NHS charges are fixed nationally; private prices are what London practices publish on their own websites.
- NHS Band 1£27.90
- NHS Band 2£76.60
- NHS Band 3£332.10
Each bar shows the middle half of the lowest prices London practices publish: a quarter of practices start below the bar and a quarter above it. All-on-4 full-arch implants (median £12,650) are beyond this scale. Always get a written quote.
An NHS check-up costs £27.90 in London, the same as everywhere else in England. A private check-up costs more: the typical London practice starts at £55. For bigger treatment the gap grows. An NHS root canal is part of a £76.60 charge, while a private one starts at a median £450.
The private prices on this page come from our own data. We read the published fee pages of 1,279 London practices and took each practice’s lowest price for each treatment. The figure we quote is the median: half of practices start below it and half above. The “typical range” is the middle half of practices. A quarter start below it and a quarter above.
These are “from” prices, the lowest price a practice advertises. Your bill may be higher, depending on the work you need.
NHS dental costs in London (2026/27)
NHS charges are set nationally. From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 they are:
- Band 1: £27.90. A check-up, X-rays, and a scale and polish if you need one. Urgent care costs the same.
- Band 2: £76.60. Everything in Band 1, plus fillings, extractions and root canal treatment.
- Band 3: £332.10. Everything in Bands 1 and 2, plus crowns, dentures and bridges.
You pay one charge for a whole course of treatment. Say your check-up shows you need 2 fillings. You pay £76.60 in total. You do not pay £27.90 for the check-up as well, and the second filling costs nothing extra. Our NHS dental charges guide explains each band, the 2-month rule and the 12-month guarantee.
Some people pay nothing. In 2023/24, 48.6% of NHS courses of treatment in England went to people who do not pay, and that figure includes children. Under-18s, under-19s in full-time education, pregnant women, people who had a baby in the last 12 months, and people on some benefits get free NHS dental care. Our guide to who gets free NHS dental care has the full list.
The harder part in London is finding a practice that will take you as an NHS patient. In our data from October 2026, 342 of 779 London NHS practices said they were taking new adult patients. That is 44%, a little under half.
Private dental prices in London
| Treatment | London median | Typical range | Practices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check-up | £55 | £40-£75 | 609 |
| Hygienist (scale and polish) | £75 | £65-£95 | 884 |
| White filling | £150 | £125-£195 | 510 |
| Simple extraction | £180 | £120-£250 | 156 |
| Surgical extraction | £300 | £250-£400 | 353 |
| Wisdom tooth removal | £350 | £265-£450 | 382 |
| Root canal treatment | £450 | £295-£650 | 686 |
| Crown | £695 | £500-£860 | 979 |
| Bridge | £750 | £595-£950 | 694 |
| Teeth whitening | £375 | £300-£440 | 943 |
| Composite bonding (per tooth) | £250 | £200-£320 | 584 |
| Porcelain veneer (per tooth) | £800 | £695-£945 | 373 |
| Fixed braces | £2,500 | £1,750-£3,205 | 240 |
| Invisalign | £2,500 | £1,890-£3,300 | 751 |
| Single dental implant | £2,100 | £1,700-£2,800 | 288 |
| All-on-4 implants (per arch) | £12,650 | £10,000-£14,495 | 102 |
Median of each London practice’s lowest published price, from our data read in early October 2026. Prices change, so always ask the practice for a written quote.
Some of these prices need a note:
- Root canal. A molar (a back tooth with 3 or 4 roots) usually costs more than a front tooth. Many practices publish only one “from” price, so expect a molar to cost more than the figure above.
- Implants. A “from” price for an implant does not always include the crown that sits on top. Ask whether the quote includes the implant, the abutment (the connecting part) and the crown. Our dental implants cost guide explains what is usually included.
- Bridges. A bridge replaces a missing tooth by fixing a false tooth to the teeth next to it. A “from” price may be for one unit. A bridge with 3 units will cost more.
For more detail on specific treatments, see our guides to teeth whitening prices, Invisalign costs and crown costs. The dental price list shows the cheapest and dearest borough for each treatment.
Why private prices differ across London
The borough makes a real difference. Our London Dental Cost Index compared all 32 boroughs where we have enough prices. Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and the City of London were the most expensive, at 26% to 29% above the London average. Newham was the cheapest, at 19% below. A private check-up started at £35 in Hillingdon and £90 in Westminster.
Other things affect the price too:
- Rent and running costs. Central London practices pay more for their premises.
- Who treats you. A specialist, such as an endodontist (a root canal specialist), usually charges more than a general dentist.
- Materials. An all-ceramic crown usually costs more than a metal one.
A higher price does not mean better care, and a lower price does not mean worse care. Check that the practice is registered with the CQC (the Care Quality Commission, which registers and inspects dental practices) and read its latest inspection report.
How to spend less on dental care
- Check if you get free NHS treatment. Many people who qualify do not claim it. See who gets free NHS dental care.
- Try a dental hospital. At Guy’s Hospital, King’s College London dental students give free routine care to adults, during term time. The Royal London Dental Hospital also offers free treatment by students for people aged 16 and over. Students work under supervision, and appointments take longer. Our guide to affordable dental care in London has the details.
- Compare practices and boroughs. For planned treatment such as implants or Invisalign, the difference between boroughs can be more than £1,000. It can make sense to travel to another borough for a big treatment.
- Ask about payment options. Many private practices offer finance for larger treatment. Ask whether it is interest-free and what happens if you miss a payment. Some practices also offer a monthly plan. See Denplan vs pay-as-you-go.
- Do not skip check-ups. A £27.90 NHS check-up or a £55 private one can find a problem early. A small filling costs far less than a root canal and crown later.
If you are worried that treatment will hurt, our article on the most painful dental procedures gives an honest answer. If a tooth has turned dark, see can a dentist fix a black tooth.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental check-up cost in London?
An NHS check-up costs £27.90 (Band 1). A private check-up costs a median £55 in London. Most practices charge between £40 and £75.
How much does a filling cost in London?
On the NHS, fillings are part of Band 2, which costs £76.60 in total, including the check-up. A private white filling costs a median £150 in London. Most practices start between £125 and £195.
How much do dental implants cost in London?
A single implant starts at a median £2,100 in London. Most practices start between £1,700 and £2,800. Ask whether the price includes the crown. All-on-4 implants, which replace a full arch of teeth, start at a median £12,650 per arch. See our dental implants cost guide.
Is private dental care worth it?
For treatment the NHS provides, the NHS is much cheaper. Private care can mean faster appointments, longer appointments and more choice of materials. It is also the only option for treatment the NHS does not usually provide, such as implants and whitening. In some boroughs, such as Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea, only about 1 in 4 adults saw an NHS dentist in the last 2 years. See NHS dental access by borough.
Private prices are practices’ published “from” prices, read in early October 2026. Your quote may be higher.