The average cost of private dental treatment in the UK

Name: UK Private Dental Treatment Costs: National and Regional Analysis 2022-2024
Creator: myTribe Insurance Experts
Published: 2025-06-25
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

If you're in pain or know you need dental work, you'll likely be aware that it's currently quite difficult to find an NHS dentist accepting new patients. Whether you need preventative treatment, pain relief, dentures or something else, going private may be the only realistic option for getting help any time soon.

Key findings from our private dental pricing research

Private dental costs have risen sharply between 2022-24 as summarised:

First appointments for new patients now typically cost £80, up from £65 in 2022 (a 23% increase). Most of this increase happened in the first year after the pandemic. Interestingly, London keeps these initial consultations relatively affordable compared to other treatments - possibly to attract new patients.
Regular check-ups have gone up from £48 to £55 over two years - that's about 14% more than you would have paid in 2022.
A 30-minute scale and polish will now set you back around £75, compared to £65 two years ago. These preventative treatments have increased steadily across all regions of the UK.
White fillings have seen one of the bigger price jumps, rising from £105 to £129 (up 23%). Again, most of this increase happened between 2022 and 2023.
Simple tooth extractions have had the steepest price rise of all common treatments - jumping from £105 to £139 (up 32%). That's an extra £34 compared to 2022.
Root canal treatment remains the most expensive procedure on this list at around £400, up from £350 in 2022. The good news is that prices for this treatment barely moved between 2023 and 2024.

Where you live makes a big difference

If you're in the South West or East of England, expect to pay top prices - sometimes even more than London. Meanwhile, patients in Scotland and Northern Ireland typically pay 20-30% less on average, with Wales also offering more modest costs.

The NHS dentistry crisis

Recent data from Office for National Statistics shows that 82% of new adult patients were unable to access NHS dental care in May 2025, rising as high as 97% in some parts of England. For those suffering, it's an awful situation, compounding the pain they're likely experiencing.

If you are not in one of the groups entitled to free NHS dental care, such as those in full-time education, under 18s, or on low-income benefits, these are the NHS charges you can expect to pay for your appointment and treatments.

Remember that just because you may be entitled to free NHS dental treatment doesn't mean you'll be able to get an appointment quickly. You'll face the same challenges as those who have to pay.

Understanding NHS dental charges

Emergency or urgent dental treatment - £27.40
This covers emergency care in a primary care NHS dental practice, such as temporary fillings, X-rays, draining a dental abscess, refixing inlays, crowns and bridges, or treatment for an infection.
Band 1 course of treatment - £27.40
This covers an examination, diagnosis (including X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if clinically needed, and preventative care such as the application of fluoride varnish if appropriate.
Band 2 course of treatment - £75.30
This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment, such as fillings, extensive management of gum disease, root canal work or removal of teeth, but not more complex items covered by Band 3.
Band 3 course of treatment - £326.70
This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures, bridges and other laboratory work.

Source: NHS website (June 2025)

The basis for our research

Given many people will have little choice but to go private, one of the first questions they'll have is, "What will it cost?". However, with so many practices across the UK, understanding the going rate for treatment can be tricky.

Therefore, our team of private healthcare researchers has collected prices from over 400 private clinics across the UK to help understand what you can typically expect to pay.

The average cost of private dentistry across the UK?

Our comprehensive research reveals that private dental costs have risen significantly since 2022, with some treatments jumping by almost a third. These findings, based on pricing data from over 400 dental practices across the UK, provide the clearest picture yet of what patients can expect to pay for private dental care.

The data shows that simple tooth extractions have seen the steepest increases, rising 32% in just two years. Meanwhile, even routine check-ups now cost 15% more than they did in 2022. For patients facing dental emergencies or those simply trying to maintain their oral health, these price rises represent a significant additional burden during an already challenging cost-of-living crisis.

