Last updated: 11 June 2026 | Sources: NHS.uk, NHSBSA, NHS England, Gov.uk, the General Dental Council, the Care Quality Commission, the British Dental Association and Healthwatch England. Pricing reflects the NHS dental charges in England in force from 1 April 2026.
TL;DR
You do not need to register to see a private dentist in the UK. Phone any practice, book a new patient examination (around £80 on average in 2026), and check the dentist on the GDC register first. Private care offers faster access than the NHS but costs more, so always ask for a written price list.
More UK adults are paying for private dental care than at any point in recent memory, and most of them never planned to. If you have rung around every NHS practice in your area and heard the same "not taking new patients" answer, this guide explains how to find a private dentist you can trust, what you should expect to pay in 2026, and how to spread the cost without being caught out.
Why more people are looking for a private dentist
The honest starting point is the state of NHS dental access. The British Dental Association (BDA) estimates that 13 million adults in England, more than one in four, have an unmet need for NHS dentistry: people who tried and failed to get an appointment, gave up trying, were put off by cost, or are stuck on a waiting list. [1] Among people without an existing dentist who tried to access NHS care as new patients, 96.9% were unsuccessful. [2]
The official NHS figures tell a similar story from a different angle. The NHS England GP Patient Survey found that 78% of everyone who tried to get an NHS dental appointment in the year to March 2025 succeeded, but that figure includes existing patients returning to a practice that already knows them. [3] For new patients, the door is largely closed.
The result is a steady shift toward private care. Healthwatch England, the independent statutory champion for health service users, found that the proportion of adults in England using private dentistry rose from 22% in 2023 to 32% in 2025. Among people who describe themselves as struggling financially, private dentistry use almost doubled over the same period, from 14% to 27%. [4]
Private dentistry is now an £8.4 billion market accounting for 69% of UK dentistry by value, and it is under formal scrutiny: the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a market study into private dental services on 5 March 2026, looking at pricing transparency, payment plans and how patients choose providers. [5] None of this means private care is the wrong choice. It means you should go in with clear information, which is what the rest of this guide provides.
Do you need to register with a private dentist?
No, you do not need to register with a private dentist, because formal dental registration does not exist in England for either NHS or private care. The NHS abolished patient registration for dentistry in 2006, when the dental contract moved to a payment system based on courses of treatment rather than patient lists.
NHS.uk puts it plainly:
"People do not need to register with a dentist in the same way as with a GP. All they need to do is find a dental surgery that is convenient, and phone them to see if there are any appointments available."
That guidance comes directly from the NHS advice on finding a dentist. [6] Healthwatch England adds that since 2006 the arrangement between dentist and patient "only lasts during active treatment", with no long-term obligation on the practice. [7]
In practice, private dentistry feels closer to the registration model most people expect. A private practice will open a patient file for you at your first examination, keep your records, and invite you back for recall appointments. There is no NHS capacity limit forcing the practice to turn you away, so the relationship continues for as long as you both want it to. The paperwork you complete at a first visit is the practice's own record-keeping, not a statutory registration.
The one part of the UK where formal dental registration still exists is Northern Ireland, where health service patients register with a practice for 24-month periods. Scotland also retains a registration system for NHS dental care. Neither affects private treatment, which works the same way across the UK: contact a practice, book an assessment, begin care.
How to find a private dentist: 7 steps
Finding a private dentist is straightforward once you know the sequence. Work through these seven steps and you will end up with a practice you have chosen deliberately, rather than the first one that answered the phone.
- Decide what you need. Routine care (check-ups and hygiene visits) and a specific treatment (a crown, an implant consultation, a nagging toothache) point you toward different practices. List your priorities before you search.
- Search and shortlist practices near you. Build a shortlist of three or four practices within travelling distance. A directory that shows services, opening hours and patient feedback in one place saves a lot of phone calls.
- Check the dentist on the GDC register. Every dentist practising legally in the UK appears on the General Dental Council (GDC) public register. Searching it takes under a minute and is explained in the next section.
- Read the practice's CQC report. In England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspects dental practices for safety and cleanliness. Look up your shortlisted practices before you book.
- Ask for a written price list. Private fees are set by each practice and there is no national price list. A reputable practice will share its fees for examinations, hygiene visits and common treatments before you commit.
