Dental Prices in England: Private Fees and NHS Charges
Private fees for 16 treatments from practice price lists in England, each shown with the number of practices behind it, beside the NHS charges in each UK nation.
England private dental fees
Median published fees, England
The median published private fee for a consultation or check-up in England is £65, across 2,233 practice price lists (5th to 95th percentile £23 to £180), captured March 2026. Each treatment's median rests only on the practices that publish a price for it, so the counts differ.
Practice price lists in England, captured March 2026. Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish practice fees are not tracked. How our data works →
Compare your route
Dental cost guides
Start with NHS access if you need essential care, or go to a treatment guide to check what a private quote includes.
How each route pays: England
| Route | What it covers | Wait | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHS dentistHigh-street practice with an NHS contract | Clinically necessary treatment, charged by bandOne charge per course; a mixed course pays the highest band once | Not trackedNo waiting time for an NHS dental appointment has been read | £27.90 / £76.60 / £332.10Band 1 / 2 / 3 per course of treatment, from 1 April 2026. Some people pay nothing |
|
| NHS hospital oral surgery107 trusts, 302,551 people waiting | Referral to a hospital oral surgery listTreatment function 140. NHS England publishes the wait per specialty, not per procedure | 16.5 weeksmedian so far on the oral surgery list, England, August 2026; 92nd percentile 43.4 weeks | Not trackedCharges on the hospital oral surgery route have not been read |
|
| NHS-funded oral surgery at an independent-sector provider7 providers, 13,101 people waiting. NHS-funded patients; not like-for-like with trusts | Referral to a hospital oral surgery listTreatment function 140. NHS England publishes the wait per specialty, not per procedure | 14.5 weeksmedian so far on the oral surgery list, England, August 2026; 92nd percentile 31.6 weeks | Not trackedCharges on the hospital oral surgery route have not been read |
|
NHS oral surgery waiting list, England
August 2026- Median wait so far
- 16.4 weeks
- 8 in 100 have waited more than
- 43.1 weeks
- Within 18 weeks
- 53.8%
- NHS-funded, at 7 independent-sector providers
- 14.5 weeks
- Self-pay wait
- Not tracked
315,652 people waiting across 107 NHS trusts and the independent sector; 7,537 have waited over 52 weeks. These are incomplete pathways: how long people still on the list have waited so far, from referral. NHS England publishes waits per specialty, not per procedure. Independent-sector figures are NHS-funded patients, not self-pay. This site has not read a self-pay wait from any provider. Source: NHS England RTT waiting times, August 2026, published 8th October 2026.
NHS dental charges in each UK nation
The four nations use different schemes, so a charge in one is not a price for the same treatment in another. Each figure links to the page it was read from.
NHS dental charges in England
England charges by band, once per course of treatment. Some people get free NHS dental treatment or help with the cost: who qualifies, on nhs.uk.
| Band | Charge |
|---|---|
| Band 1May include: Examination, assessment and advice; X-rays, fluoride and scaling where clinically neededNHS (nhs.uk): How much NHS dental treatment costs, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 April 2026 | £27.90per course of treatment |
| Band 2May include: Band 1 items plus fillings, root canal treatment, extractions and other oral surgeryNHS (nhs.uk): How much NHS dental treatment costs, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 April 2026 | £76.60per course of treatment |
| Band 3May include: Band 1 and 2 items plus crowns, inlays and onlays, dentures, bridges and orthodontic treatmentNHS (nhs.uk): How much NHS dental treatment costs, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 April 2026 | £332.10per course of treatment |
| Urgent dental treatmentMay include: An urgent or emergency appointment: assessment, X-rays, a temporary filling, draining an abscessNHS (nhs.uk): How much NHS dental treatment costs, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 April 2026 | £27.90per course of treatment |
- One charge per course of treatment: where a course mixes bands, the patient pays the highest band once.NHS (nhs.uk): How much NHS dental treatment costs, read 11 November 2026
NHS dental charges in Wales
Wales charges by care package, not by the England bands. A course of treatment is capped at £384.
Welsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026| Care package | Charge |
|---|---|
| Anterior root canal care package (laboratory charges extra)Welsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026 | £91.18per course of treatment |
| Crown, bridge, inlay, onlay and veneer care package (laboratory charges extra)Welsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026 | £140.44per course of treatment |
| Denture care package (laboratory charges extra)Welsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026 | £86.40per course of treatment |
| Extensive restorative care package (5 to 8 teeth)Welsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026 | £68.75per course of treatment |
| Miscellaneous care package (laboratory charges extra)Welsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026 | £25per course of treatment |
| New patient assessmentWelsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026 | £27.21per assessment |
| Periodontal care packageWelsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026 | £48.53per course of treatment |
| Posterior root canal care package (laboratory charges extra)Welsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026 | £182.72per course of treatment |
| Recall appointmentWelsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026 | £25per visit |
| Simple restorative care package (up to 4 teeth)Welsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026 | £36.03per course of treatment |
| Stabilisation care packageWelsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026 | £75per course of treatment |
| Urgent care packageWelsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026 | £37.50per course of treatment |
- Dental examinations are free in Wales for people aged under 25 or 60 and over.Welsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026
- NHS dental treatment is free in Wales for under-18s, 18-year-olds in full-time education, and people who are pregnant or had a baby in the previous 12 months, among other groups.Welsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026
NHS dental charges in Scotland
Scotland has no bands. The charge is a share of the fee for each item of treatment, added up for the course and capped at £384. The items below are NHS inform's examples of common treatments, not a full list and not a total.
- NHS dental treatment in Scotland is free for everyone aged under 26, and for people who are pregnant or gave birth in the last 12 months.NHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026
- NHS patients in Scotland who pay for treatment pay 80% of the fee for each item of treatment, capped per course of treatment. There are no charge bands; the cost depends on the treatment plan.NHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026
| Example item (patient charge) | Charge |
|---|---|
| Check-up (examination)NHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £0per item |
| Check-up and preventive advice (can include a scale and polish if needed)NHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £17.32per item |
| Complete upper and lower set of denturesNHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £379.60per item |
| Course of oral hygiene and deep gum cleaning (1 to 4 appointments)NHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £35.52 to £142.08per course |
| Large metal filling (back tooth)NHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £29.92per item |
| One large X-ray of teeth and jawsNHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £14.92per item |
| Additional fee for re-root canal treatmentNHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £48.60per item |
| Root canal treatmentNHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £104.68 to £169.20per item |
| Simple extractionNHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £31.80per tooth |
| Single crownNHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £164.52 to £204.76per item |
| Small metal filling (back tooth)NHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £14per item |
| Small white filling (front tooth)NHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £23.36per item |
| Surgical or complex extractionNHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £60.76 to £83.20per tooth |
| Two small X-raysNHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026; effective 1 November 2025 | £12.16per item |
NHS dental charges in Northern Ireland
Not tracked. Northern Ireland's NHS (HSC) dental charges have not been read by this site, so none is shown.
Can you get veneers on the NHS?
- The nhs.uk Band 3 list names crowns, inlays and onlays, dentures, bridges and orthodontic treatment. It does not list veneers.NHS (nhs.uk): How much NHS dental treatment costs, read 11 November 2026
- Wales lists a veneer within its "Crown, bridge, inlay, onlay and veneer care package (laboratory charges extra)" at £140.44 per course of treatment.Welsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions, read 11 November 2026
- NHS inform says procedures that are cosmetic or aesthetic in nature are usually only available privately, giving white fillings, tooth whitening and dental implants as examples.NHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, read 11 November 2026
Privately in England, the median published veneer fee is £614 per tooth across 1,622 practice price lists, captured March 2026.
Quick answer
UK private dental prices depend on the treatment, materials, lab work and follow-up. Comparing the total package cost (consultation, scans, treatment, materials, aftercare) is more useful than the headline starting price for a single tooth or appliance.
- Get a written treatment plan with itemised costs before paying.
- Check whether scans, consultations and follow-up visits are included.
