Dentists in the UK
A check-up, a toothache that will not wait, or an NHS practice taking new patients: find a local dentist people recommend, then contact them directly.
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Finding a dentist in the UK
For most people the question is not which dentist but which one will take them. NHS dental provision varies enormously across the UK, and in many areas the honest position is that practices are full for NHS patients and taking new ones only privately or on a waiting list. It is worth ringing several, asking directly whether they are accepting NHS patients, and checking the NHS website, which lists practices and whether they have said they are taking new patients. If you are in pain and have no dentist, NHS 111 can direct you to urgent dental care.
NHS treatment in England is charged in three fixed bands: Band 1 covers an examination, diagnosis and advice including X-rays and a scale and polish if needed; Band 2 adds fillings, extractions and root canal work; Band 3 covers crowns, dentures and bridges. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland charge differently, and children, pregnant women and people on certain benefits are exempt. Private fees are set by each practice and usually itemised, which is where the listings' reviews and price lists earn their keep.
Every dentist in the UK must be registered with the General Dental Council, and every practice is inspected by the Care Quality Commission in England or its equivalent elsewhere. Beyond that, what people value is the same everywhere: a dentist who explains, a hygienist who is gentle, a practice that answers the phone and fits an emergency in. The listings here show each practice's reviews, opening hours and contact details, so you can compare who is nearby, who offers NHS or private care, and who local patients recommend.
'Dental practice' and 'dental clinic' mean the same thing in the UK — whichever word you search for, every dentist listed here is registered with the General Dental Council and inspected the same way.
What dental practices offer
Routine care: check-ups, X-rays, fillings, extractions, root canal treatment, and hygienist appointments for scaling, polishing and gum health.
Restorative work: crowns, bridges, dentures and dental implants to replace missing teeth, and repairs to chipped or worn teeth.
Cosmetic dentistry: professional teeth whitening, veneers, composite bonding and adult orthodontics such as clear aligners, to improve your smile, all private.
Emergency care: same-day appointments for severe pain, swelling, a knocked-out or broken tooth, and lost fillings or crowns, through the practice or NHS urgent dental services.
Children and nervous patients: children's check-ups, which are free on the NHS, and practices that offer sedation or take extra time with anxious patients.
Before you register with a dentist
- Ask directly whether they are accepting new NHS patients, private patients, or both, and whether there is a waiting list.
- Check the dentist's registration on the General Dental Council register, and the practice's latest CQC report in England.
- Ask for the private price list if you are paying yourself; most practices publish one and will itemise a treatment plan before starting.
- Read recent reviews for how the practice handles emergencies and nervous patients, and whether appointments run to time.
- Ask about practice plans or membership schemes that spread the cost of routine care, if that suits you.
- For implants or cosmetic work, ask about the dentist's specific training and experience and how many they have done.
What dental treatment costs in the UK
NHS charges in England are fixed nationally and reviewed each April: Band 1 is currently around £27, Band 2 around £75 and Band 3 a little over £320, covering all the treatment in that band in one course. As a rough guide to private fees, a check-up runs from about £40 to £80, a hygienist visit £50 to £100, a white filling £100 to £250, a crown £500 to £1,000, and a single dental implant £2,000 to £3,000. Teeth whitening by a dentist is usually £250 to £600.
Private fees vary a good deal between practices and regions, so ask for a written treatment plan with prices before agreeing to anything beyond a check-up. Practices that offer finance or a monthly plan will say so.
How do I find an NHS dentist taking new patients?+
Ring the practices listed for your town and ask directly whether they are accepting new NHS patients or have a waiting list; availability changes week to week. The NHS website also lists practices and whether they have reported taking new patients. If nobody nearby has space, ask to join waiting lists at two or three, and register privately in the meantime if you can.
How much does an NHS dentist cost?+
In England, NHS treatment is charged in three bands: Band 1 for a check-up, X-rays and advice, Band 2 for fillings, extractions and root canals, and Band 3 for crowns, dentures and bridges. The charges are fixed nationally and reviewed every April, currently about £27, £75 and just over £320. Children, pregnant women, new mothers and people on certain benefits pay nothing. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements.
What should I do if I have toothache and no dentist?+
If you are registered with a practice, ring them first; most keep emergency slots each day. If you have no dentist, call NHS 111, which can book you into an urgent dental service. Painkillers help in the meantime, but a swelling in the face or difficulty swallowing needs urgent care the same day. Many practices listed here take private emergency patients too.
Is it worth going to a private dentist?+
It depends on what you need and what is available locally. Private care usually means longer appointments, more choice of materials and cosmetic options, and no waiting list, at a higher cost. If no NHS practice nearby is taking patients, private care may be the only way to get regular check-ups. Many people use a practice plan to spread the cost of routine visits.
How much do dental implants cost?+
A single implant, including the post, the abutment and the crown, typically costs between £2,000 and £3,000 in the UK, more in London and where bone grafting is needed first. Implants are almost never available on the NHS. Ask about the dentist's implant training and experience, what the price includes, and what happens if the implant fails.
How much does teeth cleaning cost?+
A hygienist appointment for a scale and polish — the proper term for a teeth clean — typically costs £50 to £100 privately. It's free on the NHS as part of Band 1 treatment if your dentist decides you need it on clinical grounds, but not if you just want it done more often than that for cosmetic reasons; most dentists recommend one every six to twelve months.
How do I check a dentist is registered?+
Every dentist, hygienist and dental nurse in the UK must be on the General Dental Council register, which you can search online by name. In England the practice itself is inspected by the Care Quality Commission and the report is public. Teeth whitening and other treatments on the teeth may only legally be carried out by GDC registrants, which is why a salon offering whitening is a warning sign.
How much does a dental bridge cost?+
A bridge to replace one missing tooth typically costs £500 to £1,200 privately, more for several teeth or a bridge anchored on implants rather than natural teeth either side. It is rarely available on the NHS outside Band 3 treatment where there is a clear clinical need. Ask whether a bridge or an implant suits your case better; a dentist should explain both before you choose.
How much does wisdom tooth removal cost?+
A straightforward extraction costs roughly £150 to £350 privately per tooth, more if it is impacted and needs a surgical approach or a hospital referral. It is free on the NHS when a dentist judges it clinically necessary, such as repeated infection or crowding causing damage; wisdom teeth removed only as a precaution, with no symptoms, are not usually treated on the NHS.
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