Guidance

Choosing and paying for dental care

Making informed decisions when seeking dental care.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
5 March 2026

This guide explains how you can get the information you need to make informed decisions about your dental care, and what you will pay.

The CMA is asking consumers and dental professionals for views on the dentistry market. Share your views by 5pm, 19 March 2026.

Dental care and treatment is something we all require at some point, and it forms an essential part of keeping us healthy. You might be unsure how to make decisions about the dentist and treatment that is best for you.

This guide helps you understand how to get the right treatment for you and the prices you may need to pay for dental care and treatment in the UK. Having accurate information, and knowing what types of questions to ask, can help you:

  • choose your dentist
  • understand if your treatment is available on the NHS, or if you will need to pay privately - and the costs involved
  • decide on your treatment, and know what to expect

All dental professionals registered to practice in the UK must keep to certain standards required by the General Dental Council (GDC), who regulate dental professionals in the UK and maintain standards for the benefits of patients. The health care inspectorates in each nation of the UK (including the Care Quality Commission in England, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority in Northern Ireland) also play a role, making sure that dental practices and premises are complying with applicable regulation - such as that about price information.

You can find out more about the GDC’s standards for the dental team on their website. The GDC also provides helpful information on what you can expect from your dental professional and on dental costs.

In this guide, we refer to ‘dentists’ or ‘dental professionals’ for ease, but the GDC’s standards for the dental team cover all members of the dental team, which also includes:

  • dental nurses

  • dental technicians

  • dental therapists

  • dental hygienists

  • orthodontic therapists

  • clinical dental technicians

Your care and treatment may be provided by one of these suitably qualified dental professionals, rather than a dentist.

Throughout this guide, we refer to the National Health Service (NHS). This includes the equivalent national health service in Northern Ireland: Health and Social Care (HSC).

Choosing a dentist

Consumers in the UK typically have 2 options for dental care: treatment through the NHS or private treatment.

Look for dentists that offer NHS appointments

Most adults must pay something for their dental treatment, but if treatment is provided on the NHS, it will likely be cheaper than paying privately.

These resources can help you find NHS dentists near where you live:

If you want to find a dentist that provides private treatment, you can search online for dentists which may be suitable for your requirements. You can also search the GDC’s register to confirm whether a dental professional is registered to practice in the UK.

Whichever option you choose, you can help ensure you get the best service for your needs by shopping around, checking prices and comparing reviews. You can:

Check the price

Charges for private dental treatment and prices will vary from practice to practice. Dentists should give clear information on their prices on their websites, in leaflets you pick up from their practice and in their reception area. So, if you have a choice of where to go for your dental treatment, look around and compare prices.

Consider if the facilities and opening hours are right for you

Not all dentists offer specific treatments, or weekend or evening appointments. You might want to consider if there are any waiting times to be seen, if the standard opening hours are convenient for you, and what the practice offers for out-of-hours emergency care before making your decision.

Check reviews online, or ask friends and family

If you haven’t used the dentist before, a bit of research may help you to make a better choice. Local forums online and social media can be useful for community recommendations.

Understanding what you will pay

Check if the treatment is available on the NHS

Treatments needed to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy should be available on the NHS. If you want cosmetic treatment, like tooth whitening or other dental treatments such as dental implants, which are not normally covered by the NHS, you will probably need to pay privately.

Find out which treatments are available on the NHS:

If you are paying privately, check how much you will be charged

Look around for pricing information online and in the reception or waiting area of the dental practice. Dental professionals should give price lists which include basic things like:

  • the cost of a consultation
  • a filling
  • an extraction
  • a radiograph
  • a hygienist treatment

For things which may vary in cost, you may find prices are given as a range. You should feel free to ask your dentist for information about the price you are likely to pay when prices are not listed or are given as a range.

Check you have a copy of your written treatment plan before any treatment starts

You should be provided with details of the proposed treatment, the costs and whether the treatment is NHS or private. Your dentist should also tell you if the treatment plan and/or estimated costs change, and give you an updated plan in writing. This is required by the GDC’s standards for the dental team.

Getting your treatment

Ask your dentist to explain the options available to you

Your dentist should explain the different options, including the risks, benefits, likely outcomes and costs.

Ask questions if you’re unsure of anything before you decide

Don’t be afraid to ask questions – your dentist must consider your preferences and concerns, and it’s important that you understand the different options and the costs.

Take time to ask questions and decide what you want to do. Dental professionals are required to give you the time you need to consider information. You don’t have to make important decisions on the spot.

For example, you could ask:

  • how will my treatment be provided?
  • are there any other treatment options?
  • what will my treatment cost?

Ask what you can get on the NHS or privately

All dental professionals are required by the GDC to make clear which treatments can be provided under the NHS and which treatments can only be provided on a private basis.

If your dentist provides both NHS and private treatment, you can ask what you can get on the NHS and what you can only get privately, the likely cost, and when each treatment option could start.

You shouldn’t feel under pressure to have treatment privately instead of under the NHS, though you may want to consider which treatment is right for you if different timescales are involved (for example, if you will be added to a waiting list).

If your NHS dentist says you need a particular type of treatment (you might hear them call this ‘clinically necessary’), private options or alternative treatments can be discussed, but remember that it is your choice whether you take them. Dental professionals offering both NHS and private treatment must not mislead patients about the treatments available and must take your preference into account. 

Dental professionals are required to get your consent before starting any treatment. This will usually be through discussions with your dentist, which they make a record of (and may ask you to sign).

Travelling abroad

If you are travelling abroad for dental care or treatment, read the GDC’s guide on going abroad for dental treatment for advice to get the information you need and prepare.

If things go wrong

All NHS and private dental practices must have a formal complaints procedure. If you want to make a complaint about dental services you have received in the UK, the GDC’s guide on how to make a complaint or get a refund has information on what to do.

Updates to this page

Published 5 March 2026

Sign up for emails or print this page

Contents