Private Dental Costs UK 2026: What You'll Pay Without the NHS
Private Dental Costs UK 2026: What You'll Pay Without the NHS
Quick answer
Private dental care in the UK in 2026 typically costs £50–£120 for a check-up, £90–£250 for a white filling, £700–£1,500 for a crown and £2,200–£4,500 for a single dental implant. It is almost always dearer than the equivalent NHS charge (Band 1 £27.90, Band 2 £76.60, Band 3 £332.10), but offers shorter waits, longer appointments and a free choice of materials and cosmetic options.
Key takeaways
- A private check-up costs £50–£120 vs £27.90 on the NHS (Band 1).
- A white filling is £90–£250 privately vs £76.60 on the NHS (Band 2).
- A porcelain crown is £700–£1,500 privately vs £332.10 on the NHS (Band 3).
- A single dental implant costs £2,200–£4,500 and is rarely available on the NHS.
- Cosmetic work — whitening, veneers, Invisalign — is private-only at any price.
Private dental care in the UK costs significantly more than NHS treatment — but gives you more choice of materials, longer appointments and faster access. This guide sets out real 2026 private dental prices across every common treatment so you know exactly what to expect.
- Check-up (examination): £50–£120
- X-rays: £15–£50
- Scale and polish (hygienist): £60–£150
- White (composite) filling: £90–£250
- Root canal treatment: £300–£1,000+
- Tooth extraction: £75–£250
- Dental crown: £700–£1,500
- Dental implant: £2,200–£4,500
- Invisalign: £2,500–£5,500
- Teeth whitening: £350–£1,000
Private dental prices by treatment (2026)
Routine appointments
| Treatment | Typical private cost | NHS cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dental examination | £50–£120 | £27.90 (Band 1) |
| X-rays (bitewings) | £15–£50 per set | Included in Band 1 |
| Scale and polish (basic) | £60–£100 | Included in Band 1 |
| Full hygienist appointment | £80–£150 | Not separately available |
| Fluoride treatment | £20–£50 | Included in Band 1 |
Restorative treatments
| Treatment | Typical private cost | NHS cost |
|---|---|---|
| Composite (white) filling — small | £90–£150 | £76.60 (Band 2) |
| Composite (white) filling — large | £130–£250 | £76.60 (Band 2) |
| Root canal — front tooth | £300–£600 | £76.60 (Band 2) |
| Root canal — molar | £600–£1,000+ | £76.60 (Band 2) |
| Inlay/onlay (composite or porcelain) | £400–£900 | £332.10 (Band 3) |
| Porcelain crown | £700–£1,500 | £332.10 (Band 3) |
| Dental bridge (per tooth unit) | £600–£1,200 | £332.10 (Band 3) |
| Dentures (full set) | £1,000–£3,000 | £332.10 (Band 3) |
Tooth removal
| Treatment | Typical private cost | NHS cost |
|---|---|---|
| Simple extraction | £75–£200 | £76.60 (Band 2) |
| Surgical extraction | £150–£350 | £76.60 (Band 2) |
| Wisdom tooth removal (simple) | £150–£350 | £76.60 (Band 2) |
| Wisdom tooth removal (surgical) | £250–£600 | £332.10 (Band 3) |
Dental implants and replacement teeth
| Treatment | Typical private cost | NHS availability |
|---|---|---|
| Single dental implant (full cost) | £2,200–£4,500 | Rarely — exceptional cases only |
| All-on-4 implants (per jaw) | £9,000–£20,000 | Not available |
| Implant-supported bridge | £3,500–£12,000 | Not available |
Cosmetic and orthodontic treatments
| Treatment | Typical private cost | NHS availability |
|---|---|---|
| Composite bonding (per tooth) | £80–£350 | No |
| Composite veneers (per tooth) | £150–£400 | No |
| Porcelain veneers (per tooth) | £500–£1,500 | No |
| Teeth whitening (take-home kit) | £200–£450 | No |
| Teeth whitening (in-chair) | £500–£1,000 | No |
| Invisalign (full treatment) | £2,500–£5,500 | No (children only on NHS) |
| Fixed metal braces (adult) | £2,000–£4,500 | Children IOTN 3.6+ only |
| Fixed ceramic braces (adult) | £2,500–£5,000 | No |
Private vs NHS: the key differences
Going private is not just about paying more. The differences include:
- Waiting times: Private practices typically offer appointments within days or a week. NHS waiting lists in many areas run to months or longer.