- Book a new patient examination. This first appointment typically includes a full mouth assessment, X-rays where clinically needed, and a discussion of any treatment you might need.
- Review the treatment plan and payment options before agreeing to anything. You should receive a written plan with itemised costs. Ask about monthly payment plans if you prefer to spread the cost of routine care.
If you want a deeper look at how to judge quality once you have a shortlist, our guide on how to find a good dentist in the UK covers the signals that matter, and our step-by-step guide to joining a dental practice explains what happens at a first appointment.
How to check a private dentist is registered and inspected
Two free official checks tell you almost everything about whether a private practice is legitimate: the GDC register and the CQC report. Neither takes more than a few minutes.
The GDC register
The General Dental Council (GDC) is the UK regulator for dental professionals. Every dentist, dental hygienist, dental therapist and dental nurse practising in the UK must be registered, and the public register is searchable online and updated daily. [8] You can search by name or town at the GDC's online register search. [9] The entry shows the professional's registration status, registration number, the date they first registered and their qualifications.
As of December 2025 there were 47,916 dentists on the UK register, alongside 83,764 dental care professionals. [10] One useful limitation to know: the register does not say whether a dentist works privately, on the NHS, or both, and it does not confirm whether they are currently practising. It confirms they are qualified and entitled to practise, which is the safety check that matters.
The GDC's own working patterns data shows how much of the profession now works outside the NHS: 20% of dentists work exclusively in private practice, and a further 14% work predominantly privately. [11]
The CQC report
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) registers and inspects dental practices in England against five questions: is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. One quirk catches many patients out: dental practices do not receive CQC ratings. Primary care dental services are exempt from the legal duty to be rated, so you will never see an "Outstanding" or "Requires improvement" badge on a dental practice the way you would on a GP surgery or care home. [12]
Instead, since June 2024 CQC dental reports state either "Regulations met" or "Not all regulations met". You can look up any practice's most recent report through the CQC's find-a-dentist search. [13] A practice that meets regulations, employs GDC-registered clinicians and is open about its pricing has passed every official check available.
How much does a private dentist cost in 2026?
Private dental fees are set independently by each practice, so there is no national private price list. The most reliable national figures come from the CMA's March 2026 market study launch, which reported that the average initial consultation now costs around £80 (up 23% between 2022 and 2024) and a routine check-up around £55 (up 14% over the same period). [5] Healthwatch England's 2026 research used £50 to £75 as the reference range for a private routine examination. [4]
| Appointment | Typical private cost (2026) | NHS England equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| New patient consultation | Around £80 on average | Band 1: £27.90 |
| Routine check-up | Around £55 on average (commonly £50 to £75) | Band 1: £27.90 |
| Hygiene appointment | Priced separately by most practices; ask for the fee | Included in Band 1 where clinically necessary |
| X-rays | Often included in the examination fee; confirm when booking | Included in Band 1 |
Treatment fees beyond the examination vary far more, because materials, laboratory work and complexity differ from case to case. A private crown, for example, can cost several times the NHS Band 3 charge. The CMA's study is examining exactly this lack of price transparency, which is why step 5 above matters: ask every practice for its written price list and compare like for like. For a treatment-by-treatment breakdown of what private practices typically charge, see our private dentist prices guide.
Location also moves prices. Practices in London and the South East generally charge more than the UK average, reflecting higher premises and staffing costs, so comparing two or three local quotes is worthwhile for any significant treatment.
How NHS charges compare in 2026
Understanding NHS pricing helps you judge whether a private quote is reasonable, and whether staying on an NHS waiting list is worth it for your situation. NHS dental charges in England are set nationally in three bands, and the current amounts came into force on 1 April 2026. [14]
| Band | Charge (England, from 1 April 2026) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | £27.90 | Examination, diagnosis, X-rays, scale and polish if clinically needed, preventive advice |
| Band 2 | £76.60 | Everything in Band 1 plus fillings, root canal treatment, extractions |
| Band 3 | £332.10 | Everything in Bands 1 and 2 plus crowns, dentures, bridges |
You pay one charge per course of treatment, however many appointments it takes. [15] Our complete guide to NHS dental charges explains how the bands work in detail, and our NHS versus private cost comparison weighs the two systems side by side.
