Smiles Dental launches ‘Netflix-style’ Dental Subscription Service

Smiles Dental has launched a new Netflix-style dental subscription service that provides people in the Republic of Ireland access to routine dental care to help them stay on top of their oral health.

The subscription spreads the cost of dental care throughout the year and covers a set number of check-ups and hygiene appointments to meet all oral healthcare needs, up to two routine dental X-rays per year, preventative dental advice and 10% off selected private dental treatments.

This new service comes as research conducted by Smiles Dental ¹ found that over a third of those in the Republic of Ireland find it difficult to get a dental appointment, and a further 25% say they wait on average between 3-7 days to see a dentist.

Having regular dental appointments is vital for both oral health and wider health. With regular check-ups, a dentist will be able to spot concerns like gum disease and tooth decay, as well as mouth cancer ², which affects over 700 people in Ireland each year. Dentists can also act as the first line of defence in detecting oral health conditions that could indicate early signs of health issues like diabetes or heart disease.

Of those surveyed, almost three quarters (74%) have other subscriptions. However, 41% would consider getting a dental subscription service due to better access to dental services (38%), and others said because their health meant a lot to them (37%). More than a third (37%) would also welcome the convenience of getting an appointment, reflecting the demand in ‘one-tap’ services in other areas such as gym memberships, supplement, and other wellness subscriptions.

The research also revealed that a third (32%) of people say they would value a GP or dental subscription service more than their television streaming subscription.

Peter Crockard, Regional Clinical Director for Smiles Dental, said:

“Our new dental subscription is a first to market, giving patients easy and more affordable access to dental and hygienist appointments, which are an essential part of maintaining good oral health.
“We know early intervention can stop oral health worries from getting worse, so this convenient plan means people get the peace of mind that they can access routine care and treatment when they need it.”

Smiles offers two plans

Routine (2 check-ups, 2 hygiene appointments), and Enhanced (2 check-ups, 4 hygiene appointments). There is a one-off set-up fee of €10, and the monthly price of the plan is calculated using the cost of planned private check-ups and hygiene appointments at the practice, discounted by 10%, divided by 12 and rounded to the nearest 50c. This allows patients to spread the cost into manageable payments and is up to 10% cheaper than paying at each appointment.

Find out more  

Summary

• Smiles Dental subscription service, providing patients with fast access to routine check-ups and hygienist appointments
• Better access to services (38%) ease of getting appointments (37%) and the importance of health (35%) are the most cited reasons people would sign-up
• Almost one in three (32%) say they would value a dental subscription service more than their TV streaming subscription

Reference

¹ The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,001 UK adults over the age of 16. The data was collected between 31.08.2024 – 02.08.2024. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles.

² Mouth cancer statistics: Mouth cancer foundation

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