If you need dental work and have little money, start by checking if you can get NHS treatment free. Many people qualify and do not know it. After that, London has 2 dental hospitals where students treat adults free, under supervision. And if you are in pain now, urgent NHS treatment costs £27.90, or nothing if you qualify for free care.
This guide takes each option in turn: who it is for, what it costs and how to get it.
1. Check if you get free NHS treatment
In 2023/24, 48.6% of NHS courses of treatment in England went to people who paid nothing. That figure includes children. Your NHS dental treatment is free if, when it starts, you are:
- under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
- pregnant, or you have had a baby in the last 12 months
- getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- getting Universal Credit, and your earnings in your last assessment period were under the limit
- named on a valid HC2 certificate (see the Low Income Scheme below)
Check carefully before you tick the box at the practice. If you claim free treatment by mistake, you pay the charge plus a penalty of up to £100. Our guide to who gets free NHS dental care explains each group in detail.
2. Apply to the Low Income Scheme
If you do not get one of these benefits but your income is low, apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme. It looks at your income, savings and costs, not at which benefits you get. You apply on form HC1, online or on paper. It is free to apply.
You may get one of 2 certificates:
- HC2: your NHS dental treatment is free.
- HC3: the certificate says the most you pay for a course of treatment.
Students, people on low pay and pensioners just above the Pension Credit limit often qualify. Apply before you start treatment if you can. If you have already paid, you can claim the money back on form HC5(D) within 3 months of paying.
3. Ask about NHS care pathways if you need a lot of work
Since 23 June 2026, adults with decay in 5 or more teeth, or serious gum disease, can be treated on an NHS “care pathway”. A pathway is a planned package of treatment over 6 or 12 months. Most people pay one Band 2 charge of £76.60 for the whole pathway, instead of several separate charges. If you have been told you need a lot of work, ask your NHS dentist if a pathway applies. Our guide to NHS dental charges explains how the bands and pathways work.
4. Get free treatment from dental students
Dental students need patients to learn on. At 2 London dental hospitals, students treat adults free of charge. A qualified dentist checks their work at each stage.
Guy’s Hospital (London Bridge, SE1). This is King’s College London’s dental hospital. Its students treat adults aged 18 and over. Treatment can include fillings, simple gum treatment, root canal treatment, some crowns and bridges, and dentures. Clinics run in term time only. To ask for a place, contact the undergraduate appointment centre at Guy’s on 020 7188 8006. The Guy’s and St Thomas’ website has the current referral details.
The Royal London Dental Hospital (Whitechapel, E1). Queen Mary University of London students treat patients aged 16 and over. Treatment can include fillings, extractions, deep cleaning, dentures, crowns and root canal treatment. It does not include check-ups, cosmetic work, braces or implants. You refer yourself with an online form on the Barts Health website. The waiting list has closed in the past when too many people applied, so check the website for the current position.
Before you apply, know what you are agreeing to:
- It takes time. At the Royal London, each appointment lasts 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Students work slowly because every step is checked.
- You need to be free in the daytime, during term time, for several visits.
- You may wait months for a first appointment.
- Not everyone is accepted. The hospital checks if your treatment is suitable for a student.
- It is not for emergencies. Neither clinic treats urgent problems. If you are in pain, see section 6.
The Eastman Dental Hospital in Bloomsbury, run by University College London Hospitals, is also a teaching hospital. It mostly treats complex cases, and patients usually need a referral from a dentist. It is not a route to low-cost routine treatment.
5. Find an NHS dentist taking new patients
The NHS price is much lower than the private price, if you can get an appointment. A check-up costs £27.90 on the NHS. The London median private price is £55. A root canal costs £76.60 on the NHS, compared with a London median of £450 privately.
Finding a place is the hard part. In 2025/26, 36.9% of adults in London saw an NHS dentist in the previous 2 years. That is fewer than 4 in 10. Some steps that help:
- You can go to any NHS practice. There are no catchment areas, so look in nearby boroughs as well as your own. Our page on NHS dental access in London shows how each borough compares.
- We list London practices last reported as taking new NHS patients, by borough. Phone first, because this changes often.
- Ask to go on the waiting list, even at practices that are full.
Our guide to how to find an NHS dentist in London has more detail.
6. If you are in pain and cannot pay
Call NHS 111. They can book you an urgent NHS appointment. You do not need to be registered with a dentist. Urgent treatment costs £27.90 and covers what you need on the day, such as taking out a tooth or treating an infection. It is free if you qualify for free NHS dental care.
Since April 2026, every practice with a general NHS contract must keep part of its work for urgent NHS patients. So you can also phone NHS practices yourself and ask for an urgent NHS appointment, even if they are not taking new patients. Our emergency dentist page lists London practices that offer urgent care.
Do not go to your GP with a dental problem. The NHS says GPs cannot give dental treatment.
If you are homeless or in a hostel, the charity Dentaid runs mobile dental clinics at some hostels and day centres in London, with volunteer dentists. You do not book these directly. Ask the staff at your hostel or day centre if they work with Dentaid.
7. If you choose private treatment
Some treatment is not available on the NHS, such as whitening or implants for most people. If you go private:
- Ask for a written quote before treatment starts.
- Ask if the practice offers a payment plan. Many London practices let you spread the cost of larger treatment, sometimes with no interest. Check the total you will pay, the interest rate and what happens if you miss a payment before you sign.
- Compare prices. Private prices vary a lot between practices and boroughs. Our dental price list shows the London median and the cheapest and dearest borough for each treatment. Our dentist cost London guide explains the costs in more detail.
8. If nothing else works
Contact your local Healthwatch. Every London borough has one. Healthwatch is an independent organisation that helps people who are struggling to get NHS care. It can tell you about local services and pass your experience on to the NHS.
You can also complain to your local Integrated Care Board, the NHS body that pays for dental services in your area. Keep a record of each practice you have called, the date and what they said.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get dental treatment for free in London?
Yes, if you qualify for free NHS treatment or have an HC2 certificate from the Low Income Scheme. Dental students at Guy’s Hospital and the Royal London Dental Hospital also treat some adults free of charge.
What is the cheapest way to see a dentist when I am in pain?
Call NHS 111 for an urgent NHS appointment. It costs £27.90, or nothing if you qualify for free NHS dental care.
Do dental schools in London treat patients for free?
Yes. Students at Guy’s Hospital and the Royal London Dental Hospital treat some adults free, under supervision. Appointments are long, clinics run in term time only, and there can be a waiting list. They do not treat emergencies.
Can my GP help with a dental problem?
No. GPs cannot give dental treatment. Call a dentist or NHS 111. If you have swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, go to A&E or call 999.
NHS charges are correct for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Dental hospital services and waiting lists change often, so contact the hospital before you apply.