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Just one in three dental practices in England report accepting new NHS adult patients

NHS England data reveals that only 33% of dental practices in England are accepting new adult NHS patients, while 55 constituencies have no dentists accepting new NHS adult patients.
Just one in three dental practices in England report accepting new NHS adult patients
Updated:

Data released by NHS England shows that in October 2024 just 33% of dental practices in England were accepting new adult NHS patients.

Across England, 1,758 dental practices reported accepting new adult NHS patients between July and October. This data refers to dentists which do not require a referral.

46% of dental practices reported accepting new child NHS patients, and 14% had not provided the NHS with data within the last 90 days.

Nationally, there are also more than 1,500 practices which exclusively treat private patients.

In 2022, a BBC investigation found that only 1 in 10 dental practices across the UK were accepting new adult patients for NHS treatment.

The cost of dental treatment varies widely between NHS and private treatment, even at the same practice, with the same dentists and the same equipment.

Standard dental consultations and simple x-rays under NHS tariffs cost patients £26.80, while privately this can be upwards of £50.

More complex “band 2” treatments under NHS tariffs, such as fillings and root canal treatment, cost £73.50. Yet, privately, the price of these treatments can vary from £90 to £320.

Regional variances

Regionally, London has the highest proportion of dental practices accepting new adult NHS patients (49%), while the South West has the lowest proportion (19%).

At a more localised level, this proportion varies from 63% in Greater Manchester to just 11% in Norfolk and Waveney.

Dentist accessibility by constituency (England only)

Broken down by parliamentary constituencies, there are 55 constituency areas in England where no dental practices report accepting new adult NHS patients. In total, these constituencies have a total population of more than 5.5 million people.


Struggling to find an NHS dentist?

Using our search service, you can find and compare NHS and private dentists near you.

Dental practices by region


Dental practices by Integrated Care Board



HealthSay analysis of NHS England data (October 2024).

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Our search features help you easily find and compare NHS services, be it specialist consultations, procedures or scans. Our guides are there to provide clear and concise information about the English health system, helping you to take control of your healthcare.
Find and compare services currently only cover the London area.
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own health services independently, and as a result have different policies and guidance in many instances. While we aim to expand our services to all four nations, currently our guides only apply to patients in England.
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