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Best Family Dental Plans UK 2026
Dental cover for parents and children, compared
Written by DentalPlanFinder Editorial Team
Independent dental plan research • Published July 2026
Family dental cover in the UK starts with a fact many comparison sites skip: NHS dental treatment is free for under-18s (and under-19s in full-time education). So the real question for most families is not “how do we insure the kids?” but “how do we cover the adults — and what happens if we cannot find an NHS dentist for the children?”
With NHS access collapsing in many areas, a growing number of families are paying privately for children’s check-ups too. The ranking below looks at the six major plans through a family lens: adult cover value, whether children can be added, flexibility across NHS and private care, and predictable household costs. Child terms vary by provider and tier — always confirm before joining.
The best family dental cover, ranked
Simplyhealth Simply Dental
Best overall for families
Simplyhealth’s any-dentist, NHS-or-private flexibility is exactly what family life demands — one parent private, another NHS, children wherever there is availability. Cover starts at £8/month per adult, claims pay from day one, and higher tiers add optical cashback that families with growing children tend to use.
Worth knowing: Cashback limits apply per person per year; check the current terms for adding children to your policy.
Denplan Denplan Care
Best for families with a private dentist
Denplan is built around a relationship with one practice — which suits families who want everyone seen under one roof. Each family member gets a personalised fee (typically £13–£22 for adults), and many Denplan practices offer children’s plans so kids keep the same dentist as their parents. Restorative treatment is covered without annual limits.
Worth knowing: Everyone joins via assessment at a member practice, and you are tied to that practice — a move across town can mean starting again.
WPA WPA Dental Cover
Best family insurance package
WPA explicitly offers flexible plans for individuals and families, with comprehensive private cover including hygienist visits and worldwide emergency cover from £12/month. For households committed to private dentistry that want one insurer covering everyone, it is the strongest structured family option.
Worth knowing: A 3-month waiting period applies to routine treatment and there is no NHS cover, so it suits fully-private families best.
Westfield Health Westfield Health Dental
Best budget family cover
At £5/month entry level with no waiting period and any-dentist flexibility, Westfield Health is the cheapest way to get every adult in the household covered for routine care. As a not-for-profit, it is consistently strong value for families watching every pound.
Worth knowing: Low claim limits on basic tiers mean major treatment still needs its own budget.
Boots Boots Dental Insurance
Best simple starter option
Boots Dental Insurance offers no-fuss entry cover from £8/month across NHS and private treatment with no health assessment — an easy way for a family to get the adults covered quickly, with immediate emergency cover.
Worth knowing: Basic tiers exclude hygienist visits and carry lower claim limits than rivals.
Family comparison at a glance
| Plan | From (per adult) | NHS + private | Waiting period | Family angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplyhealth | £8/mo | Yes | None | Any dentist for every family member |
| Denplan Care | £13/mo | Private only | Assessment to join | Whole family at one practice; kids’ plans at many practices |
| WPA Dental Cover | £12/mo | Private only | 3 months (routine) | Explicit family plan options |
| Westfield Health | £5/mo | Yes | None | Cheapest per-adult cover |
| Boots Dental Insurance | £8/mo | Yes | 2 months (routine) | Quick, assessment-free signup |
Do children need dental insurance in the UK?
On paper, no: NHS dental care is free for under-18s, covering check-ups, fillings, extractions and orthodontics that meets NHS criteria. In practice, it depends entirely on whether you can find an NHS dentist taking on children — in some regions that has become genuinely difficult, and children’s dental health statistics have worsened as routine visits lapse.
If NHS access has failed where you live, a private children’s check-up typically costs £30–£60. Options: pay as you go (often the cheapest for children needing only check-ups), ask a Denplan practice about their children’s plans, or check what adding a child to your cash plan or insurance costs against what you would actually claim.
How much does family dental cover cost?
There is no single “family policy” price across the market — most providers price per person. As a working example using current entry prices: two adults on Westfield Health’s basic tier cost £10/month combined; two adults on Simplyhealth start at £16/month; two adults on Denplan Care typically £26–£44/month depending on oral health. Children add to this only where you choose private cover for them.
Weigh that monthly cost against your family’s real usage: two adult check-ups each per year plus hygiene visits is roughly £250–£400 privately before any treatment. For most two-adult households attending regularly, entry-level cover pays for itself.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best family dental plan in the UK?
Simplyhealth is our top family pick for 2026 because every family member can use any NHS or private dentist with no waiting period, from £8/month per adult. For families with a regular private dentist, Denplan is stronger: one practice covers everyone, with children’s plans available at many member practices.
Is NHS dental treatment free for children?
Yes — NHS dental care is free for under-18s, and under-19s in full-time education. The practical challenge is finding an NHS dentist accepting new child patients, which has become difficult in parts of the UK. Private children’s check-ups typically cost £30–£60 where NHS access is unavailable.
Can I add my children to my dental plan?
It depends on the provider and tier. Many Denplan member practices offer dedicated children’s plans alongside adult memberships, and cash plan and insurance providers vary in how (and at what price) children are added. Since children are entitled to free NHS care, compare the cost of adding them against realistic private usage first.
Does any family plan cover braces for children?
Orthodontics that meets NHS clinical criteria is free for under-18s on the NHS. None of the six major adult plans we compare includes orthodontic treatment in standard cover, so private braces (including cosmetic alignment that the NHS declines) are typically self-funded.
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