Free NHS dental treatment
Before paying for anything privately, check whether you qualify for free NHS treatment. In England you are entitled to free NHS dental care if you are under 18 (or under 19 and in full-time education), pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, receiving certain qualifying benefits such as Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, receiving Universal Credit below the earnings threshold, or holding an NHS Low Income Scheme HC2 certificate. [16] An HC3 certificate gives partial help with charges. [17] If you qualify, the NHS route is free even when the private route is faster, which changes the calculation entirely.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
NHS dental charging works differently outside England, which matters if you are weighing NHS against private care elsewhere in the UK:
- Scotland: NHS dental examinations are free for everyone, and all NHS dental treatment is free for under-26s. Paying adults are charged 80% of the treatment cost, capped at £384 per course. [18]
- Wales: a reformed NHS dental contract took effect on 1 April 2026, replacing the old banding with care packages based on clinical need. Paying patients contribute 50% of their package cost, capped at £384 per course of treatment, and roughly half the Welsh population is exempt from charges. [19]
- Northern Ireland: health service patients pay 80% of treatment costs, capped at £384 per course, and formal registration with a practice (in 24-month periods) still applies. [20]
How to pay for private dental care
Private dentistry offers three broad payment routes, and the right one depends on how predictable your dental needs are.
Pay as you go is the default: you pay the practice's fee for each appointment and treatment as it happens. It suits people with healthy teeth who mainly need check-ups and occasional small treatments.
Dental payment plans, sometimes called capitation plans, spread the cost of expected care across fixed monthly payments made directly to your practice. After an oral health assessment, your dentist estimates your likely care needs for the year and sets a monthly fee. Basic plans cover examinations and hygiene visits; fuller plans extend to fillings and laboratory-based treatment such as crowns. Because the fee reflects your individual oral health, there is no single national price, which is one of the areas the CMA's market study is reviewing. [5]
Dental insurance works like other insurance: you pay a premium to an insurer, pay the dentist for treatment, then claim back costs up to annual limits. Policies commonly exclude pre-existing conditions and cosmetic work, and most apply a waiting period before you can claim. Our guide to UK dental insurance compares the main options in depth.
A simple rule of thumb: plans reward regular attenders who want predictable budgeting with one practice, insurance suits people who want cover for unexpected treatment costs at any practice, and pay as you go is hard to beat if your check-ups keep coming back clear.
Switching from an NHS dentist to a private dentist
Switching to a private dentist is administratively simple, because there is no NHS registration to cancel. You do not lose an "NHS place" by going private, since no such permanent place exists in England. [7] If you later want NHS care again, you are free to approach any practice accepting NHS patients, though in the current climate that search can be difficult, as our guide to finding an NHS dentist accepting new patients explains.
Two rules are worth knowing if you use a practice that offers both NHS and private care:
- Mixing is allowed, with consent. A practice can provide NHS and private treatment to the same patient, even on the same tooth, but only with your full informed consent and a written treatment plan showing which parts are NHS and which are private. [21]
- "Topping up" is not allowed. A dentist cannot charge you a private top-up fee to upgrade treatment within an NHS course. The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and the BDA are explicit that each element of treatment must be wholly NHS or wholly private, agreed in advance. [22] If you are mid-way through an NHS course of treatment, complete it (or formally agree to end it) before starting private care, and ask for the written plan first.
If anything about a quote feels unclear, ask the practice to walk you through which items are clinically necessary, which are optional upgrades, and what each costs. A good private practice answers those questions readily.
Questions to ask before you commit
Take this short list to your first appointment or phone call. The answers will tell you more about a practice than any advert:
- What does your new patient examination include, and what does it cost?
- Can I see your full price list for hygiene visits and common treatments?
- Are X-rays included in the examination fee?
- Do you offer a monthly plan, and what does it cover?
- Who would I see for an emergency, and what are the out-of-hours arrangements?
- Are all your clinicians on the GDC register? (The answer should be an immediate yes.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to register with a private dentist?
No formal registration is required to see a private dentist in the UK. Dental patient registration was abolished in England in 2006 for NHS and private care alike. You simply contact a practice and book a new patient examination, after which the practice keeps your records and invites you to recall appointments.
How much does a private dental check-up cost in the UK?
