Private vs NHS dental charges

Find out how much you should expect to pay for dental treatment on the NHS and privately, how to navigate the NHS charging structure, what to do if you're faced with unexpected costs, and how NHS and private options differ.

With nine out of 10 dentists reportedly not accepting new NHS patients, according to a 2022 BBC investigation, you might find yourself needing to pay private prices to get treatment.

Those prices are rising, too. British Dental Association chair Eddie Crouch explained: 'All dentists are facing a surge in costs, but private practices can reflect that in their prices.

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'However, underfunding in NHS dentistry has huge knock-on effects. A typical practice is now delivering some NHS care at a loss – and this translates into higher private prices.'

Our comparison table, based on prices from major private chains, gives you an idea of what to expect.

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NHS dental charges – 2025 prices by treatment

NHS dentist prices typically go up slightly each year. These are the prices from April 2025 for those in England.

The amount you're charged depends on the type of treatment you need. Treatments are split into three bands:

• Band 1: £27.40 Covers treatments including a clinical examination, diagnosis (including X-rays if needed), a scale and polish (if clinically necessary), application of fluoride or fissure sealant and preventative advice.
• Band 2: £75.30 Includes everything in Band 1, plus further treatment such as non-surgical gum treatment, fillings, root canal work and tooth removal (extractions).
• Band 3: £326.70 Includes everything in Band 1 and 2, plus more complex treatments such as crowns, bridges, orthodontic treatments and appliances, dentures and bridges.

You should pay only one charge for a course of treatment, even if you visit the dentist a few times – so three fillings and a crown recommended on the same treatment plan would all be covered by Band 3. 

If you need Band 2 or 3 treatment and pay dental charges (in other words, you aren't exempt), you should be given a written treatment plan.

Certain people get free NHS dental care, including those who are pregnant or have had a baby within the past 12 months, those under 18 (or under 19 in full-time education) and those entitled to certain income-related benefits such as pension credit or universal credit (if your income is below a certain threshold).

NHS dental charges in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland

In Wales, a similar banding system is in place, with the equivalent of Band 1 charged at £20, Band 2 at £60 and Band 3 at £260. Find out more in the Welsh NHS dental charges and exemption guide.

Northern Ireland and Scotland both use the same system, which is slightly different from the others above. Unless you're covered by one of the groups entitled to free NHS dental work, the charge to the NHS patient is 80% of the dentist's fee up to a maximum of £384.

Your dentist should have a prominently displayed price list in the surgery – if you don't see it, ask. You may also be able to find a price list on your dentist's website before you visit.

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NHS dental costs vs private dentist fees

We checked the prices at major private practice chains to compare costs for private dental procedures with NHS charges. Our dental treatment pricing table will help you identify whether you're getting a decent deal on care – or paying over the odds. 

Prices will usually be listed as 'from' £50, for example, because the exact amount will depend on your specific needs and how long the treatment might take. After your first assessment, you should get a detailed written cost for your exact treatment.

Costs vary between areas as well as practices, so areas where property costs and wages are often higher – such as London and the South East – tend to have higher prices.

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Dental treatments explained: NHS vs private

Here we explain what you'll get with each treatment, what's different if you go private vs having NHS treatment and what to check before going ahead.

Logged-in Which? Members can see NHS vs private prices for each section too. Not yet a member? Join Which? today.

New patient consultation

Your first consultation with a new dentist gives them a chance to get a full picture of your dental health and learn more about you and your habits.

If going private, ask how long your initial consultation should last and whether any X-rays are included (including the type of X-ray), as this varies between practices.

Routine check-up

Once you've had your initial consultation, your following appointments will be shorter and, as a result, likely cheaper.

Routine private appointments will generally be allocated more time than those on the NHS and may be offered out of hours (evenings and weekends), which is useful if you don’t want to take time off work or want to be seen quickly.

