Dental Services in England

Looking for dental care in England? You’ve come to the right place. From London to Cornwall, Manchester to Brighton, we’ve got information about dental services across every English county and city. Find NHS dentists, private practices, emergency services, and everything else you need to know about dental care in your area.

Finding Dental Care Across England

England has one of the most comprehensive dental care systems in the world, with thousands of practices spread across 48 counties. Whether you’re after NHS treatment or private dental care, there are options available throughout the country.

The tricky part isn’t finding a dentist – it’s finding the right one for you. That’s where we come in. We’ve organized dental information by location so you can see exactly what’s available in your area without trawling through endless search results.

NHS Dentistry in England

NHS dental care in England works a bit differently than other NHS services. Not every dental practice offers NHS treatment, and those that do sometimes aren’t accepting new NHS patients.

Here’s what you need to know:

NHS dental services are available but not always easy to access. Some areas have plenty of NHS dentists with spaces available. Others have waiting lists or no NHS dentists accepting new patients at all. It varies hugely by location.

You pay charges for NHS dental treatment. It’s not free (unless you qualify for exemptions), but it’s much cheaper than private treatment. There are three charge bands covering different types of treatment.

Finding an NHS dentist takes some effort. The NHS website has a “Find a Dentist” tool, but it’s not always up to date. Calling practices directly is often the most reliable way to find out who’s accepting new NHS patients in your area.

Current NHS Dental Charges in England

As of 2026, NHS dental treatment in England falls into three bands:

Band 1 (around £26.80): Covers examinations, diagnosis, advice, scale and polish, X-rays, and planning for further treatment.

Band 2 (around £73.50): Covers everything in Band 1, plus additional treatment like fillings, root canal treatment, and removing teeth.

Band 3 (around £319.10): Covers everything in Bands 1 and 2, plus more complex procedures like crowns, dentures, and bridges.

These are approximate figures – always check current charges before treatment. Some people qualify for free NHS dental treatment, including pregnant women, new mothers, people under 18, and those on certain benefits.

Private Dental Care in England

Private dentistry is widely available across England. You’ll find private dental practices in every city and most towns, often offering extended opening hours, shorter wait times, and a wider range of cosmetic treatments.

Private treatment costs vary massively depending on location and the practice. A filling might cost £80 in one place and £150 in another. It’s worth getting quotes from a few different practices if you’re paying privately.

Many dentists offer both NHS and private treatment, so you might be able to get basic care on the NHS and pay privately for cosmetic treatments at the same practice.

Emergency Dental Care

Got a dental emergency? Here’s what to do:

During normal hours: Contact your regular dentist. Most practices keep appointment slots free for emergencies and will try to see you the same day if it’s urgent.

Out of hours: If your dentist is closed, call NHS 111. They’ll tell you where to access emergency dental treatment in your area. Some areas have specific out-of-hours dental services, others direct you to the nearest available practice.

Life-threatening situations: If you’ve got severe bleeding that won’t stop, difficulty breathing, or serious facial swelling, go straight to A&E or call 999. These are medical emergencies, not just dental problems.

Browse Dental Services by English County

Select your county below to find detailed information about dental services in your area. Each county page includes lists of cities and towns, information about NHS availability, emergency services, and local dental resources.

Popular Cities for Dental Services

Looking for dental care in a specific city? Here are direct links to our most popular English city pages:

Dental Health Tips for England

Here are some things worth knowing about dental care in England:

Water Fluoridation Varies

Some parts of England have fluoride added to the water supply to help prevent tooth decay, others don’t. Areas like Birmingham and parts of the North East have fluoridated water. If you’re in an area without fluoridated water, your dentist might recommend fluoride supplements for children.

Register with a Dentist Before You Need One

Don’t wait until you’ve got toothache to look for a dentist. Register with one now, get regular check-ups, and you’ll already have a dentist you can call if something urgent comes up. Plus, prevention is way cheaper than emergency treatment.

Check-Ups Aren’t Always Free on NHS

Even a simple check-up costs around £26.80 on the NHS (unless you’re exempt from charges). Private check-ups can be similar or sometimes even cheaper, so it’s worth comparing options.

Cosmetic Treatments Are Usually Private

Teeth whitening, veneers, and adult orthodontics are almost always private treatments. NHS treatment is for clinical needs, not cosmetic improvements. If you want a Hollywood smile, you’ll be paying privately.

Specialist Dental Services in England

England has excellent specialist dental services, though availability varies by region:

Orthodontics: Teeth straightening and braces. Available on NHS for children with significant problems, usually private for adults. Waiting times can be long for NHS orthodontics.

Oral Surgery: Complex extractions, wisdom teeth removal, jaw surgery. Available at hospital dental departments and specialist practices.

Periodontics: Gum disease treatment. Severe gum problems might be referred to specialists, though many general dentists handle routine gum issues.

Endodontics: Root canal specialists. For particularly tricky root canals, you might be referred to an endodontist.

Prosthodontics: Dentures, bridges, and complex restorative work. Specialist prosthodontists handle the really complicated cases.

Major cities generally have more specialist services available. Smaller towns might require travel to access specialized treatments.

Costs of Common Dental Treatments

Private dental costs in England vary a lot, but here are rough estimates to give you an idea:

Check-up and cleaning: £50-£120
Simple filling: £80-£200
Root canal: £200-£600 (depending on tooth)
Crown: £400-£1,000
Tooth extraction: £100-£300
Teeth whitening: £300-£800
Dental implant: £1,500-£3,000 per tooth
Braces: £2,000-£6,000

These are ballpark figures. Always get a written quote before agreeing to treatment. Some areas of England are more expensive than others (London, unsurprisingly, tends to be pricier).

Children’s Dental Care

Dental care for children in England is free on the NHS until they turn 18 (or 19 if they’re in full-time education). Make the most of this – regular check-ups catch problems early.

NHS dental services for children include examinations, fillings, extractions, fissure sealants (protective coating on back teeth), and orthodontic assessment. If your child needs braces, they’ll only get them on the NHS if the orthodontic problem is significant enough.

Start taking children to the dentist early – around when their first teeth come through. It gets them used to dental visits and catches any problems quickly.

Dental Care for Elderly People

Some dental practices in England offer home visits for elderly or housebound patients who can’t travel to the surgery. This service might be available on the NHS or privately, depending on the practice and your circumstances.

If you or an elderly relative needs dental care but can’t leave home, contact local dental practices to ask about home visits. Not all practices offer this, so you might need to call around.

Care homes should arrange regular dental check-ups for residents. If you’ve got a relative in a care home, ask what dental arrangements are in place.

Dental Complaints and Problems

If you’re unhappy with dental treatment in England, here’s what to do:

Start with the practice: Complain to the dental practice first. They should have a complaints procedure. Most issues can be sorted out at this level.

NHS complaints: If it’s NHS treatment and the practice doesn’t resolve things, you can complain to NHS England.

Private complaints: For private treatment, you can complain to the Dental Complaints Service if the practice doesn’t sort it out.

Serious professional issues: If you think a dentist has been negligent or there are serious professional concerns, contact the General Dental Council (GDC). They regulate dentists and can investigate serious problems.