Free UK dentist comparison. Ratings cannot be bought —how we make money· methodology
Compare dental practices that accept NHS patients — understand the three NHS band charges, who gets free treatment, and how to find a practice taking new NHS patients.
NHS dental charges in England are fixed nationally in three bands — Band 1 £27.40 (examination, X-rays, scale and polish where clinically needed), Band 2 £75.30 (fillings, extractions, root canal treatment) and Band 3 £326.70 (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 has its own bands (£20/£60/£260), 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.
Typical cost
£27 – £327
Ratings and rankings are our editorial opinion, based on our publishedmethodology — 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 orReferral 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 · Southampton · SO15 · CQC-registered practice · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
Modern NHS and private dentistry near Southampton city centre.
Check-Up from £55
Dental Practice · Liverpool · L1 · CQC-registered practice · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
City-centre NHS and private dentistry with same-day emergency slots.
Check-Up from £47
Dental Practice · London · SE1 · CQC-registered practice · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
NHS and private dentistry near Borough Market and London Bridge.
Check-Up from £75
Dental Practice · Cardiff · CF11 · GDC-registered team · HIW-registered practice
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
NHS and private family practice in Pontcanna, Cardiff.
Check-Up from £46
Dental Practice · Bristol · BS8 · CQC-registered practice · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
NHS and private family dentistry in Clifton Village, Bristol.
Check-Up from £58
Dental Practice · Sheffield · S11 · CQC-registered practice · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
Friendly NHS and private practice on Sheffield's Ecclesall Road.
Check-Up from £46
Dental Practice · Reading · RG1 · CQC-registered practice · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
NHS and private dental care by Forbury Gardens, Reading.
Check-Up from £62
Dental Practice · Newcastle upon Tyne · NE1 · CQC-registered practice · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
Mixed NHS and private practice in Grainger Town, Newcastle.
Check-Up from £45
Dental Practice · Leicester · LE1 · CQC-registered practice · GDC-registered team
NHS Dentistry · Dental Check-ups · Hygienist Cleaning
Not Yet Rated
Family-run NHS and private dental practice in central Leicester.
Check-Up from £45
In England (2025/26): Band 1 is £27.40, Band 2 is £75.30 and Band 3 is £326.70. You pay one charge per course of treatment — the highest band your treatment reaches — never a charge per item. Urgent NHS treatment costs £27.40. Wales charges £20/£60/£260; 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.