How to find an NHS dentist
There's no catchment area for NHS dentists, so you can contact any practice. Here's how to find one taking NHS patients, what it costs in England and what to do if you can't get in.
- Time
- 30 minutes of phone calls
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cost
- Low cost
- Steps
- 7
- Checked
What you’ll need
- Your postcode
- A list of nearby practices from the NHS website
- Proof of any exemption from charges (if you have one)
Safety first
- Charges in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland differ; check your country's NHS website.
- Check the practice is quoting NHS band charges, not private prices, before treatment.
Step by step
-
Step 1: Search on the NHS website
Use the NHS Find a dentist service. It lists practices near you and, where they've updated it, whether they're accepting new NHS patients.
Next: step 2 -
Step 2: Phone or email practices
Contact practices directly and ask clearly for an NHS appointment: many practices do both NHS and private work. You don't have to live nearby, and there's no formal catchment area.
Next: step 3 -
Step 3: Join a waiting list if offered
Some practices will put you on a waiting list. Being seen once doesn't guarantee you'll be kept on for future NHS care, so ask about the practice's policy.
Next: step 4 -
Step 4: Know the charges (England)
NHS dental charges in England are fixed bands: Band 1 £27.90 (check-up, X-rays, scale and polish if needed), Band 2 £76.60 (adds fillings, root canal, extractions), Band 3 £332.10 (adds crowns, dentures, bridges). Urgent treatment is £27.90. You pay only one band per course of treatment, at the highest band you need.
Next: step 5 -
Step 5: Check if you get free treatment
Some people don't pay, for example under-18s, under-19s in full-time education, people who are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, and people (or their partners) on certain benefits such as income-related ESA, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or Universal Credit below an income threshold. Check the NHS website before your appointment.
Next: step 6 -
Step 6: If you still can't find one
Contact your local integrated care board (ICB), which manages dental services in your area and can tell you where to find NHS appointments.
Next: step 7 -
Step 7: For urgent dental problems
If you have severe pain, swelling or bleeding and can't get a dentist, use NHS 111 online or call 111. For heavy bleeding that won't stop, facial swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, or serious injury, call 999 or go to A&E.
Tips
- Ask the practice how often you need a check-up: it depends on your teeth and isn't always every 6 months.
- Keep calling: practices open new NHS slots at different times.
Questions people ask
Do I need to register with a dentist?
Not formally. You contact a practice for a course of treatment.
Is there a catchment area?
No, you can go to any practice that will see you on the NHS.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026. We wrote this guide in our own words, using:
- NHS: How to find an NHS dentist (nhs.uk)
- NHS: Understanding NHS dental charges (nhs.uk)
- NHS: Get help with dental costs (nhs.uk)
- NHS: When to use NHS 111 (nhs.uk)
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