a genetic condition like cleft palate or hypodontia
- Are not able to wear removable dentures
We have a separate NHS dental implant guide which examines this in more detail, or you can see a dentist explain the criteria in this short video:
If one or more of these apply to you, you should speak to your NHS dentist about your eligibility for NHS implants. If they think you are a suitable candidate, your dentist will need to refer you to your local NHS Foundation Trust for consideration. Each Trust has different acceptance criteria and can offer implants to a limited number of patients.
Free dental implants at dental schools in the UK
Some of the training dentistry studies in the UK include hands-on practice with patients. Many of the UK's dental schools offer dental work for free if you are comfortable with a student dentist performing the procedure. Note that procedures are performed under close supervision, with an experienced dentist ready to step in if needed.
In return for free treatment, you can expect to have to give up quite a bit of your time. You might have to spend 3-4 hours at the dental school for each appointment, and you may be required to attend multiple appointments, depending on the treatment you're receiving.
Below is a list of some dental schools in the UK and details of how to apply for free dental treatment by students. Most perform restorative dentistry, not always including implants, but you can check your nearest one for full eligibility criteria. Some only allow patients from certain areas, and others will only treat people who are not registered with another dentist.
- King's College London Dental Institute
- Leeds Dental Institute
- University of Liverpool School of Dentistry
- Manchester University Dental Hospital
- University of Bristol
- University of Glasgow Dental School
- Newcastle University School of Dental Sciences
General dental hospitals might offer similar opportunities for free treatments with trainee dentists or those studying particular specialities. You can find a full list of dental hospitals in the UK here.
Clinical trials
Research institutes sometimes conduct clinical trials involving teeth implants and other dental procedures. Clinical trials are conducted to test new materials and technologies or to compare different products or demographics.
While you may be able to get free dental implants as part of a clinical trial, you should make sure you fully understand the risks involved. There are no guarantees as to how long the implants will last, and you may not be entitled to much support if anything goes wrong later on.
Where can you find clinical trials in the UK? If you live near a dental school or hospital, you may be able to contact them directly to register your interest in future research projects. You can also check this register where the National Institute for Health Research displays currently recruiting trials. They also have some useful information for anyone considering taking part in a study.
One more place you can look for dental implant clinical trial programs is People In Research.
Charity programs for low-income adults in the UK
Although there are many deserving people out there, very few charities in the UK offer free dental implants. If you have lost teeth as the result of a specific condition (like mouth cancer or a cleft palate) you may be able to get some support from a charity associated with that condition. But again, the high cost of dental implants means it's unfortunately not possible to help everyone who would benefit from them.
Some advice we at Dentaly can offer on finding a good charity includes:
- There are charities in the UK which exist to help finance dental implants for individuals who specifically need them. One example is Dental Implant Aid, which caters to people in the South East of Scotland only.
- Look for a local dental charity in your area. Even if they can't necessarily offer you dental implants for free, they may be able to help with the cost in some way.
- Occasionally, philanthropic dentists offer free treatments. This might be in association with a charity or as part of an annual event.
- The best way to find out about these programs and promotions is to sign up for the mailing lists of local dental clinics or follow them on social media.
Other ways to lower the cost of dental implants
If you struggle to find dental implant grants in the UK, don't worry. We have listed some other options that you can consider that will lower the cost of these implants.
Consider getting dentures or bridges
As we mentioned earlier, dentures and bridges are both alternative ways to replace missing teeth.
Although they aren't as permanent as implants and may be less convenient to live with, they will still help you to worry less about eating, talking and smiling. Many people choose to get dentures or a bridge on the NHS while they save up for implant treatment.
Travel abroad to pay half the price
If you can't afford dental implants in the UK, you can consider travelling abroad to receive treatments for half the price. In countries like Turkey and Hungary, you can get implants for 50-70% less than in the UK, without compromising on quality. In Spain, you can save 30-50% on UK prices.
Below is our table that compares different destinations that you can consider for dental implant procedures, as well as average travel costs that you can expect to pay.
Destination | Travel to | Flight time from London | Example flight cost (return) | Average cost for implant & crown |
Average price for an implant in the UK is £2,300 | ||||
Poland | Warsaw | 2 hours 20 mins | £50 | £1,030 |
Hungary | Budapest | 2 hours 30 mins | £55 | £1,200 |
Czech Republic | Prague | 1 hour 45 mins | £54 | £900 |
Turkey | Istanbul | 3 hours 50 mins | £150 | £845 |
Spain | Madrid | 2 hours 25 mins | £44 | £1,440 |
Prices don't include medical insurance or accommodation costs | ||||
How can DentalyGo help?
Considering travelling abroad for dental implants, but have no idea where to start planning? Don't stress! If you'd like to get a quote for dental treatment abroad, we recommend DentalyGo's dental tourism service.
Our guide to getting dental implants abroad has more information to help you decide if this is the right option for you.
You can fill in your details below to get started, and one of their experienced team members will get in touch to understand your needs and arrange free quotes from their carefully selected dental clinics.
We look forward to being able to help you save up to 70% on the dental care you need!
Get a loan or financing
Most dentists offer payment plans to help patients spread out the cost of implants and other expensive treatments. Make sure to check whether these plans are interest-free to ensure the best deal for you and your budget.
You could also consider taking out a personal loan if you'd rather not wait until you've saved up enough for implants. Our article about financing dental treatment explains more about these and other options.
We also have a separate guide to cheap dental implants with more information about how to lower the cost of your treatment and make implants more affordable.
Conclusion
Getting dental implant grants in the UK is not easy, but we hope the information in this article gives you some potential avenues to explore.
The first step is to speak to your NHS dentist to see if they can refer you to be considered for NHS implants. If not, you could try contacting some UK dental schools or charity organisations directly, and search for clinical trials being conducted.
If you struggle to qualify for a UK government grant, the next best thing is to look at low-cost implants abroad. You can save up to 50-70% on UK implant prices and will have a trustworthy DentalyGo Patient Coordinator by your side each step of the way.
FAQs
How to get dental implant grants on the NHS?
The NHS provides subsidised dentistry to anyone with a valid medical need for it, however, dental implants are rarely included in the options. Most patients with missing teeth can only get NHS dentures or bridges.
Can I get free dental implants at dental schools in the UK?
Many of the UK's dental schools offer dental work for free if you are comfortable with a student dentist performing the procedure. Note that all procedures are performed under close supervision from an experienced dentist.
However, you have to be willing to offer up a lot of time and attend multiple appointments if needed.
What if I don't qualify for a government dental implant grant?
If you struggle to qualify for a UK government grant, the next best thing is to look at low-cost implants abroad. You can save up to 50-70% on UK implant prices and can be assisted in all steps by DentalyGo.
Other options include opting for NHS dentures or bridges, and applying for a loan or financing.
Charity program options for low-income adults in the UK?
Although there are many deserving people out there, very few charities in the UK offer free dental implants due to the high cost of the treatment. The few options include finding charities for specific dental conditions (like Dental Implant Aid in Scotland), local charities that can assist financially and sometimes philanthropic dentists.
The best way to find out about these programs is to sign up for the mailing lists or to follow them on social media.