About 4 in 10 NHS dental practices in London say they are taking new adult patients. That sounds better than the headlines. But fewer adults see an NHS dentist in London than in England as a whole, and the gap between boroughs is large. This page sets out the data as of October 2026, the reasons access is tight, and what changed this year.
In short: some London practices are taking new NHS patients, but it depends a lot on the borough, and the status changes week to week. You can use any NHS practice, so look beyond your own area and phone before you go. If you are in pain, call NHS 111. Our step-by-step guide to finding an NHS dentist in London explains exactly what to do.
The picture in London in October 2026
We check every NHS practice we list against its page on nhs.uk each week. On 5 October 2026:
- 342 of 779 NHS practices said they were taking new adult patients. That is 44%, a little under half.
- 429 said they were taking new child patients. That is 55%, a little over half.
- The rest said no, or had not said either way.
The borough makes a big difference. In Lewisham, 20 of 27 NHS practices said yes to new adults. In Sutton, only 1 of 16 did. In Tower Hamlets it was 2 of 22. Some central boroughs did well: Westminster had 20 of 31 and Kensington and Chelsea 14 of 19. Each borough has its own page, for example NHS dentists in Westminster.
"Taking new patients" is not the same as being seen. The NHS Business Services Authority counts how many adults saw an NHS dentist in the last 2 years. In 2025/26 it was 36.9% of adults in London, compared with 40.4% across England. So about 1 in 3 London adults saw an NHS dentist. Westminster (26.8%) and Kensington and Chelsea (27.0%) are among the lowest, even though many practices there say they have space. Lewisham (45.6%) is the highest. Our NHS dental access in London page has every borough.
A national survey shows how hard it was for people without a dentist. In autumn 2024, the Office for National Statistics found that 96.9% of adults in England who had no dentist and tried to get NHS dental care did not get it. That survey is now 2 years old, and it covers England, not London alone. We do not know of a newer figure.
Why it is so hard to find an NHS dentist
The main problem is a shortage of dentists willing or able to do NHS work. In 2025, the Association of Dental Groups said there were about 2,700 unfilled dentist jobs in NHS dentistry.
Many dentists trained overseas want to work in the UK but must pass an exam first, and there have not been enough exam places. This was clear on 30 June 2026. When 600 places for the Overseas Registration Exam went on sale, the booking website failed. Applicants reported payment errors and could not get through. The General Dental Council says a new booking system will be in place for exams in 2027.
The NHS contract is the other problem. Each practice has a contract for a fixed amount of NHS work a year. When it is used up, the practice cannot take more NHS patients. Many dentists say the contract pays too little for the work involved, so they do more private treatment.
What has changed in 2026
Some changes have already started:
- Urgent care. 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 patients may still see you if you are in pain.
- Care pathways. Since 23 June 2026, adults (16 and over) with decay in 5 or more teeth, or with serious gum disease, can be treated on a care pathway. This is a planned course of treatment over 6 or 12 months. Most people pay one Band 2 charge of £76.60 for the whole pathway.
- New charges. NHS charges went up on 1 April 2026 (see the table below).
Our guide to the 2026 NHS dental contract changes explains these in more detail.
What the government has promised
On 10 March 2026, the government announced plans to increase the number of dentists. It said up to 2,400 more dentists trained overseas could join the UK register each year from 2028/29, because there will be many more exam places. It also said England will train 50 more dentists a year from 2027. Areas that do not have a dental school now will get these places first. This is the first lasting increase in dental training places since 2007.
No one in the 21st century should be left in a situation where they cannot access a dentist.
Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, 10 March 2026
These plans add dentists from 2027 onwards. They will not help much this year.
The bigger promise is a new NHS dental contract, which the government has said it will deliver by the end of this Parliament. There is no date yet. On 22 June 2026, a group of dentists met MPs at Westminster to argue for a new contract. They told MPs the British Dental Association estimates that £1.5 billion is needed to bring NHS dentistry "back from the brink". One of them, associate dentist James Smith, wrote afterwards:
I am optimistic about the future of NHS dentistry and I truly believe that it can be rescued and that with action and campaigning, this goal can be achieved.
James Smith, associate dentist, writing in Dentistry.co.uk
What NHS treatment costs in 2026
NHS charges are the same at every NHS practice in England, so a check-up costs the same in Chelsea as in Croydon. These charges apply from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
| Band | Cost (England, from April 2026) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | £27.90 | Examination, X-rays, advice, a scale and polish if you need one, fluoride varnish. Urgent treatment costs the same. |
| Band 2 | £76.60 | Everything in Band 1, plus fillings, extractions, root canal treatment and gum treatment |
| Band 3 | £332.10 | Everything in Bands 1 and 2, plus crowns, dentures, bridges and other work made in a laboratory |
You pay once for a whole course of treatment, at the highest band it includes. If you need 2 fillings, you pay £76.60 in total, not £76.60 for each. Our NHS dental charges guide explains the bands, the free groups and the refund rules. To compare with private prices, see our NHS vs private comparison.
How to find an NHS dentist in London now
Our step-by-step guide covers this in detail. The short version:
- Make a shortlist from our NHS dentists in London page or the "Find a dentist" tool on nhs.uk.
- Look in other boroughs too. There are no catchment areas, so a practice near your work is fine.
- Check your local Healthwatch website. Some Healthwatch groups publish lists of local practices taking NHS patients.
- Phone the practices. Ask whether they take new adult NHS patients, and when the first appointment is. If they say no, ask to join the waiting list.
- If you are in pain, call NHS 111.
Frequently asked questions
Are any dentists in London accepting new NHS patients in 2026?
Yes. On 5 October 2026, 342 of the 779 NHS practices we list in London said on nhs.uk that they were taking new adult patients. The share is very different between boroughs. Always phone to confirm, because practices do not always keep their nhs.uk page up to date.
How much does NHS dental treatment cost in 2026?
In England from 1 April 2026, Band 1 costs £27.90, Band 2 costs £76.60 and Band 3 costs £332.10. You pay one charge for a whole course of treatment, at the highest band it includes.
What if I am in dental pain and cannot get an NHS appointment?
Call NHS 111. They will tell you where to get urgent NHS dental care. You do not need a regular dentist. Go to A&E only if swelling affects your breathing or swallowing, bleeding will not stop, or you have a serious injury to your face.
Who qualifies for free NHS dental care?
Under-18s, under-19s in full-time education, pregnant women, women who had a baby in the last 12 months, and people on certain benefits. People on a low income can also apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme.
Do I have to register with a dentist near my home?
No. NHS dentists have no catchment areas, and you do not register with them as you do with a GP. You can go to any practice that has space, near home, near work or in another borough.