Leaving a dentist is easy. You do not have to fill in a form, give notice or explain why. You book with a new practice and stop going to the old one.
Whether the whole switch is easy depends on one thing: are you an NHS patient or a private patient?
- Private patients can switch whenever they like. Most private practices in London will book a new patient in.
- NHS patients can switch too, but the new practice must have space for NHS patients. In much of London, that is hard to find. If you leave an NHS practice and cannot find another, you may end up paying private fees.
For NHS patients: your place is the thing you can lose
In England, you are not registered with an NHS dentist the way you are with a GP. Your old practice will take you off its own list once you stop going. If you later want to go back, it may have no NHS space for you.
So do not leave until you have somewhere to go. Find a new practice, check that it will see you on the NHS for routine check-ups, and go to the first appointment. Then stop going to the old one. Our step-by-step guide to changing your NHS dentist covers how to find a practice, what to ask, and what the first appointment costs.
If you are partway through a course of NHS treatment, finish it first. A new practice will start a new course, and you may pay the band charge twice. Work done in the last 12 months, such as a filling or a crown, is guaranteed only at the practice that did it.
For private patients: check your payment plan
Private patients usually have nothing to lose by switching, with 2 exceptions.
- A monthly plan. If you pay a monthly fee to the practice or to a plan provider such as Denplan, cancelling the direct debit may not be enough. Read the plan terms for the notice period, and tell the practice or provider in writing. Our guide to dental plans versus pay as you go explains how these plans work.
- Treatment you have paid for. If you paid in advance for a course of treatment, such as Invisalign or implants, ask what happens to the money if you leave before it is finished. Get the answer in writing.
Your records
Your old practice keeps your records. You have a legal right to a copy. Ask in writing. The practice must usually reply within 1 month and cannot normally charge you. Most new dentists do their own full examination anyway, so you do not have to get your records. Recent X-rays are the most useful part, because the new dentist may not need to take them again.
Your first appointment at the new practice
The first visit is an examination. The dentist records the state of each tooth and any past work, may take X-rays, and explains what treatment you need and what it costs. On the NHS it costs £27.90 (Band 1). Privately, the median new-patient check-up in London costs £55, based on the lowest price published by 1,295 practices.
Bring what you can remember: the name of your old practice, the date of your last visit, and any treatment that was planned but not done.
Be careful if a new dentist suggests a lot of treatment
Sometimes a new dentist finds problems the old one did not. That can be honest. Dentists differ, and problems develop. But if a new dentist suggests a lot of expensive treatment at the first visit, ask why each item is needed. Ask what happens if you wait. Ask for a written treatment plan with prices. If you are still unsure, you can get a second opinion from another dentist. Our guide to choosing the right dentist has more on what to look for.
If you are switching because something went wrong
You can complain and switch at the same time. Complain to the practice first. For NHS care, if you are not happy with the answer, you can then complain to your local integrated care board (ICB), the NHS body that pays for dental services in your area. Complaining does not stop another practice from taking you on.
If you are switching because you have moved, see what happens to your NHS dentist when you move borough. You may be able to keep your dentist.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to tell my dentist I am leaving?
No. You do not need to tell them or give a reason. If you have appointments booked, cancel them.
Can I go back to my old NHS dentist if I do not like the new one?
Only if your old practice has NHS space for you. Once it has taken you off its list, it does not have to take you back.
Is it easier to switch to a private dentist?
Yes. Private practices do not have NHS contract limits, so most will book a new patient in. You pay private fees, which are higher than NHS charges.