Neither type of practice is better in general. Corporate chains and independent practices must meet the same rules, and every dentist must be registered with the same regulator. The skill of the dentist who treats you matters much more than who owns the building. There are some practical differences, though, and they are worth knowing before you choose.
How many practices do the chains own?
Most UK dental practices are still independent. In its 2025 dental market review, the property adviser Christie & Co counted 12,223 dental practices in the UK:
- 7,955 were run by independent owners with 1 or 2 sites. That is about 2 in 3.
- 2,065 were run by small and mid-sized groups with 3 to 29 sites.
- 2,203 were run by corporates and large groups with more than 30 sites. That is about 1 in 6.
The 3 biggest groups in August 2025 were mydentist (511 practices), Bupa Dental Care (380) and PortmanDentex (376). All 3 have practices in London.
These figures are for the whole UK. We have not found a reliable count for London alone.
What a corporate chain may offer
Easier booking. Large groups often have online booking and longer opening hours. Some have several practices in one area, so you may be able to go to another branch if yours is full.
Shared systems. A large group usually has central teams for things like infection control, record-keeping and complaints. This can make standards more consistent from one branch to the next.
Investment in equipment. A group can spread the cost of equipment, such as digital X-rays and 3D scanners, across many sites. Many independent practices have the same equipment, so ask if it matters to you.
What an independent practice may offer
Seeing the same dentist. At a small practice, the owner is often one of the dentists. You are more likely to see the same person for years. They get to know your teeth, your history and how you feel about treatment.
Decisions made in the practice. The owner decides how the practice runs, such as how long appointments are and which treatments it offers. At a group, some of these decisions are made centrally.
A personal relationship. Staff at a small practice are more likely to know you by name. This can help a lot if you are nervous about the dentist.
None of this is true of every practice. Some corporate practices keep the same dentists for many years, and some independent practices have a lot of staff changes. Ask the practice, whoever owns it.
Is there a difference in quality?
We do not know of good evidence that one type of practice gives better clinical care than the other. Both are registered and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Every dentist in both must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC). Good and poor dentistry exist in both.
The differences you will notice are mostly about experience. How long are appointments? Does the dentist explain your options? How does the practice deal with a problem? You can only find this out by asking, reading recent reviews, and going for a first visit.
NHS care at chains and independents
Both corporate chains and independent practices offer NHS and private care. The mix varies from practice to practice.
Some large groups have closed practices or given up NHS contracts in recent years. For example, in 2023 Bupa Dental Care said it would close, sell or merge 85 practices across the UK. It said it could not recruit enough dentists to deliver NHS care. So do not assume a practice offers NHS care because of the brand name on the door.
On 5 October 2026, 342 of the 779 NHS practices we list in London said they were taking new adult NHS patients. That is 44%. Our NHS dentists in London page shows which practices say they are taking patients.
How to choose
Judge the practice, not the owner:
- Read the CQC inspection report for that practice, not the group as a whole.
- Read recent reviews (from the last 12 months) for that practice.
- Ask how long the dentists have worked there.
- Ask if you will see the same dentist at each visit.
- If you want NHS care, ask if the practice is taking new NHS patients.
Our guide on how to choose the right dentist has more questions to ask. When you are ready, browse practices on our borough pages.