Private Dental Check-Up Cost UK: How Much Is a Consultation? (2026)
Private dental check-up costs in the UK: median £65 from 2,233 practices. X-rays £40, hygiene £83. Compare with NHS Band 1 (£26.80). Regional breakdown.
How much does a private dental check-up cost in the UK? Based on data from 2,233 UK practices, a private dental consultation costs a median of £65, with prices ranging from £23 to £180.
Check-up, X-ray, and hygiene prices
| Service | Median | Range (P5–P95) | Practices | |---------|--------|----------------|-----------| | Consultation/check-up | £65 | £23 – £180 | 2,233 | | X-ray | £40 | £10 – £151 | 1,856 | | Hygiene (scale and polish) | £83 | £40 – £170 | 2,011 | | Emergency appointment | £75 | £26 – £240 | 1,420 |
A typical first visit (check-up + X-rays + hygiene) costs £150–£300 privately.
Consultation prices by region
| Region | Median | Range | Practices | |--------|--------|-------|-----------| | National | £65 | £23 – £180 | 2,233 | | Central London | £78 | £27 – £204 | 366 | | Greater London | £60 | £24 – £175 | 274 | | South (excl. London) | £66 | £22 – £175 | 750 | | Midlands | £65 | £22 – £150 | 393 | | North | £60 | £21 – £177 | 450 |
Greater London and the North are cheapest at £60 median. Central London is most expensive at £78.
NHS vs private check-up costs
| | NHS (England) | Private | |---|---|---| | Check-up | £26.80 (Band 1) | £23–£180 | | Includes X-rays | Yes (if needed) | Sometimes extra | | Includes hygiene | No (separate appointment) | Sometimes as a package | | Waiting time for new patients | Weeks to months (many not accepting) | Usually within days | | Appointment length | 10–15 min typical | 20–45 min |
NHS Band 1 (£26.80) covers a check-up, X-rays, and a treatment plan — but not hygiene. On the NHS, hygiene is a separate appointment and may not be offered routinely. Privately, many practices offer a combined check-up and hygiene package.
Dental membership plans
Many private practices offer monthly membership plans that cover routine care at a fixed monthly cost:
| Typical plan | Monthly cost | Usually includes | |-------------|-------------|-----------------| | Basic | £15–£25/month | 2 check-ups + 2 hygiene visits/year | | Standard | £25–£35/month | Above + X-rays + 10–20% off treatments | | Premium | £35–£50/month | Above + emergency cover + higher discounts |
Membership plans are worth considering if you attend regularly and want predictable costs. They also typically include worldwide emergency dental cover.
How often should you have a check-up?
NICE recommends check-ups every 3–24 months depending on your risk level. Your dentist will advise, but most patients are seen every 6–12 months. More frequent visits may be recommended if you have gum disease, are a smoker, or have a history of dental problems.
Compare dental prices
Compare check-up, hygiene, and treatment prices across 2,000+ UK practices.
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