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.
Honest note on availability data: we don't yet show live "accepting new NHS patients" status. We're connecting the NHS England acceptance feed now; once it's live, every practice page will show its last-reported acceptance status and the date it was reported. Until then, the only reliable check is to phone the practice - acceptance genuinely changes week to week.
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.
Browse dentists by area
All 2,144 practices by borough
- Barking and Dagenham 21 practices
- Barnet 123 practices
- Bexley 45 practices
- Brent 76 practices
- Bromley 76 practices
- Camden 96 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 74 practices
- Havering 46 practices
- Hillingdon 51 practices
- Hounslow 58 practices
- Islington 45 practices
- Kensington and Chelsea 72 practices
- Kingston upon Thames 54 practices
- Lambeth 56 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 81 practices
- Westminster 260 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. Dentist-London.com is wiring up the NHS England acceptance data feed; once live, each practice page will show its last-reported NHS acceptance status with the date it was reported.