Yes. In England, you do not need to be registered to see a dentist, on the NHS or privately. NHS dental registration ended in 2006. There are no catchment areas, so you can go to any NHS practice in England that has space for you.
What you need is a practice that will take you. For routine care on the NHS, that means a practice that is taking new NHS patients. For urgent care, NHS 111 will find you one. For private care, almost any private practice will book you in.
What “registering” at a dental practice means
Many practices still ask new patients to “register”. This usually means filling in a form with your details and medical history. It puts you on the practice’s own list of patients. It is not an NHS registration, and it does not follow you anywhere.
Being on a practice’s list does not guarantee you NHS care there in the future. A practice has to look after you during a course of treatment. After that, it can take you off its list if you stop going. We explain this in our guide to the 2-year rule for NHS dentists.
Routine NHS care: find a practice with space
You do not need a referral from your GP. You do not need to have seen a dentist before.
- Look for practices taking new NHS patients. Our NHS dentist directory lists London practices by borough and shows the date we last checked each one. The nhs.uk “Find a dentist” service shows the same kind of information. Practices must confirm on nhs.uk at least every 90 days whether they are taking new NHS patients.
- Call before you go. The listing can still be out of date. Ask: “Are you taking new adult NHS patients for routine check-ups?” Some practices only take children, or only take adults who pay nothing.
- Try more than one borough. NHS access is very different across London. In 2025/26, 45.6% of adults in Lewisham had seen an NHS dentist in the last 24 months. In Westminster it was 26.8%, about 1 in 4. Our NHS dental access by borough page has the figures for every borough.
If you have tried and cannot find a practice, contact your local integrated care board (ICB). The ICB is the NHS body that pays for dental services in your area. Our guide to finding an NHS dentist in London explains how to reach yours.
When a practice says it is “not taking new NHS patients”, it usually means its NHS contract is full. It may still offer you a private appointment.
Urgent care: call NHS 111
If you are in pain, have swelling, or have broken a tooth, call NHS 111 or use 111 online. You do not need a dentist of your own. NHS 111 will ask about your symptoms and book you into an urgent appointment if you need one.
Urgent NHS treatment costs £27.90. It deals with the immediate problem, for example by draining an abscess, putting in a temporary filling or taking out a tooth. If you then need a permanent filling or a crown, that is a separate course of treatment.
Since April 2026, every practice with an NHS contract must keep part of its NHS work for urgent patients. So a practice that is not taking new NHS patients may still see you urgently. Our emergency dentist page lists London options.
If you have severe swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, call 999 or go to A&E.
What you pay as a new patient
NHS charges are the same for new and existing patients. They are set nationally for 2026/27:
- Band 1, £27.90: a check-up, X-rays, and a scale and polish if you need one. Urgent treatment is also £27.90.
- Band 2, £76.60: everything in Band 1, plus fillings, root canal treatment or taking out teeth.
- Band 3, £332.10: everything in Bands 1 and 2, plus crowns, bridges or dentures.
You pay one charge for each course of treatment, at the highest band it reaches. Some people pay nothing, for example everyone under 18 and people on certain benefits. Our guide to NHS dental charges covers who pays what.
Private dentists
Private practices do not have NHS lists or NHS capacity limits. If you can pay, most private practices will book you in. We collect the lowest published price from 1,279 London practices. The median private check-up costs £55. The median emergency appointment costs £80. Treatment is extra, so ask for a written estimate before you agree to it.
If you have just moved to London
Nothing transfers from your old dentist. You simply find a new practice in London, in the same way as anyone else. Your old practice keeps your records. You have a legal right to a copy, and the practice must usually provide it within 1 month, free of charge. Your X-rays are the most useful part, because a new dentist may not need to take them again.
If you are visiting from abroad, the rules are different. See our guide to NHS dental treatment for visitors.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be registered with a dentist to get NHS treatment?
No. There is no NHS dental registration in England. You can get NHS treatment at any practice that has space for new NHS patients.
Can I see an NHS dentist outside my area?
Yes. There are no catchment areas for NHS dentists. You can go to a practice in any borough, or anywhere in England.
Can I get emergency dental treatment without a dentist?
Yes. Call NHS 111 or use 111 online. They will find you an urgent NHS appointment. It costs £27.90.
Do new patients pay more on the NHS?
No. NHS charges are the same for everyone who pays. A first check-up costs £27.90, the same as any other check-up.
Does a practice that is “not taking new patients” have to see me in an emergency?
Not if you just turn up. Call NHS 111 first. They can book you into a practice with urgent appointments, and since April 2026 all NHS practices must keep some time for urgent patients.