Dental subscription: what’s included, how it works and when it’s worth it

A dental subscription makes it easier to plan your appointments, preventative care and monitoring of your oral health. Depending on the package, you’ll have services included and discounts on certain treatments. This means you won’t put off seeing the dentist until a problem arises.

“One of the best things we can do for our oral health is not to put things off. A check-up, a professional clean or a treatment carried out in good time can make the difference between a simple procedure and a much more complex one.” – Dr. Anamaria Ghiurcă

However, a subscription does not mean that all treatments are free. The services included, limits and discounts vary between packages. Before you choose, check the specific benefits and terms of use, not just the monthly price.

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A dental subscription is a package valid for a set period, usually one year. It may include consultations, examinations, preventive care or emergency services, and may offer discounts on other treatments.

The aim is to support ongoing care: regular check-ups, prevention, early detection and monitoring.

At DENT ESTET, we offer individual and corporate SMART CHOICE plans for adults and children. The benefits can be used at eligible clinics, in accordance with the terms and conditions of each plan.

How does it work?

Once activated, you book appointments within the network specified in the contract. Please mention that you are a subscriber when making your appointment, so that the clinic team can check which benefits apply.

In practice, services are usually divided into three categories:

• services fully covered, within the limits and frequency specified in the subscription;
• services available at a percentage discount;
• services not included, paid for according to the clinic’s standard rates or with the general package discount, if applicable.

A covered service may have an annual limit. Discounts apply only to the procedures mentioned in the offer. For the final cost, check the treatment plan and the rates of your chosen clinic. 

The same type of service may be included in full, limited to a certain number of uses, or available at a discount. Please check the following details:

Treatments not included in the list of benefits, services that exceed the annual limit, and procedures carried out outside the eligible network are charged separately. The same may apply to certain materials, systems or stages of treatment.

Ask whether investigations, check-ups, anaesthesia or prosthetic components are included. The treatment plan and the terms of your policy determine the final cost.

“Many patients only go to the doctor when they start to feel pain. But pain often only appears when the problem is already at a more advanced stage. That is why regular check-ups are so important: they help us detect and intervene before things get complicated.” – Dr. Anamaria Ghiurcă

More predictable costs

You know from the outset how much the package costs, what services it includes and what discounts it offers. This makes it easier to budget for dental care for yourself or your family, and the costs become easier to anticipate and plan for.

However, the savings depend on how you use your subscription. If you don’t use the included services or choose a package that’s more comprehensive than you need, the financial benefit may be reduced.

Easier access to preventive care and check-ups

When check-ups and preventive care are already included in the package, it’s easier to make them part of your annual routine and stop putting them off. Your dentist determines the frequency of check-ups and cleanings based on your age, oral hygiene, risk of tooth decay, gum health and any existing treatments.

Prevention and early detection

Regular check-ups allow the dentist to monitor the progress of your oral health and identify tooth decay, gum inflammation or other changes at an early stage, before they cause clinical symptoms.

Problems detected at an early stage may require simpler, quicker and minimally invasive treatments.  

Improving general health

Oral health is not limited to the mouth itself, but influences comfort, nutrition and quality of life. That is why regular dental care is not just about a healthy smile, but forms part of a broader approach to the health of the whole body. A dental plan does not prevent all conditions, but it can help you keep up with regular check-ups and encourages long-term prevention.

Discounts on dental treatments

Depending on the package, the subscription may include discounts on various treatments such as fillings, root canal treatment, periodontics, surgery, prosthetics, implantology or orthodontics. The percentage varies depending on the procedure, and the patient is responsible for the difference in cost. 

Which option is best for you depends on how often you visit the doctor and the services you will use.

Compare the costs over the same period, usually 12 months. Add the annual subscription fee to the amounts that remain payable, then compare the result with the cost of purchasing the same services separately.

In short: cost with a subscription = annual subscription fee + services not included + amounts payable after discounts.

Example 1 – diagnostic investigations, preventive care and endodontic treatment

A patient needs a comprehensive consultation, a panoramic X-ray, a CBCT scan, professional dental cleaning and microscope-assisted root canal treatment. Without a subscription, the estimated cost is RON 3,100.

