Nothing happens to your NHS dentist when you move borough. NHS dentists in England have no catchment areas and no borough rules. You can keep going to the same practice after you move, for as long as the practice keeps seeing you.
This is different from a GP. A GP practice has a catchment area and may ask you to register somewhere else when you move. A dental practice will not. In England, you are not registered with an NHS dentist in the GP sense at all.
If you want to keep your dentist
Tell the practice your new address and phone number. That is the only thing you need to do. If you do not, your check-up reminders may go to your old address. If you then miss check-ups for a long time, the practice may take you off its list. We explain this in our guide to the 2-year rule for NHS dentists.
Keeping your dentist is often the best choice in London. Your current practice already sees you on the NHS. A practice near your new home may not be taking new NHS patients.
The main problem is distance when you need help quickly. If you are in pain and your own practice is too far away, call NHS 111. They will find an urgent NHS appointment near you. You do not need to change dentist to use it, and you can go back to your own practice afterwards.
If you want a dentist nearer your new home
Find the new practice first, then stop going to the old one. Do not leave your current dentist until a new practice has agreed to see you on the NHS.
- Start before you move. Use our NHS dentist directory to look at practices in your new borough. It shows whether each practice says it is taking new NHS patients, and the date we last checked.
- Call to confirm. Ask: “Are you taking new adult NHS patients for routine check-ups?”
- Look further than your nearest practice. You can use any NHS practice. A practice 2 or 3 stops away may have space when the ones on your street do not.
- Finish any treatment first. If you are partway through a course of treatment, finish it at your current practice. A new practice will start a new course, and you may pay again.
Our guide to changing your NHS dentist has the full steps, including what the first appointment costs.
Your records do not move with you
Your old practice keeps your dental records. Nothing is sent to a new practice automatically. You have a legal right to a copy. Ask the practice in writing. It must usually reply within 1 month and cannot normally charge you. Recent X-rays are the most useful part to pass on.
Some boroughs are harder than others
How easy it is to find an NHS dentist depends a lot on where you move to. The best measure we have is the share of adults who saw an NHS dentist in the last 24 months (NHSBSA, 2025/26).
- Across London, it was 36.9%. Across England, it was 40.4%.
- Lewisham was the highest borough at 45.6%, followed by Havering at 42.8% and Bexley at 41.6%.
- Westminster was the lowest borough at 26.8%, about 1 in 4 adults. Kensington and Chelsea was 27.0% and Tower Hamlets was 29.1%.
So if you move from Islington (32.4%) to Lewisham, you may find it easier to get a new NHS dentist. If you move into Westminster, you may find it harder. These figures show how many people were seen, not how many places are free today, so always call. Our NHS dental access by borough page has the figures for every borough.
If you cannot find a practice with space, contact the integrated care board (ICB) for your new area. The ICB is the NHS body that pays for dental services there. London has 5 ICBs, and your move may take you into a different one. Our guide to finding an NHS dentist in London explains how to contact them.
While you are looking
If you need a check-up before you find a new NHS practice, the simplest option is to go back to your old one. If that is not possible, you could pay for a private check-up. The median private check-up in London costs £55, based on the lowest price published by 1,295 practices. An NHS check-up costs £27.90.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to change my NHS dentist if I move house?
No. There are no catchment areas for NHS dentists. You can keep your dentist after you move, as long as you keep going.
Will my dental records transfer when I move?
No. Your old practice keeps them. You can ask for a copy, and the practice must usually provide it within 1 month, free of charge.
Can I use an NHS dentist in a different borough from where I live?
Yes. You can use any NHS practice in England that has space for you, in any borough.