- Appointment length: Private dentists book longer slots — 45–60 minutes for complex work vs 15–20 minutes on the NHS.
- Material choice: On the NHS, the dentist makes clinical decisions on materials. Privately, you can request all-ceramic crowns, specific composite brands, premium implant systems.
- Cosmetic options: Whitening, veneers, Invisalign — these are private-only.
- Continuity: Private patients typically see the same dentist each visit.
Is private dental care worth it?
Private dental care makes financial sense when:
- You cannot register with an NHS dentist in your area
- You want cosmetic treatment the NHS does not provide
- You have a complex dental situation requiring more time and expertise
- You value same-week access and continuity with a specific dentist
For routine maintenance (check-up + hygienist), the NHS Band 1 charge of £27.90 represents exceptional value and is almost impossible to beat privately. But if you cannot access an NHS dentist — which is the case in many parts of England in 2026 — private care is the only realistic option.
How to reduce your private dental costs
- Dental plan membership: Monthly capitation plans (Denplan, Practice Plan) spread the cost of routine care.
- Dental insurance: Bupa, AXA and Simplyhealth cover 50–80% of treatment costs up to annual limits. See our dental insurance guide.
- Dental schools: UK dental schools treat patients at reduced or zero cost under supervision.
- Spread major treatment: On the NHS, all work in one course is one band charge. Privately, you pay per treatment — so it is worth asking if any work can be delayed to the next visit to manage cashflow.
- Finance plans: Most private practices offer 0% finance over 12 months for treatments over £1,000.
- Get multiple quotes: For implants, veneers and large restorative cases, quotes can vary by 50% or more between practices.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private dental check-up cost in the UK?
A private dental check-up (examination) costs £50–£120 at most UK practices. London practices charge towards the top of this range. The fee usually includes a clinical examination; X-rays and other diagnostic tests may be charged separately (£15–£50).
What is the average cost of private dental treatment in the UK?
There is no single average because treatment costs vary so widely. A routine private check-up costs around £65–£80. A basic filling costs around £90–£150. A crown costs around £700–£1,000. A full dental implant costs around £2,500–£3,500. The total private dental bill for a patient needing routine care runs to around £200–£400 per year.
Is there private dental care that is cheaper than the NHS?
Private dental care is almost always more expensive than NHS dental care for equivalent treatments. The NHS Band 1 charge (£27.90) covering an exam, X-rays and basic scaling is genuinely hard to beat privately. However, if you cannot access NHS care (which is increasingly common in England), private care is the only option.
Do I need a referral to see a private dentist?
No. You can book directly with any GDC-registered private dentist without a referral. For specialist private services (orthodontics, oral surgery, implantology), your general dentist will typically refer you, though you can also self-refer to most private specialists.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a private dental check-up cost in the UK?
A private dental check-up (examination) costs £50–£120 at most UK practices, with London at the top of the range. The fee usually covers the clinical examination; X-rays and other diagnostics may be charged separately at £15–£50.
Is private dental care ever cheaper than the NHS?
No — for equivalent treatments private care is almost always more expensive. The NHS Band 1 charge of £27.90 (exam, X-rays and basic scaling) is very hard to beat. Private care matters most when you cannot access an NHS dentist, which is common in much of England in 2026.
How much does a private crown or implant cost?
A private porcelain crown costs £700–£1,500 (vs £332.10 on the NHS, Band 3). A full single dental implant costs £2,200–£4,500 and is only funded by the NHS in exceptional clinical cases.
How can I reduce private dental costs?
Join a monthly capitation plan (Denplan, Practice Plan), use dental insurance that covers 50–80% of fees, consider a UK dental school, use 0% finance for treatment over £1,000, and get three quotes for big-ticket work — private fees are unregulated and vary by 50% or more.