This spring the British Government is forcing a new service contract on dentists including new pay scales, changes in opening hours and surgery arrangements.

Now dentists are not normally a complaining profession, but there's now open rebellion amongst them about this new contract. And they're determined not to be bullied.

As a result, thousands of dentists are refusing to accept the new contract and will quit the NHS at the end of March. This will create mayhem for clients - and especially for the five million of us who seek emergency treatment for toothache each year!

Many clients seeking treatment on the NHS will just be refused treatment. And those dentists who accept the new NHS contract will face a flood of new clients. The vast majority will again be turned away as even before this dental bust up, there was an appalling shortage of dentists. Waiting lists are bound to stretch into the ether!

As a result, if you're desperate for treatment to a broken tooth or an abscess, or even want a check up, you'll be forced to search out one of the community based and NHS operated dental surgeries. If you're not sure where to find one, ask your Doctor for details of the closest to you. Unfortunately, the odds are it'll be miles away. Long journeys and a hospital style queue will be the norm. Getting dental treatment will be a days job!

For many of us, going private is the only practical solution. The cynical amongst us may suspect that that's what the Government wanted all along!

Going private means getting an appointment when you want one rather than waiting for ages with the NHS, and the ability to pick and choose your dentist. But it won't be cheap. The only good news is there are solutions to control your costs.

Essentially you have four financial options: pay yourself as you go, dental insurance, capitalisation schemes or cash plans. Let's consider the financial help you can buy:

Dental Insurance

The insurance industry has responded with a wide range of varying dental insurance policies. The following are just a few typical examples to give you a favour:

The Axa PPP Healthcare's Dental Costguard policy is designed to cover you just for dental emergencies and not routine work