Average cost of private dental treatments in the UKComparison between prices in 2022 and 2024 for six common treatments

Average cost of private dental treatments in the UK
Treatment name	Average Cost (2022)	Average Cost (2023)	Average Cost (2024)	% Change 2022-24
Initial consultation for new patient	£65	£75	£80	+23%
Routine check-up for existing patient	£48	£52	£55	+15%
30 minute scale and polish	£65	£70	£75	+15%
White filling	£105	£125	£129	+23%
Simple extraction (non-surgical)	£105	£125	£139	+32%
Anterior root canal	£350	£393	£400	+14%

Source: myTribe Private Dental Research 2022-24

Key findings

The average new patient consultation now costs £80, up from £65 in 2022
A simple extraction has jumped from £105 to £139 – an increase of £34
Root canal treatment, already the most expensive common procedure, now typically costs £400
Most price increases occurred between 2022 and 2023, with rises moderating in 2024

Which treatments have seen the biggest price rises?

The bar chart below shows how prices have changed in real terms between 2022 and 2024, highlighting the extra expense patients will incur for private dental treatment.

Bar chart comparing UK private dental treatment costs between August 2022 and October 2024, showing price increases for six common procedures: routine examination (£48 to £55), scale and polish (£65 to £75), new patient examination (£65 to £80), white filling (£105 to £129), non-surgical extraction (£105 to £139), and anterior root canal (£350 to £400)

How the cost of private dentistry varies around the UK

Where you live can make a huge difference to your dental bills. Our research reveals significant price variations across the UK - not just between regions, but even between neighbouring towns. Some areas charge up to 80% more than others for the same treatment. Here's what we found.

As our interactive map shows, there are some notable regional variations in the price of private dental treatment. Overall, Scottish cities consistently offer the lowest prices, while you can expect to pay the highest costs in the South East of England.

Key findings

The South West and East of England show consistently high prices across all types of dental treatments.
Scotland and Northern Ireland offer the lowest private dentistry prices, typically between 20-30% below the UK median.
Affluent regions outside London (South East, South West) frequently command higher prices than the capital.
The cost of complex procedures shows wider regional price differences compared with routine treatments.

How much does private dental care cost in your area?. Price check graphic with brain cartoon and question symbols

Find private dental costs in your area

Search by city to see typical prices for common treatments. Data from 483 dental practices across 54 UK cities, October 2024.

