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The National Health Service (NHS) and private practitioners provide dental care in the United Kingdom.
Many choose private dental care when their NHS dentist goes private or because they consider the quality higher. However, a 2022 survey found that over 70% of English respondents were satisfied with the quality of NHS dental services.1
In this article, we will:
Many oral health resources are available for those seeking dental treatment or wanting to learn more about dental care in the UK. Consider checking these resources’ social media accounts, such as their Twitter or Facebook pages, for up-to-date information.
For more help on oral health and patient care in the UK, search Google or another search engine using your specific keywords or queries.
The NHS offers dental treatments deemed clinically necessary for oral health and pain relief. However, your NHS dentist may refer you to a private dentist for specific treatments if unavailable on the NHS.
Your NHS dentist must provide a written treatment plan if you are given Band 2 or 3 treatment (see below) or a mix of NHS and private dental care.
NHS dental services in England are grouped into three charge-bands. Each band includes everything covered in the lower bands plus an additional tier of treatment.
At the first office visit, you’ll pay the required fee for any service within the applicable charge band. If you require another procedure from the same charge band within the following two months, you won’t have to pay any additional charges.
This charge band includes:
This charge band includes:
This charge band includes:
If you require urgent care, you’ll only be charged a Band 1 fee of £25.80. In addition, some situations won’t require you to pay anything.
You won’t be charged a fee if:
If your dentist refers you to another NHS dentist, you may not be charged an additional fee if their services are considered part of a single course of treatment.
If you accept a referral to a private dentist, you’ll pay whatever fee they charge. This is in addition to the fee you paid the NHS dentist.
The charge bands and practices described above apply to NHS England. Charges differ elsewhere, sometimes significantly.
In Scotland, dental examinations are free for everyone. Additional procedures may vary in cost. Your dentist must provide an itemized account of your recommended treatment if you request it.
If you pay for additional treatment, you’ll be charged 80% of the cost up to a maximum of £384. The NHS will subsidize any further cost.
In Wales, dental treatment charges are grouped into three bands. These are equivalent to the charge-bands of NHS England in what treatments they cover.
The charges are as follows:
Dental examinations are also free for those aged 25 and under or 60 and older.
The Health Service in Northern Ireland has the same cost structure as Scotland: you pay 80% of your dentist’s fees up to a maximum of £384.
In England, the NHS will provide free dental treatment if you are:
The exemptions are similar in Wales and Northern Ireland, with slight differences. In Scotland, anyone under 26 is eligible for free dental care.
People are eligible for free NHS dental treatment and patient care if they or their spouse (including a civil partner) receive:
People can receive free NHS dental treatment and health advice if they’re entitled to or named on:
Those named on an NHS certificate for partial help with dental health costs (HC3) may also receive dental assistance.’
When visiting general dental practitioners, people must show written proof so they don’t have to pay for all or part of their NHS treatment. Then, they must sign a form to confirm they don’t have to pay.
These are the available statistics on dental care in the UK:
The UK has both private dental care and public care through the NHS. While the NHS offers set fees and, in some cases, free oral health care, many people prefer to see a private dentist.
Many people prefer private dental care, claiming a higher quality of service. In addition, NHS dentists sometimes refer people to private dentists as some services are only provided on a private basis.
However, NHS dental services have the benefit of fixed charges which tend to be lower than private fees.
Yes, foreigners are eligible for dental care through the NHS. Dentists are not required to ask for proof of identity or immigration status and are not allowed to deny people based on nationality.
Health and Social Care (HSC) provides public health care in Northern Ireland. While HSC was created separately from the NHS of England, Scotland, and Wales, it is technically a part of the UK’s national health service and is often referred to as the NHS.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has over 16,000 member dentists. The largest corporate dental provider in the UK is Mydentist, with over 3,000 member dentists.
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