How can I find NHS dentists accepting new patients in London?
We’ve made it easy for you to find an NHS dentist in London.
Simply enter your postcode on our homepage and then filter by Accepting NHS patients.
You can even specify the type of NHS appointment: whether you need an appointment for children, adults, or those entitled to free dental care.
Check your chosen dentist’s preferred method of registering NHS patients. Some dentists need you to fill in an online form, some will ask you to visit the practice in person, and others can register you over the phone.
If you can’t find an NHS dentist within 5km of your London postcode, try searching a different postcode. NHS dentists do not use catchment areas to decide who to register to their practice. You can register anywhere that has availability.
How can I find NHS dentists accepting new patients outside London?
Unfortunately, Kaillo is currently only available in London.
If you are looking for NHS appointments outside London, you can check the NHS website for dentists with appointment availability.
Patients often tell us that the NHS website is not up to date. You might need to phone multiple dentists before you find a practice with available NHS appointments.
What should I know before booking an NHS appointment?
You might have to join a waiting list before you can register at your chosen NHS dentist. You will be contacted by the practice when they have space to register you.
You might have to wait for your appointment, even if you register with a new NHS dentist. Some London practices have waiting times of several months.
Unless you are exempt, you will have to pay for your NHS care. You can find the current NHS costs here.
What should I do if I can’t find a dentist registering new NHS patients?
Unfortunately, many practices are not currently registering new NHS patients. This means you might struggle to register for an NHS dentist.
You should notify NHS England if you cannot access NHS dental care in your area. NHS England has a responsibility to provide patients with access to healthcare so you should issue a complaint to them here.
If you cannot find an NHS dentist in your area that is taking new patients, you may want to consider private dentists in your area.
You can compare patient reviews, dentist prices and locations on our website. This means you will know rough costs in advance and can ensure you're receiving the best treatment for you.
To compare private dentists in your area:
If you cannot access NHS dental care in your area and can afford private dental care, we recommend registering for a private dental practice. Seeing a dentist regularly can prevent major dental issues in the future and is an investment in your health.
What should I do in a dental emergency if I can’t register at an NHS dentist?
First of all, you should understand whether or not you are experiencing a dental emergency.
If you’re experiencing severe swelling or uncontrolled bleeding, you should go to A&E immediately for emergency dental care. You can check other symptoms on our blog on Identifying a dental emergency.
If your emergency is not life-threatening, you should call 111. Appointments are given on a first come first served basis, so you are most likely to be seen if you call 111 early in the day.
For more information, read our blog on What to do if you have a dental emergency.
Can I choose to see a specific dentist within an NHS practice?
It is not always possible to choose to see a specific dentist within an NHS practice. You can request to see a specific dentist within an NHS practice, but you might find that only a select number of dentists have NHS appointment availability and that your preferred dentist is unavailable.
Receiving treatment from a specific dentist is one of the advantages of private dental care.
Reviewed by Dr. Emily Black BDS(Bris) GDC 296586