Find private dental costs in your area
City	Region	New patient examination	Existing patient examination	30-minute scale and polish	Non-surgical extraction	White filling	Anterior Root Canal
Aberdeen	Scotland	£50.00	£48.50	£75.00	£99.50	£90.00	£250.00
Bangor	Northern Ireland	£80.00	£60.00	£65.00	£95.00	£78.00	£272.50
Belfast	Northern Ireland	£80.00	£53.50	£75.00	£88.50	£92.00	£272.50
Birmingham	West Midlands	£85.00	£55.00	£74.00	£120.00	£125.00	£387.00
Bolton	North West	£60.25	£50.00	£72.00	£125.09	£132.50	£397.90
Bournemouth	South West	£80.00	£65.00	£86.00	£169.00	£150.00	£550.00
Bradford	Yorkshire and the Humber	£60.00	£55.00	£74.00	£120.00	£150.00	£396.50
Brighton	South East	£65.00	£55.00	£73.50	£157.50	£122.50	£450.50
Bristol	South West	£90.00	£53.75	£81.00	£165.00	£140.00	£522.50
Cambridge	East of England	£87.50	£69.50	£85.75	£159.00	£150.00	£660.00
Cardiff	Wales	£80.00	£52.50	£65.00	£100.00	£100.00	£350.00
Carlisle	North West	£108.00	£54.25	£78.50	£202.00	£147.50	£457.50
Chelmsford	East of England	£80.00	£58.00	£68.00	£141.00	£150.00	£400.00
Coventry	West Midlands	£72.50	£51.70	£70.00	£110.00	£115.00	£350.00
Derby	East Midlands	£78.50	£70.00	£72.85	£150.00	£142.50	£423.75
Derry	Northern Ireland	£72.50	£56.00	£69.75	£110.50	£103.00	£350.00
Dundee	Scotland	£47.50	£33.00	£45.00	£75.92	£87.60	£285.00
Durham	North East	£84.00	£53.40	£80.00	£162.00	£169.00	£406.00
Edinburgh	Scotland	£74.00	£60.00	£70.00	£114.00	£79.00	£287.00
Exeter	South West	£95.00	£61.00	£90.00	£171.00	£195.00	£482.50
Glasgow	Scotland	£57.50	£49.57	£69.00	£101.50	£100.00	£300.16
Hertford	East of England	£100.00	£25.00	£80.00	£150.00	£150.00	£495.00
Hertford	South East	£60.00	£43.00	£69.00	£140.00	£96.00	£350.00
Huddersfield	Yorkshire and the Humber	£76.75	£52.00	£65.00	£120.00	£125.50	£292.50
Ipswich	East of England	£80.00	£61.50	£75.50	£190.00	£145.00	£425.00
Leeds	Yorkshire and the Humber	£80.00	£55.00	£72.00	£150.00	£119.50	£419.50
Leicester	East Midlands	£52.00	£57.50	£63.50	£120.00	£120.00	£408.00
Lisburn	Northern Ireland	£70.00	£45.00	£74.50	£95.00	£103.75	£280.25
Liverpool	North West	£87.50	£60.00	£75.00	£130.00	£144.50	£374.50
London	London	£65.00	£52.50	£79.00	£150.00	£145.00	£499.00
Luton	East of England	£65.00	£65.00	£67.00	£80.00	£70.00	£450.00
Manchester	North West	£72.00	£55.00	£69.50	£130.00	£144.50	£397.00
Middlesborough	North East	£60.00	£53.50	£66.00	£125.00	£128.00	£325.00
Milton Keynes	South East	£80.00	£70.00	£92.00	£242.00	£183.00	£356.00
Newcastle	North East	£70.00	£45.00	£62.50	£140.00	£120.00	£337.50
Newport	Wales	£71.00	£49.50	£65.00	£135.00	£135.00	£408.50
Northampton	East Midlands	£80.00	£55.00	£75.00	£155.00	£150.00	£454.75
Norwich	East of England	£85.00	£64.00	£75.00	£185.00	£145.00	£462.50
Nottingham	East Midlands	£75.00	£60.00	£60.00	£118.50	£123.00	£394.50
Oxford	South East	£80.00	£58.00	£75.00	£152.50	£177.00	£462.50
Plymouth	South West	£82.50	£61.00	£92.00	£147.50	£127.50	£435.00
Poole	South West	£81.00	£55.00	£90.00	£150.00	£150.00	£465.00
Portsmouth	South East	£80.00	£50.00	£72.50	£150.00	£129.00	£400.00
Sheffield	Yorkshire and the Humber	£80.00	£69.00	£78.50	£185.00	£157.50	£500.00
Solihull	West Midlands	£71.00	£56.00	£75.00	£150.00	£149.50	£475.00
Southampton	South East	£89.50	£68.50	£95.00	£140.00	£100.00	£377.00
St Albans	East of England	£71.00	£50.00	£75.00	£150.00	£155.00	£525.00
Stoke-on-Trent	West Midlands	£85.00	£55.00	£85.00	£131.00	£110.00	£400.00
Sunderland	North East	£80.00	£50.00	£66.00	£115.00	£110.00	£315.00
Swansea	Wales	£72.50	£57.00	£72.13	£100.00	£90.00	£306.50
Watford	East of England	£80.00	£58.65	£67.00	£201.00	£198.90	£609.00
Wolverhampton	West Midlands	£65.00	£60.00	£67.80	£132.50	£180.00	£501.00
Wrexham	Wales	£70.00	£47.00	£62.50	£130.00	£106.25	£350.00

Source: myTribe Insurance Experts Private Dental Research

The most and least expensive places for private dental care

As well as regional variations in the cost of different private dental treatment, there are also some wide price variations between UK cities and towns, even when the geographical distance between them is small. For instance, Watford is the most expensive place for a composite white filling at £198, while Luton is the cheapest at £70, despite being just 17 miles apart.

