How to Register with an NHS Dentist in England

There is no formal registration with an NHS dentist like there is with a GP. Here is how to get an NHS appointment, and where to turn if you cannot find one.

Updated · 5 min read

Illustration of a dental chair, a tooth and a map pin showing nearby dental practices

To get an NHS dentist in England, use the NHS website's Find a dentist service to see which local practices are accepting NHS patients, then contact them and ask for an NHS appointment. Unlike GP surgeries, dentists do not have catchment areas, and filling in a registration form at your first visit does not guarantee you NHS care there in future. If you cannot find a practice with space, contact your local integrated care board (ICB).

How NHS dentist registration really works

Many people expect to register with a dentist in the same way as a GP. In fact, the NHS website says you can contact any NHS dentist and ask for an appointment, whether you have symptoms or need a routine check-up.

At your first visit, the practice may ask you to fill in a form to register. However, this does not mean you will always be able to get NHS care at that practice.

There are no catchment areas for dentists, so you can go to any practice that has NHS appointments, including one near your work.

Step by step: finding a practice

  1. Search online. Use Find a dentist and enter your postcode. Practices show whether they are accepting new NHS patients, though this information is not always up to date.
  2. Phone or email the practice. Ask specifically for an NHS appointment. Many practices offer both NHS and private care.
  3. Ask about waiting lists. If they have no space, ask whether you can join a waiting list and roughly how long it is.
  4. Try several practices. Availability changes, and practices a little further away may have space.
  5. Keep a note of who you contacted and when, in case you need to contact your ICB.

If no dentist near you is taking NHS patients

If you cannot find an NHS dentist, the NHS website advises contacting your local integrated care board. ICBs manage dental services in each area and may be able to tell you where to get an appointment.

When you contact them, say:

  • where you live
  • which practices you have already tried
  • whether you have any pain or other symptoms
  • whether you, or the person you are asking for, has additional needs

People with additional or special care needs should be able to get NHS dental care from a general practice. If more specialised treatment is needed, the dentist can refer to Special Care Dentistry.

Getting urgent dental care without a regular dentist

You do not need a regular dentist to get urgent NHS care. If you have severe pain, swelling, a knocked-out tooth or bleeding after an extraction, contact a dentist and ask for an urgent appointment, or use 111 online or call 111.

The NHS website says you should be offered urgent treatment within 24 hours or 7 days, depending on your symptoms, and within 1 hour if you have knocked out an adult tooth.

Go to A&E or call 999 for serious facial injuries, heavy bleeding that will not stop, or swelling that affects your breathing or vision.

What a check-up costs and who pays

Most adults pay NHS dental charges. In England, a check-up is a Band 1 treatment, which costs £27.90. Fillings and extractions are Band 2, and crowns and dentures are Band 3. Our guide to NHS dental treatment costs explains each band.

NHS dental treatment is free for some people, including:

  • children under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
  • people who are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
  • people getting certain benefits, such as income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit below an income limit

You may need to show proof, such as a maternity exemption certificate or HC2 certificate.

How often you should see a dentist

There is no fixed rule of every six months. NICE guidance says your dentist should decide how often you need a check-up based on your oral health, with recall intervals for adults ranging from 3 months to 2 years. People with healthy teeth and gums may be asked to come back less often.

Getting ready for your first appointment

  • Bring a list of any medicines you take.
  • Bring proof of any exemption from dental charges.
  • Tell the dental team if you are anxious. You can ask them to stop or take a break at any time.

At the check-up, the dental professional checks your teeth, gums, lips and neck for problems such as decay, gum disease and signs of mouth cancer. You may need X-rays. If you need Band 2 or Band 3 treatment, you should get a written treatment plan with the cost before treatment starts.

Registering children

Children's NHS dental care is free. Take your child to a dentist as soon as their first teeth appear, and use the same steps above to find a practice. Even if a practice has no space for adults, it is worth asking whether it can see children.

Quick answers about NHS dentists

Can a dentist remove me from their list?

Because there is no permanent NHS registration, a practice may not be able to offer you NHS care in future, especially if you have not attended for a long time. Ask the practice about its policy.

Can I get NHS treatment from a dentist who also does private work?

Yes. Many practices offer both. Your dentist must make clear which treatments are NHS and which are private, and the costs of each.

Sources

Checked on 14 October 2026:

This guide explains the general rules for staff in England using 2026/27 figures. It is not financial advice. Your employer, payslip or NHS Pensions statement has the final word on your own pay.

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