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Dentists

Everyone should be able to access good-quality NHS dental services.

There is no need to register with a dentist in the same way as with a GP because you are not bound to a catchment area. 
 

Simply find a dental practice thats convenient for you, whether it's near your home or work, and phone them to see if there are any appointments available. 

If you do not have a regular dental practice or are new to the area, you can search for an NHS dentist near you on this site. 

Dental practices won't always have the capacity to take on new NHS patients - you may have to join a waiting list, look for a different dentist who is taking on new NHS patients, or be seen privately.

Once you find a dental practice, you may have to fill in a registration form at your first visit, which is purely to add you to their patient database. However, that does not mean you have guaranteed access to an NHS dentail appointment in the future. 

If you think you need urgent care, contact your usual dentist as soon practices offer emergency dental slots and will provide care if clinically necessary.

You can also call NHS 111, who can put you in touch with an urgent dental service. 

Do not contact your GP, as they will not be able to offer urgent or emergency dental care. 

Do I qualify for free dental care?

If 1 or more of the criertia listed below applies to you when your treatment starts, you'll be entitled to free NHS dental care.

You're entitled if you are:

  • Aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
  • Pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
  • Staying in an NHS hospital and your treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist
  • An NHS hospital dental service outpatient - but you may have to pay for your dentures or bridges

You're also entitled if you or your partrner - including civil partner - receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:

  • Income Support
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
  • Universal Credit and meet the criteria 

If you're entitled to or named on: 

  • A valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate - if you don't have a certificate, you can show your award notice; you qualify if you get Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits with a disability element (or both), and have an income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
  • A valid HC2 certificate 

People named on an NHS certificate for partial help with health costs (HC3) may also get help.

You won't be exempt from paying because you receive Incapacity Benefit, contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit or Pension Savings Credit, when paid on their own. 

Medical conditions don't exempt patients from payment for dental treatment. You'll be asked to show your dentist written proof that you don't have to pay for all or part of your NHS treatment. You will also be asked to sign a form to confirm that you don't have to pay. 

Pregnant women and women who have had a baby in the last 12 months get free NHS dental treatment. You may have to show proof, such as a maternity exemption certificate (MatEx), a maternity certificate (MATB1), or your baby's birth certificate.