The most expensive location in the UK for an initial dental consultation for a new patient is Carlisle (£108), while the least costly is Dundee at £47.50. There’s a smaller price gap for routine check-ups for existing patients, which cost £70 in Derby and Milton Keynes compared with £33 in Dundee.

A 30-minute scale and polish will cost you the most in Southampton, where you will typically pay £95, more than double the cost of the same cleaning procedure in Dundee (£45).

The biggest price differences between dental practices are often for less routine or more complex treatments, such as tooth extractions or root canals. The most expensive UK town or city for a simple tooth extraction is £242 in Milton Keynes, compared to the most competitive price of £75.93 in Dundee. However, the biggest price difference in dental treatment is for an anterior root canal, where prices range from £250 in Aberdeen to £660 in Cambridge.

Our research shows some unexpected pricing trends, not least where London is concerned. It’s often assumed that London will be the most expensive for private dental treatment, but several other places, including Cambridge and Watford, consistently charge more for complex treatments. In addition, the cost of initial consultations and routine check-ups in London is relatively affordable.

Key findings

Cambridge frequently ranks among the most expensive locations for all dental treatments.
Cities and towns in Southern England generally charge more, with Watford particularly expensive for complex dental procedures.
Scottish cities have the most competitive pricing, with Dundee and Aberdeen offering the most affordable private dental pricing in the UK.
Welsh cities charge lower-than-average prices across most treatments.

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Summary: The changing private dental pricing landscape

As you can see, there have been some important shifts in UK private dental costs in recent years. Many dental practices are adapting their pricing strategies. Routine check-ups have seen relatively modest increases, but fees for some advanced treatments have risen by over 30%.

While most regions have seen consistent increases in private dental costs for most treatments, there are some stark pricing differences, even between practices within the same town or city. It all means that you must compare prices carefully to find the best value private dental care.

To learn more about other types of private medical treatments in the UK, check out more of our expert research:

About myTribe

myTribe is a consumer information website specialising in private healthcare and insurance. The site gives anyone looking at private healthcare in the UK the information they need through independent research, guides, and expert reviews.

Disclaimer: This information is general and what is best for you will depend on your personal circumstances. Please speak with a financial adviser or do your own research before making a decision.

Founder and Insurance Expert

Chris Steele is myTribe’s trusted expert in private health insurance and healthcare, with over a decade of experience in the field. As the Founder and Editor of myTribe Insurance Experts, Chris is a Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) qualified professional with certifications in Insurance, Legal and Regulatory (IF1), Healthcare Insurance Products (IF7), and Insurance Broking Fundamentals (I10). Chris’s research and insights are regularly cited by national media, and he has contributed to leading consumer finance publications, simplifying complex topics to help consumers better understand private medical insurance. His expertise spans private health insurance, market analysis, and health insurance regulations, making him a respected voice in the UK insurance market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of going private for dental treatments?

The primary benefit of going private for your dentistry is that you'll get an appointment and be treated far sooner than via the NHS.

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How can you pay for private dental treatment?

You can either pay directly out of your pocket or opt for a payment plan where the treatment cost is spread throughout the year.

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How can I find a private dentist?

The best bet is to Google dentists close to where you live, look at their reviews and get in touch to arrange an appointment.

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Does health insurance pay for private dental costs?

Private health insurance will typically cover the cost of major dental surgery, where you would need a hospital bed overnight. Routine dental fees can be included in policies, but it's an additional option you'd need to choose when you take out your policy.

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Key findings from our private dental pricing research

The NHS dentistry crisis

Understanding NHS dental charges

Emergency or urgent dental treatment - £27.40

Band 1 course of treatment - £27.40

Band 2 course of treatment - £75.30

Band 3 course of treatment - £326.70

The basis for our research

The average cost of private dentistry across the UK?

Key findings

Which treatments have seen the biggest price rises?

How the cost of private dentistry varies around the UK

Key findings

Find private dental costs in your area

The most and least expensive places for private dental care

Key findings

Find out how much health insurance costs

Summary: The changing private dental pricing landscape

About myTribe

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of going private for dental treatments?

How can you pay for private dental treatment?

How can I find a private dentist?

Does health insurance pay for private dental costs?