NHS dentists in London
Finding an NHS dentist in London is one of the most common - and most frustrating - searches Londoners make. Demand far outstrips supply, and availability changes week to week. Here's how registration and charges actually work, and where to look.
NHS availability data is now live. Our NHS-by-borough pages show each practice's last-reported "accepting new NHS patients" status, sourced from NHS England's Find a Dentist service, with the date it was reported. Acceptance genuinely changes week to week, so always confirm by phone before travelling. We last refreshed this data on 29 June 2026.
How to register with an NHS dentist
You don't need to register in your local area - you can join any NHS practice that has space. Call the practice directly and ask if they're taking new NHS patients. If they are, they'll book you in and register you at your first appointment. You don't need to prove your address or provide ID to access NHS dental care.
What if you can't find an NHS dentist?
If no practices near you are accepting new patients, you have three options. Contact your local Integrated Care Board (ICB), who are responsible for dental provision in your area. Call NHS 111, who can help find emergency and routine NHS dental access. Or check back here - availability changes regularly. For a borough-by-borough breakdown of where access is hardest, see our London dental deserts guide.
NHS dental charges 2026/27
NHS dental treatment in England is charged in three bands, set by the Department of Health and Social Care. These are the charges effective from 1 April 2026:
| Band | Charge | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | £27.90 | Examination, diagnosis (including X-rays), scale and polish if clinically needed, and preventative advice. |
| Band 2 | £76.60 | Everything in Band 1, plus fillings, root canal treatment and tooth extractions. |
| Band 3 | £332.10 | Everything in Bands 1 and 2, plus crowns, dentures, bridges and other lab work. |
| Urgent | £27.90 | Urgent assessment and any clinically necessary urgent treatment, such as pain relief or a temporary filling. |
Some patients are exempt from charges entirely, including under-18s, pregnant women and those on certain benefits. For the full band-by-band detail see our NHS dental charges 2026 guide, and for a comparison of NHS and private costs see our London dental cost guide.
2026 NHS dental updates
From 1 April 2026, NHS dental contract reforms changed how practices across London are funded and how many NHS slots they must provide. NHS dental charges for 2026/27 also increased - Band 1, 2 and 3 prices are all higher than last year.
Written and reviewed by the Dentist-London.com Editorial team. Last reviewed 11 June 2026. Charges are the published DHSC figures - confirm what band your treatment falls under with the practice.
NHS dentists by borough
See the NHS-listed practices in each borough and their latest "accepting new patients" status, sourced from NHS England's Find a Dentist service.
- Barking and Dagenham 16 NHS practices · 6 accepting adults
- Barnet 38 NHS practices · 13 accepting adults
- Bexley 22 NHS practices · 14 accepting adults
- Brent 33 NHS practices · 20 accepting adults
- Bromley 35 NHS practices · 10 accepting adults
- Camden 27 NHS practices · 20 accepting adults
- Croydon 32 NHS practices · 21 accepting adults
- Ealing 38 NHS practices · 22 accepting adults
- Enfield 27 NHS practices · 8 accepting adults
- Greenwich 26 NHS practices · 19 accepting adults
- Hackney 20 NHS practices · 7 accepting adults
- Hammersmith and Fulham 22 NHS practices · 17 accepting adults
- Haringey 35 NHS practices · 14 accepting adults
- Harrow 19 NHS practices · 12 accepting adults
- Havering 23 NHS practices · 10 accepting adults
- Hillingdon 27 NHS practices · 9 accepting adults
- Hounslow 29 NHS practices · 16 accepting adults
- Islington 13 NHS practices · 6 accepting adults
- Kensington and Chelsea 19 NHS practices · 15 accepting adults
- Kingston upon Thames 18 NHS practices · 7 accepting adults
- Lambeth 30 NHS practices · 21 accepting adults
- Lewisham 27 NHS practices · 20 accepting adults
- Merton 12 NHS practices · 5 accepting adults
- Newham 23 NHS practices · 7 accepting adults
- Redbridge 32 NHS practices · 10 accepting adults
- Richmond upon Thames 13 NHS practices · 7 accepting adults
- Southwark 21 NHS practices · 19 accepting adults
- Sutton 17 NHS practices · 2 accepting adults
- Tower Hamlets 22 NHS practices · 4 accepting adults
- Waltham Forest 18 NHS practices · 4 accepting adults
- Wandsworth 24 NHS practices · 14 accepting adults
- Westminster 31 NHS practices · 19 accepting adults
Browse dentists by area
All 2,130 practices by borough
- Barking and Dagenham 21 practices
- Barnet 121 practices
- Bexley 44 practices
- Brent 76 practices
- Bromley 76 practices
- Camden 94 practices
- City of London 35 practices
- Croydon 69 practices
- Ealing 84 practices
- Enfield 54 practices
- Greenwich 50 practices
- Hackney 36 practices
- Hammersmith and Fulham 66 practices
- Haringey 60 practices
- Harrow 73 practices
- Havering 46 practices
- Hillingdon 51 practices
- Hounslow 57 practices
- Islington 45 practices
- Kensington and Chelsea 72 practices
- Kingston upon Thames 53 practices
- Lambeth 55 practices
- Lewisham 44 practices
- Merton 44 practices
- Newham 38 practices
- Redbridge 59 practices
- Richmond upon Thames 68 practices
- Southwark 55 practices
- Sutton 56 practices
- Tower Hamlets 54 practices
- Waltham Forest 38 practices
- Wandsworth 80 practices
- Westminster 256 practices
NHS dentists in London: frequently asked questions
How do I register with an NHS dentist in London?
You don't need to register in your local area - you can join any NHS practice that has space. Call the practice directly and ask if they're taking new NHS patients. If they are, they'll book you in and register you at your first appointment. You don't need to prove your address or provide ID to access NHS dental care.
How much does an NHS dentist cost in 2026/27?
NHS dental treatment in England is charged in three bands: Band 1 (check-ups and diagnosis) is £27.90, Band 2 (fillings, extractions, root canals) is £76.60, and Band 3 (crowns, dentures, bridges) is £332.10. Urgent treatment is £27.90. These are the DHSC charges effective from 1 April 2026.
Who gets free NHS dental treatment?
You do not pay for NHS dental treatment if you are under 18 (or under 19 and in full-time education), pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, or receive certain benefits such as Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related ESA, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, or Universal Credit within the earnings limits. NHS Low Income Scheme certificates (HC2/HC3) also cover some or all charges.
What if I can't find an NHS dentist accepting new patients?
Contact your local Integrated Care Board (ICB), which is responsible for NHS dental provision in your area; call NHS 111, which can help find emergency and routine NHS dental access; or check back here - availability changes regularly.
Which London dentists are accepting new NHS patients right now?
Acceptance changes week to week, so always confirm by phone. Our NHS-by-borough pages now show each practice's last-reported 'accepting new NHS patients' status, sourced from NHS England's Find a Dentist service, with the date it was reported.