NHS vs Private Dentist: Which Should I Choose?

Most NHS dental practices in England are not taking on new adult patients, so for many people the choice is now between private care and waiting.

For most of the past decade, comparing NHS and private dentistry was straightforward: the NHS was cheaper and private was faster, more flexible, and offered more materials and treatments. For many people, the right answer was the NHS.

That comparison no longer holds as simply as it once did. A BBC and BDA survey in August 2022 found that 90% of practices across the UK were not accepting new adult NHS patients - and a Daily Mirror analysis, published by the BDA in November 2024, suggested the figure for England may be as high as 96%.

For many adults, the real question is no longer "NHS or private?" - it is "can I even get NHS care, and if not, what does private cost?" Both are answered below.

NHS dental treatment in England is not free for most adults. You pay a set charge per course of treatment - and the amount depends on what you need. From 1 April 2026, the charges are:

You pay one charge per complete course of treatment, regardless of how many appointments it takes to finish. If you need a filling and an extraction in the same course of treatment, you pay Band 2 once - not twice.

Use the quick checker below to see if your NHS dental treatment is free.

Yes, NHS dental treatment is usually much cheaper. In England, you pay a fixed £27.90, £76.60 or £332.10 per course of NHS treatment, while private dentists charge for each treatment separately. A private check-up typically costs £60-£80, compared with £27.90 on the NHS, and a private crown £700-£1,000, compared with £332.10.

The table below shows typical private dentist costs in the UK in 2026, based on surveys of UK practices. For common treatments like tooth extraction or root canal, private costs can be several times the NHS equivalent.

Why do private prices vary so much?

Private prices vary widely because the same treatment can mean very different things. A £90 filling and a £250 filling may use completely different materials, with different guarantees. Always ask your dentist to explain exactly what is included before you agree to treatment.

NHS and private dentistry differ on cost, waiting times, choice of materials, appointment length and the treatments available. Here is how they compare on each.

NHS waiting times for new patients vary widely. In many areas, joining a practice list alone can take months. Even once registered, getting an appointment has become harder in much of the country.

Private dentistry is generally available much faster. Most private practices can offer a new patient appointment within days to a few weeks.

NHS dentists provide white composite fillings for front teeth as standard, but back teeth typically receive amalgam (dark metal) fillings unless there is a specific clinical need for white material. If you want white fillings throughout, you are likely to need to pay privately - either at a private practice or as a private upgrade within a mixed practice.

Note: amalgam is no longer the default for children under 15, or for pregnant or breastfeeding patients, where non-amalgam alternatives must be used unless strictly necessary. Amalgam use is also being phased down under the Minamata Convention, with a global phase-out agreed for 2034, so this policy will change over the coming years.

NHS crowns are typically metal or metal with a tooth-coloured coating, whereas private crowns are usually fully ceramic and look far more natural.

Private appointments tend to be longer, with more time to discuss your options and preferences. NHS appointments are subject to greater time pressures, which is a reflection of the NHS contract structure rather than individual dentist quality.

Private practices also typically offer more flexible booking, including evening and weekend appointments.

Some treatments are only available privately in England, as they are considered cosmetic rather than clinically necessary. These include:

When choosing between an NHS dentist vs private dentist in the UK, going private is worth considering if you can't get an NHS appointment, need treatment quickly or want treatment the NHS doesn't offer. If you have good access to an NHS dentist, NHS care is usually better value.

NHS is likely the right choice if you already have an NHS dentist with good access, your needs are routine, you qualify for free treatment, or cost is the deciding factor.

Private is worth considering if you cannot find an NHS dentist taking new patients, you need treatment quickly, you want more choice over materials, or you need something the NHS does not provide.

If cost is a barrier, ask practices about payment plans. Many private practices offer a monthly dental payment plan - typically £10 to £30 per month for routine care - that spreads the cost of check-ups and hygienist appointments and may offer discounts on further treatment. Some also offer interest-free finance for larger courses of treatment.