Free UK dentist comparison. Ratings cannot be bought — how we make money · methodology
Compare dental practices with NHS dentistry on record — understand England’s three band charges, who gets free treatment, and how to check for new-patient places.
NHS dental charges in England are fixed nationally in three bands — Band 1 £27.90 (examination, X-rays, scale and polish where clinically needed), Band 2 £76.60 (fillings, extractions, root canal treatment) and Band 3 £332.10 (crowns, dentures, bridges). You pay one charge per course of treatment at the highest band reached — charges are never added per item, and no practice can charge more or less for NHS work. Wales abolished its banded system from 1 April 2026 and now charges a fixed fee for each care package by treatment type — from £25 for a recall examination up to £140.44 for a crown or bridge — capped at £384 per course, while in Scotland and Northern Ireland you pay 80% of the item cost up to £384 per course, with NHS examinations free in Scotland. The real challenge is access: many practices have closed their NHS lists to new patients, so use the NHS website's dentist search alongside our directory to find practices currently accepting NHS patients near you. Under-18s, pregnant women, new mothers and people on qualifying benefits get NHS treatment free — but unlike prescriptions, being over 60 does not.
NHS charges in England
£27.90–£332.10 per course in England (2026/27)
Source: NHS Business Services Authority ↗. Other UK nations use different charges.
NHS charges are fixed nationally in England (Band 1 £27.90, Band 2 £76.60, Band 3 £332.10 — one charge per course, highest band only). Private prices are indicative UK ranges and vary by practice — check a practice's profile for its own published prices, or a written quote for an exact figure.
| Treatment | NHS (England) | Private (typical UK range) |
|---|---|---|
| Private check-up (examination) | £27.90 (Band 1) | £45.00–£95.00 |
| Hygienist visit | £27.90 (Band 1) | £55.00–£120.00 |
| White (composite) filling (per tooth) | £76.60 (Band 2) | £90.00–£300.00 |
| Tooth extraction (per tooth) | £76.60 (Band 2) | £100.00–£350.00 |
| Root canal treatment (per tooth) | £76.60 (Band 2) | £250.00–£700.00 |
| Crown (per tooth) | £332.10 (Band 3) | £450.00–£1,000.00 |
| Single dental implant (per implant) | Not NHS-funded | £1,800.00–£3,000.00 |
| Porcelain veneer (per tooth) | Not NHS-funded | £400.00–£1,000.00 |
| Composite bonding (per tooth) | Not NHS-funded | £150.00–£400.00 |
| Home teeth whitening kit (dentist-supplied) (per course) | Not NHS-funded | £250.00–£500.00 |
| In-chair teeth whitening (per course) | Not NHS-funded | £300.00–£700.00 |
| Clear aligners (e.g. Invisalign) (per course) | Not NHS-funded | £1,500.00–£5,000.00 |
| Full dentures (per set) | £332.10 (Band 3) | £600.00–£2,500.00 |
Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland charge differently to England for NHS treatment — see the NHS cost calculator for your country. Private ranges are national indicative figures, not quotes.
These listings reflect recorded NHS services or activity, not current new-patient places. Check NHS availability ↗
Ratings and rankings are our editorial opinion, based on our published methodology — they are not dental advice and practices cannot pay to change a score. Where a practice has no reviews we show "Not yet rated" — we never invent scores. Listings labelled Featured or Referral partner are paid placements; payment affects visibility only, never ratings or match results. We may receive a fee when you send a private-treatment enquiry. Private treatment prices are indicative — always confirm directly with the practice.
Dental Practice · Bollington · SK10 5EJ · CQC-registered practice
Not Yet Rated
Independent, family-run dental practice in Bollington, established in 1977.
New patient exam £89
Includes X-rays
Dental Practice · London · SW18 4SX · CQC-registered practice
Not Yet Rated
NHS and private dental care on Garratt Lane, Earlsfield.
Ask for treatment fees
Dental Practice · Dagenham · RM10 9PT · CQC-registered practice
Not Yet Rated
CQC-registered dental practice in Dagenham.
Ask for treatment fees
Not Yet Rated
CQC-registered dental practice in Southport.
Ask for treatment fees
Dental Practice · Upminster · RM14 1AE · CQC-registered practice
Not Yet Rated
CQC-registered dental practice in Upminster.
Ask for treatment fees
Dental Practice · London · E17 4RX · CQC-registered practice
Not Yet Rated
CQC-registered dental practice in London.
Ask for treatment fees
Dental Practice · Stockport · SK2 6BY · CQC-registered practice
Not Yet Rated
CQC-registered dental practice in Stockport.
Ask for treatment fees
Dental Practice · Newcastle upon Tyne · NE3 4NQ · CQC-registered practice
Not Yet Rated
CQC-registered dental practice in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Ask for treatment fees
Dental Practice · Billericay · CM12 0UA · CQC-registered practice
Not Yet Rated
CQC-registered dental practice in Billericay.
Ask for treatment fees
Showing nine of 4,101 practices. See every matching practice and filter by town or postcode.
In England (2026/27): Band 1 is £27.90, Band 2 is £76.60 and Band 3 is £332.10. You pay one charge per course of treatment — the highest band your treatment reaches — never a charge per item. Urgent NHS treatment costs £27.90. Wales moved to a fixed fee per care package from 1 April 2026 — for example £25 for a recall examination, £36.03 for a filling or extraction, and £140.44 for a crown or bridge, all capped at £384 per course; in Scotland and Northern Ireland you pay 80% of the item cost capped at £384 per course.
No. NHS charges are set nationally and are identical at every practice in the same country. If you're quoted a different price for NHS treatment, ask whether the work is actually being done privately. Only private prices vary by practice.
In England: under-18s (or 18 and in full-time education), women who are pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months, NHS hospital dental patients, people with an HC2 certificate, and people on qualifying benefits. Unlike prescriptions, being 60 or over does not make dental treatment free. Check-ups are free for everyone in Scotland, though treatment charges still apply.
Use the NHS website (nhs.uk) dentist search, which shows whether practices have reported accepting new NHS patients, and phone practices directly to confirm — availability changes quickly. You don't need to live nearby or register in the way you do with a GP; you can contact any practice.
Yes. Many patients have NHS check-ups and fillings but choose private options for things the NHS doesn't cover, such as teeth whitening, or for cosmetic alternatives like white crowns on back teeth. Your dentist must make clear which parts of your treatment plan are NHS and which are private before starting.
For urgent problems, call NHS 111, which can direct you to urgent dental care even if you're not registered anywhere. For routine care, keep checking the NHS website search, join practice waiting lists, and consider a private check-up (typically £45–£95) as a stopgap — and speak to a dentist promptly about anything causing pain.