One of the most frustrating experiences in healthcare is arriving at an appointment with a number in your head and leaving with a bill that is twice as large. DentaCue was built partly to solve this. Every clinic on the platform is required to publish prices for named procedures, and those prices are contractually binding — with specific limits.
What "binding" means
When a clinic lists a price on DentaCue — say ₦18,000 for a composite filling — that price applies to the named service as described. If you book a composite filling and the clinic performs a composite filling, you pay ₦18,000. The clinic cannot charge you ₦25,000 at checkout because the appointment ran long.
The binding commitment is enforced through the DentaCue clinic agreement. If a clinic charges above the listed price for a listed service, you can raise a dispute through DentaCue and the clinic must respond within 5 business days. Unresolved disputes escalate to our trust review team, and clinics that repeatedly overcharge lose their verified status.
"Published prices create accountability. A clinic that posts its fees publicly has made a public commitment."
— DentaCue Trust team
What the price does not cover
The published price covers the listed procedure only. Additional work that becomes necessary during the appointment — for example, discovering that a tooth needs a post before the crown can be placed — must be quoted and agreed before it is performed. A clinic cannot simply add undisclosed procedures to your bill without your consent.
Consultations and X-rays are typically billed separately. If you are booking to see whether you need treatment (rather than to have a known treatment performed), the consultation fee is what governs — not any procedure price. Check the clinic's listing for consultation costs.
How HMO coverage works
Most HMOs operating in Nigeria and Ghana cover a defined set of dental procedures at a defined frequency — for example, two check-ups and one scale-and-polish per year, or a filling benefit up to a stated monetary limit. What they cover, and how much, varies widely between providers and plan tiers.
DentaCue's clinic listings show which HMOs a clinic accepts, but we do not show individual benefit schedules — those are set by your insurer, not the clinic. Before booking, call your HMO member line or log into your insurer's portal to confirm:
- Whether your plan covers the specific procedure you need
- Whether the clinic is in-network for your plan (accepting the HMO is not the same as being in-network for every plan that insurer offers)
- What your co-pay or excess will be
- Whether you need a referral or pre-authorisation
Bring your HMO card and pre-auth number (if required) to the appointment. If the clinic cannot verify your coverage on the day, you may be asked to pay upfront and claim reimbursement later.
Price bands at a glance
DentaCue groups clinics into three price bands — budget-friendly, mid-range, and premium — based on their average procedure prices relative to the median in that city. The bands are updated quarterly. They are a guide for comparison, not a quality signal: some highly rated clinics are budget-friendly, and some expensive clinics underperform. Read the verified reviews.