With the ESSENTIAL subscription, the consultation and diagnostic investigations are included, professional dental cleaning is offered at a 50% discount, and the endodontic treatment at a 10% discount. The estimated total cost, including the subscription, is RON 2,456.

Estimated savings: RON 644.

Other combinations that may make the ESSENTIAL subscription more cost-effective include:

• a consultation, panoramic X-ray, CBCT scan and professional dental cleaning, with estimated savings of approximately RON 494;
• a consultation, diagnostic investigations, professional dental cleaning and laser-assisted subgingival curettage for both arches, with estimated savings of approximately RON 784;
• a consultation, diagnostic investigations, professional dental cleaning, endodontic treatment and one or more fillings, with additional savings generated by the 10% discount applied to each procedure.

Example 2 – orthodontic treatment

A patient needs fixed sapphire braces for both arches, a consultation, a panoramic X-ray and professional dental cleaning. Without a subscription, the estimated cost is RON 13,420.

With the ELEGANT subscription, the initial services are included, while the fixed braces benefit from a 10% discount. The estimated total cost is RON 12,480, resulting in savings of approximately RON 940. In this case, ELEGANT is the most cost-effective option.

Example 3 – complex dental implant treatment

A patient needs four premium dental implants, four crowns, a consultation, diagnostic investigations and professional dental cleaning. Without a subscription, the estimated cost is EUR 7,440.

With the EXCLUSIVE subscription, the initial services are included, while the implants benefit from a 10% discount and the crowns from a 15% discount. The estimated total cost is EUR 6,712, resulting in savings of approximately EUR 728.

EXCLUSIVE may become even more cost-effective if the treatment requires a sinus lift or the use of PRGF Endoret, both of which benefit from a 15% discount. In this case, it is more advantageous than ELEGANT because the patient uses several benefits intended for complex treatments.

*The calculations are for guidance only. The final cost depends on the treatment plan, current fees and eligible services.
 

The right package depends on the person who will be using it and the services they need. 

Comparison of dental plans

A subscription can be good value if you use the included services, need monitoring, or are undergoing treatments for which you receive discounts. Always work out the cost for the specific package and for the entire duration of the contract.

Individual subscription

This is suitable if you want to organise your own dental care. DENT ESTET offers the ESSENTIAL, ELEGANT and EXCLUSIVE options for adults, with different benefits for consultations, preventative care and treatments.

For the names, costs and benefits applicable at the time of selection, please see the DENT ESTET individual subscription page.

Corporate dental plans

These are offered by the company as an employee benefit. DENT ESTET offers the SMART PROTECT and SMART PROTECT PLUS packages for adults and the SMART 4 KIDS package for employees’ children. The offer can be customised, and the published benefits apply to a minimum number of subscribers.

Details for employers are available on the DENT ESTET corporate subscription page.

Subscriptions for children

A subscription for children focuses on consultations and preventative care. It may include or cover the cost of panoramic X-rays, dental cleaning, fluoride treatment, sealants, treatment for tooth decay, inhalation sedation, emergency treatment or orthodontics.

Choose the package based on the child’s age, individual risk and the paediatric dentist’s recommendations, not just on the number of benefits. 

1. Check the services included

Make a note of what you’re likely to use over the next 12 months: check-ups, cleaning, monitoring or treatments that your doctor has already recommended. Compare the specific services, not just the number of them.

2. Check the limits and services subject to a charge

Check the frequency, waiting periods, exclusions and how discounts are applied. Clarify whether there is a cap or whether an initial assessment is required.

3. Compare the cost of the policy with your needs

Compare the annual price with the value of the services you are realistically likely to use.  

You can compare services using the DENT ESTET pricing page by selecting the relevant city. Prices and the final cost of treatment may vary depending on the clinic, the complexity of the case and the dentist’s recommendation.

4. Check the network of clinics and locations

DENT ESTET dental plans can be used at eligible clinics in Bucharest, Brașov, Sibiu, Ploiești, Craiova, Arad and Oradea. Check that the specialism you require is available at your chosen clinic, as services and fees may vary depending on the location.

Before activation, also check the subscription period, payment method and renewal terms. 

A dental subscription can make it easier to keep up with check-ups, preventative care and monitoring. Choose the package that suits your needs and check all the terms and conditions before activating it.