Hygiene clean/scale and polish

NHS Band 1 costs cover a range of basic dental treatments, including a scale and polish if dentally necessary (for example to help with poor gum health). But 'necessary' is the key word here. If your dentist recommends a clean for more cosmetic maintenance, you're likely to be asked to make a private hygienist appointment.

Privately, you’ll likely get a longer appointment and usually a more intensive clean.

If you have a regular clean from the hygienist, there’s no evidence to suggest you shouldn’t keep doing it. But, equally, a 2018 Cochrane review of evidence (considered the 'gold standard' of medical research study reviews) found a routine scale and polish made little or no difference for the early signs of gum disease, though there was a small reduction in tartar, otherwise known as plaque.

Next time your dentist suggests a hygienist visit, ask if it's clinically necessary, as you might be entitled to cleaning under the NHS.

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Emergency appointment

If something goes wrong and you need to see a dentist urgently, you may have to pay more to do so, especially if you need assistance outside of usual opening hours. The costs above are for emergency help during usual opening hours.

You can call NHS 111 to be put in touch with an emergency dental service and get self-care advice.

In emergency situations, you should be seen quickly, whether that's under the NHS or privately. Bear in mind that GPs aren't able to offer emergency or out-of-hours dental care.

Amalgam/metal filling

Private prices for all types of filling vary depending on the size and complexity of the treatment you need.

Amalgam (a mixed metal filling) is hard-wearing and good for the back chewing teeth. This is the more common type of filling you'll be offered on the NHS. It's traditionally cheaper, but less cosmetically appealing as it's silver coloured. 

If you're going private, metal fillings are less commonly available and it often doesn't cost much more to upgrade to a tooth-coloured composite filling.

Composite/white filling

Composite fillings are trickier to place (the tooth surface must be dry when the resin gel is bonded on) and can be less hard-wearing for back teeth that chew and grind. But some people prefer them as they blend into your tooth more subtly. 

On the NHS, you’re more likely to get them on your front teeth, but your dentist typically makes the call on what is deemed necessary.

Root canal treatment

If decay gets deep into your tooth and affects the root, a root filling (root canal work) can save the tooth. 

Private prices range greatly, as root canal can be a technically demanding treatment and you may be referred to a specialist endodontist. How much you pay depends on the tooth size and position (back teeth tend to be more expensive), and the complexity.

Tooth extraction

Some teeth will be routinely extracted in a dental surgery – known as a simple extraction. Others will need a referral to a dentist with advanced skills in surgical treatments because they’re awkwardly shaped or placed, and surrounding bone may need to be removed to free them. 

More complicated surgical extractions will generally cost more privately.

Crowns

Crowns fit like a cap over your own teeth and look like a normal tooth. Private prices depend on materials used and the time taken.

Any lab that makes crowns for the NHS is governed by strict regulations about the materials used, and many will be producing both private and NHS work. But dentists can use different suppliers or technicians for NHS and private patients. 

The difference in the end result is likely to lie largely in cosmetic aspects, such as the colour matching to the rest of your teeth and the finish.

Crowns may be made of materials including porcelain (most expensive for a very natural tooth look), porcelain bonded onto precious metal, or all metal (generally less expensive and used on back teeth). 

Newer materials such as Emax or Zirconia will more closely resemble your natural teeth and are more durable, but will likely cost you more.

NHS crowns are usually made of a metal core surrounded by a porcelain wrapping, which may not be an entirely realistic ‘tooth’. The dentist can choose from a limited number of colour shades, so the result may not produce an accurate match for your teeth.

Private crowns may be made of precious metals (such as gold, platinum or palladium) or a combination of minerals and porcelain, giving a more natural appearance.

Dentures/bridges

As with crowns, the labs that make dentures and bridges for the NHS are held to strict regulations about the material they use. They produce work for the private firms as well as the NHS. Again, the difference is mainly in aesthetics.

NHS dentures are usually made of solid acrylic, which can feel bulky and less comfortable in the mouth than some private options. Dentures made privately may be made from a more expensive flexible acrylic or chrome, which can feel much more natural.

