NHS Dental Charges 2026 vs Private Dentist Prices

From 1 April 2026, NHS dental charges in England are £27.90 for Band 1 (check-up), £76.60 for Band 2 (fillings, root canals, extractions) and £332.10 for Band 3 (crowns, dentures, bridges), with urgent treatment at £27.90. Private practices set their own fees. At Toothi London in Edgware, a private check-up is £55 and a white filling starts from £145.

NHS dental charges in England are set nationally and published by the NHS Business Services Authority. The current charges apply from 1 April 2026. You pay one charge for each course of treatment, however many appointments it takes – and you only pay the highest band your treatment falls into.

These charges are for NHS dentistry in England only. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own systems with different charges. NHS dentistry is clinically necessary care: purely cosmetic treatment, such as whitening, is not normally available on the NHS.

Some people do not pay NHS dental charges at all. In England, you are usually entitled to free NHS dental treatment if, when treatment starts, you are:

• ✓  Under 18.
• ✓  Under 19 and in qualifying full-time education.
• ✓  Pregnant, or have had a baby in the last 12 months. You will usually need a valid maternity exemption certificate.
• ✓  Receiving certain benefits, or your partner is – for example some types of Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or some types of Pension Credit.
• ✓  Named on a valid HC2 certificate through the NHS Low Income Scheme. An HC3 certificate may give partial help.

The rules have conditions and change from time to time, so check the NHS website or ask your NHS dental practice before treatment. Claiming free treatment you are not entitled to can lead to a penalty charge.

Private dentists set their own fees, and private prices vary widely by practice and region. There is no national private price list, so the most useful thing a private practice can do is publish its fees clearly. Here is Toothi’s private price list for common treatments, alongside the NHS band each would usually fall under. Our full list is on our fees page.

The NHS charge is per course of treatment, whereas private fees are usually per item. So if you need two fillings and a crown, the NHS charge would be one Band 3 fee, while privately each item is priced separately. At Toothi you always receive a written treatment plan with costs before any treatment begins.

Both NHS and private dentists in the UK are registered with the General Dental Council and work to the same professional standards. The differences are mainly about how care is funded and organised, not about the quality of the people providing it.

• ✓  Funding. NHS care is partly paid for by the state, with patient charges set nationally. Private care is paid for in full by the patient, at fees the practice sets.
• ✓  Scope. NHS dentistry provides the care needed to keep your mouth healthy. Private care can also include cosmetic options and a wider choice of materials, such as white fillings on back teeth.
• ✓  Appointment time. Private practices are often able to plan longer appointments and a wider choice of times.
• ✓  Access. In some areas it can take time to find an NHS practice accepting new adult patients.

There is no single right answer. Many people use both at different times. NHS dentistry is good value and covers everything you need to keep your teeth healthy, and if you are entitled to free care it makes clear sense to use it.

Private care may suit you if you want more choice over appointment times, longer appointments, specific materials or cosmetic treatment, or if you are struggling to find an NHS practice taking new patients. If you are looking locally, our guide to finding an NHS dentist in Edgware may help, and our private dentist cost guide explains our fees in more detail.

Whichever you choose, see a dentist regularly. Problems found early are usually simpler to treat.

Book a dental appointment if you have toothache, a broken tooth or filling, bleeding gums, a lump or ulcer that has not healed within two weeks, or it has been a long time since your last check-up.

Most dental problems can wait for a normal appointment, but some need emergency medical help. Call 999 or go to A&E if you have:

• ✓  Swelling that is spreading across your face, jaw or neck.
• ✓  Swelling that affects your breathing, swallowing or eye – including an eye that is closing up.
• ✓  A high temperature alongside tooth pain or swelling, or you feel generally very unwell.
• ✓  A significant injury to the face, mouth or teeth such as after a fall, sports injury or accident.

If your dental practice is closed and the problem can’t wait, call NHS 111 for advice. For pain while you wait, take your usual painkiller, following the packet instructions; ask a pharmacist if unsure. If you are a Toothi patient or live locally, call 020 3148 2444 as early as you can and we’ll find you the soonest appointment. Our guide to dental emergencies when your clinic is closed explains your options.

Toothi London is a fully private practice at 1 Handel Parade, Whitchurch Lane, Edgware, close to Edgware station on the Northern line. We do not provide NHS treatment. We are open seven days, including Sundays, and new patients can book online. Visit our new patients page to see what to expect, or book a check-up for £55.

If you are in pain, an emergency appointment is £65. Call 020 3148 2444 as early as you can and we’ll find you the soonest appointment.