- Verify GDC registration of the treating clinician on the public register.
Dental pages by city
Consultation
2,233 practices in England publish a price for this
| Region | Practices | Median | Range (P5–P95) |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2,233 | £65 | £23 – £180 |
| Central London | 366 | £78 | £27 – £204 |
| Greater London | 274 | £60 | £24 – £175 |
| South (excl. London) | 750 | £66 | £22 – £175 |
| Midlands | 393 | £65 | £22 – £150 |
| North | 450 | £60 | £21 – £177 |
Based on 2,233 practice price lists in England, captured March 2026. Each region's median rests on the practices counted beside it. The range is the 5th to 95th percentile of published fees. Actual cost depends on the treatment plan, materials and practice.
England medians at a glance
What to consider when comparing dental prices
A headline fee is one line of a treatment plan. Before paying, check:
GDC registration
All dentists practising in the UK must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC). Check your dentist on the GDC register.
Materials used
Prices vary significantly based on materials. For example, porcelain crowns and veneers cost more than composite alternatives. Implant brands and lab quality also affect price. Ask what materials and lab your dentist uses.
What is included
Headline prices may or may not include X-rays, consultation, temporary restorations, follow-up appointments, or the lab fee. Always ask for the total treatment cost before committing.
Payment plans
Some practices offer finance or monthly plans for larger treatments, and some run membership plans for routine check-ups and hygiene visits. Ask for the total repayable and what a plan includes before signing.
Guarantees and warranties
Ask whether crowns, veneers, implants and other restorative work carry a guarantee, how long it lasts, and what conditions apply.
NHS vs private
NHS dental charges differ by nation: bands in England, care packages in Wales and a share of each item's fee in Scotland. Each nation's charges, with their source, are set out on this page.
Add up England medians
Pick treatments to add their England practice medians together. This is arithmetic on published fees, not a quote: your treatment plan sets the actual cost.
Consultation
Median £65, 2,233 practices
Hygiene / Scale & Polish
Median £83, 2,011 practices
Filling (Composite)
Median £150, 1,128 practices
Extraction (Simple)
Median £160, 273 practices
Root Canal
Median £450, 1,519 practices
Crown
Median £720, 1,758 practices
Veneer (per tooth)
Median £614, 1,622 practices
Implant (single)
Median £2,500, 1,125 practices
Teeth Whitening
Median £380, 2,065 practices
Orthodontics / Invisalign
Median £2,900, 942 practices
Medians from practice price lists in England, captured March 2026.
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Sources & further reading
- CQC: Dental services registration — Registration and standards for dental practices in England
- GDC Standards for the Dental Team — Professional standards for the dental team in the UK
Healthcare data note
Sources, review and limits
Main sources
- CQC register for dental practices in England
- nhs.uk and NHSBSA (England dental charges)
- gov.wales (Wales dental charges)
- NHS inform (Scotland dental charges)
- NHS England RTT waiting times (oral surgery)
- Published practice price lists in England
Price captured: March 2026
Provider verification: Dental practices are seeded from the CQC register, which covers England. Stale or disputed entries go through the corrections route.
Methodology: Private fees are published practice prices in England. Each treatment’s median rests only on the practices publishing a price for THAT treatment — 2233 for a consultation, 273 for the treatment with the fewest, median 1519 across the 16 treatments. NHS charges are read from each nation’s official page with the date read. Prices vary by clinician, location, materials, lab supplier and case complexity.
Sources for NHS charges and waits
- NHS (nhs.uk): How much NHS dental treatment costs. Read 11 November 2026.
- NHS England Referral to Treatment (RTT) waiting times, incomplete pathways, provider extract, August 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- NHS Business Services Authority: KA-03997: What are the current costs of NHS treatment in England?. Read 11 November 2026. England NHS dental charges
- Welsh Government (gov.wales): NHS dental charges and exemptions. Read 11 November 2026. Wales NHS dental charges
- NHS inform (Scottish Government): Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland. Read 11 November 2026. Scotland NHS dental charges
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