Bridges tend to look better and feel more comfortable than dentures, plus some people may want a permanent replacement rather than a removable prosthesis.

Bridges are sometimes refused on the NHS because they can be seen as a cosmetic choice over the more practical and less invasive option of a denture. A bridge can compromise the long-term health of the teeth on either side, so a dentist can argue that it’s not the best option for making you dentally fit.

If your dentist is unwilling to give you a bridge on the NHS, they might still offer it privately, if that's what you want.

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How to manage the cost of private dental work

Megan Thomas, Which? senior health researcher, says:

'With the cost of many common dental treatments running into hundreds of pounds, it can be a hefty unplanned expense to cover, so you might want options that allow you to pay for your treatment in instalments.

'Many practices are authorised credit brokers, which means they can help you set up a credit agreement to pay off your bill gradually, so do ask about this if you're facing a large bill.

'Alternatively, a dental payment plan, such as Bupa Smile or Denplan, gives you the ability to pay a regular monthly amount for check-ups and hygienist appointments. With this cost already paid upfront, a dental plan can encourage you to go more regularly for check-ups and get preventative advice – hopefully heading off any major problems.

'More expensive dental plans also include restorative treatments such as fillings and crowns.

'Private medical insurance doesn't tend to cover dentistry, but you can also buy dental insurance, which could spread out the cost of big treatments. Read our guide to the best dental insurance to find out more about choosing the best option for you.'

How to find an NHS dentist near you

Ideally, try to find a regular dentist that isn't too far away from where you live, so you can easily get there in case of an urgent dental problem. 

In England, you can use the NHS website to search for nearby dentists. Head to the NHS Find a dentist page and search for a town, city or postcode. 

Depending on where you live, you may have to ring around to find a dental practice to take you as a new patient, as NHS slots are in short supply and it's a bit of a postcode lottery.

In other UK countries, NHS dentist-finder services include Health in Wales, NHS24 in Scotland and Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland. 

Before you book, check whether you’re booking as an NHS patient or privately so you don't get any nasty surprises on your bill.

If you're using the NHS, it’s a good idea to book your next check-up on the way out from your last, or at least some weeks ahead of when it’s due, to ensure you get a slot when you need it.

How to find a private dentist near you

There are some big chains as well as a wide range of smaller independent private dentists. The big private dental chains include Bupa, Mydentist, and PortmanDentex.

It's worth asking around for recommendations for your local area, especially to help you find small independents that have happy customers. 

You can also look out for signs of a dentist going the extra mile – see if they have additional qualifications or accreditations (there will be extra letters by their name, or displays in the practice).

Not sure where to start? We surveyed more than 7,000 people to find out which private and NHS dentist brands are rated highly. See our full guide to the best dentist brands for our verdict.

Looking after your teeth

The best way to avoid a big dental bill is to care for your teeth well, so you can avoid complicated treatments. Good dental habits to get into include:

• limiting sugary or very acidic food and drink intake – if you do this you'll be at a lower risk of developing cavities; also try to avoid having sugary and acidic food and drink between meals
• brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste – brush for two minutes and don’t rinse your mouth out after you spit
• flossing regularly – clean between teeth with interdental brushes or floss. 

You could also use mouthwash (although not straight after brushing, as it will wash away the concentrated fluoride on your teeth). It's not essential for most, though.

See our reviews of the best water flossers and best electric toothbrushes to make tooth care easier

Our dental costs research

Our senior health researcher, Megan Thomas, gathered the latest pricing data from NHS England and across the UK, as well as checking 384 prices for common dental treatments across 47 private practices - including from big dental chains such as BUPA.

Our insights into dental treatments and the difference between private and NHS treatment come from previous conversations with leading dental experts as part of research for Which?.

• Megan Thomas is a senior researcher and writer at Which?, with a focus on health and wellbeing (previously money). She has led in-depth investigations into a range of products and services, including crunching the numbers on care home costs. Before joining Which?, Megan worked as a statistician in the public and charity sectors, so she knows how to sift through the data for numbers you can trust.