A private routine check-up costs around £55 on average in 2026, with £50 to £75 the commonly quoted range, while an initial new patient consultation averages around £80. Fees are set by each practice and vary by location, so ask for a written price list before booking.
Can I switch from an NHS dentist to a private dentist?
Yes, you can switch to a private dentist at any time, and there is no NHS registration to cancel in England. Complete or formally end any active NHS course of treatment first. Switching does not bar you from NHS care later, though finding an NHS practice with capacity can take time.
Is it worth going private for dental care?
Private dentistry is worth considering when NHS access is limited in your area, when you want faster appointments, or when you want treatment options the NHS does not fund. Weigh the higher fees against shorter waits and longer appointments, and check first whether you qualify for free NHS treatment.
How do I check if a private dentist is qualified?
Search the General Dental Council's free online register, which lists every dentist and dental care professional legally allowed to practise in the UK. The entry confirms registration status, registration number and qualifications. In England you can also read the practice's Care Quality Commission report to check it meets safety regulations.
Can I still get NHS treatment if I see a private dentist?
Yes, seeing a private dentist does not remove your entitlement to NHS dental care. You can approach any NHS practice accepting new patients at any time, because England has no permanent dental registration. The practical barrier is NHS capacity rather than any rule about having received private treatment.
Are private dentists regulated in the UK?
Yes, private dentists are regulated to the same professional standards as NHS dentists. Every dentist must register with the General Dental Council, and practices in England must register with the Care Quality Commission, which inspects them for safety and cleanliness. Private fees themselves are not regulated, which is why written quotes matter.
Finding the right dentist for you
Private dentistry has become the practical route to regular dental care for millions of people in the UK, and finding a good private dentist comes down to a repeatable process: shortlist, verify on the GDC register, read the CQC report, compare written prices, and only then book. The checks are free, the questions are simple, and a trustworthy practice will welcome all of them.
When you are ready to start your shortlist, you can compare dental practices near you on Dentists Closeby, with services, opening hours and patient feedback in one place. And if you would still prefer NHS care, our NHS dentist guide shows you how to maximise your chances.
Sources
- 13 million unable to access NHS dentistry -- British Dental Association, accessed 2026-06-11
- Dentists: 97% of new patients unable to access NHS care -- British Dental Association, accessed 2026-06-11
- GP Patient Survey Dental Statistics, January to March 2025, England -- NHS England, published 24 July 2025, accessed 2026-06-11
- People struggling financially are hardest hit by the shortage of NHS dental appointments -- Healthwatch England, published 9 March 2026, accessed 2026-06-11
- CMA launches review of private dentistry -- Competition and Markets Authority via Gov.uk, published 5 March 2026, accessed 2026-06-11
- How to find an NHS dentist -- NHS.uk, accessed 2026-06-11
- Your right to an NHS dentist -- Healthwatch England, published 7 April 2025, accessed 2026-06-11
- The registers -- General Dental Council, accessed 2026-06-11
- Search the GDC register -- General Dental Council, accessed 2026-06-11
- GDC Register increases to over 47,000 dentists -- General Dental Council, published January 2026, accessed 2026-06-11
- Working patterns data -- General Dental Council, published March 2026, accessed 2026-06-11
- Dentists: information for providers -- Care Quality Commission, accessed 2026-06-11
- Find a dentist -- Care Quality Commission, accessed 2026-06-11
- The National Health Service (Primary Dental Services and Dental Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 -- legislation.gov.uk, in force 1 April 2026, accessed 2026-06-11
- How much will I pay for NHS dental treatment? -- NHS.uk, accessed 2026-06-11
- Who can get free NHS dental treatment -- NHS.uk, accessed 2026-06-11
- Free NHS dental treatment -- NHSBSA, accessed 2026-06-11
- Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland -- NHS Inform Scotland, accessed 2026-06-11
- NHS dental charges and exemptions -- Welsh Government, updated April 2026, accessed 2026-06-11
- Dentists and Health Service dental charges -- NI Direct, accessed 2026-06-11
- Can I provide a mix of NHS and private dental treatment on the same tooth? -- NHSBSA, accessed 2026-06-11
- Mixing NHS and private dental treatment: a warning about topping up -- British Dental Association, accessed 2026-06-11
