What’s the difference between an NHS and private dentist?

The main differences between NHS and private dentists are the services they offer and how much they cost. Most dental practices offer private and NHS appointments.

NHS and private dentists both provide treatment to make sure your teeth, gums and mouth are healthy. However, cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and veneers are generally only offered privately.

The NHS typically offers clinically necessary dental treatments to make you dentally fit such as:

• Routine check ups
• Emergency appointments
• Dental x-rays
• Fillings, crowns, bridges and dentures
• Root canal treatments
• Tooth removal

They may also offer children braces in some cases. For example, if it is difficult for the child to eat and function with their teeth in their current position. These tend to be provided by an orthodontist.

Orthodontics is provided free to under 18s on the NHS in specific cases. In most cases, children are put on a waiting list, or you can request a private appointment.

What services do private dentists typically offer?

In addition to the services offered by your NHS dentist, private dentists may also offer treatments such as:

• Dental implants which provide a natural looking replacement for false teeth
• Cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and porcelain veneers
• Tooth realignment that is needed purely to improve appearance
• Polishing the teeth to remove staining

What are the typical costs for seeing a private dentist?

Private dental fees are higher than NHS charges to allow the dentist to take more time over the dental treatment provided and use more expensive materials.

Individual dentists decide their own charges based on the time the treatment takes, the materials and resources needed and their level of experience. This means prices can vary from dentist to dentist, even within the same dental practice.

Some of the typical costs of private dental treatments are as follows:

Routine check-up : £50 to £120

X-rays : £40 to £80

Tooth extraction : £100 to £400

Single tooth implant : £1,800 to £5,500

Root canal : £400 to £600 for front teeth and £700 to £1,200 for back teeth

Hygienist : £75 to £165

Composite white filling : £140 to £300

Note: It’s a good idea to ask your dentist for itemised costs for your treatment plan before agreeing to having any dental work. There may be additional costs for preparatory work and x-rays for example that may not have been mentioned initially.

How do private costs compare to NHS dental fees?

Under NHS regulations, the charge is fixed regardless of the number of teeth which require treating.

In England, NHS dental treatment costs are typically grouped in three levels or bands. The typical costs of each band and the sorts of treatments that fall under each one are as follows:

Band One: £27.90

• A routine examination
• X-rays
• Gum disease management, including a thorough clean called scaling if the gum problems are not complicated
• Minimal adjustments to false teeth (dentures) and braces
• Moulds to check your bite for example

Band Two: £76.60

• Scaling for more complex gum problems
• Extensive adjustments to false teeth (dentures)
• A simple appliance (that isn’t made in a lab) to correct your bite for example
• Root canal treatments
• Teeth removal
• Fillings but not white ones on the side or back teeth

Band Three: £332.10

• A cap called a crown for your real teeth
• Using inlays or onlays to restore damaged teeth
• False teeth (dentures) made from plastic or metal

If you have a mix of treatments from the same band you only pay the cost of that band once. If you mix treatments from various bands, you pay the cost of the highest band.

You may also choose to have some treatments on the NHS and the rest done privately. Ask your dentist to explain your options.

Urgent treatment such as removing teeth or treating an infection costs £27.90.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, you pay a specific fee per item. In Scotland patients who are not eligible for free treatment will pay 80% of their treatment cost. This is capped at £384 per course of treatment.

While in Wales you pay 50% of your treatment costs but no more than £384 per course of treatment.

You can find further details about dental treatment costs in each region of the UK at the following links:

Who can get free dental treatment?

Some people are eligible for free dental care with a private or an NHS dentist, if it’s essential. These typically include:

• Under 18s or under 19s still in full-time education
• People receiving certain benefits or support with NHS treatment cost
• Pregnant women or those who have given birth in the last 12 months

You can find further details about exemptions in each region of the UK at the following links:

Is there a waiting list for private dentists?

There may be a waiting list for your private dentist but getting an appointment is often quicker than on the NHS.

How do I book a private health appointment?

To begin with you need to find a dentist in your local area using the relevant link for your area. Then you’ll need to contact them and register before you can book an appointment. Most dentists see both NHS and private patients.

Are there different ways to pay for a private dentist?

Yes, you can fund the treatment yourself or use your dental medical insurance.

Will my private medical insurance pay for my dentist?

You can use private medical insurance to pay for part or all of your dental treatment. You may need to contribute towards the cost of more expensive treatments.

There may also be a limit to the number of appointments your insurer will pay for.

This will vary depending on your insurer and the cover you have. Your insurer can talk you through their process for making a claim.

PHIN and dentistry

Please note, this article is for information only. Our website helps patients to choose private hospitals and consultants and doesn’t list dentists and their practices.

However, our website does contain information on Oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Oral and maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) is a specialised medical and dental discipline focusing on the surgical diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects in the head, neck, face, and jaws. It acts as a bridge between medicine and dentistry.

Medical review

Reviewed by Karen Coates RDN, Cert OHE, Oral Health Foundation , an independent charity (not-for-profit) dedicated to improving oral health and wellbeing around the world.

References

• https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/
• https://www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/difference-nhs-private-denistry
• https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-much-nhs-dental-treatment-costs/
• https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/nhs-services/dental/receiving-nhs-dental-treatment-in-scotland/#dental-treatment-costs
• https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/seeing-dentist#toc-2
• https://www.gov.wales/nhs-dental-charges-and-exemptions