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Original poster

Can anyone else not afford the dentist anymore?

134 replies

ithinkiveseenthisfilm · 20/01/2026 07:50

Just looked into my dentists pricing as I’m well overdue a check up.

A check up is £250, with 4 x-rays once a year charged at £60 each. That makes it £490 for a check up.

A hygienist appointment (which you must book together) is a further £120 for half an hour.

I think I need a filling, I was told that would be a minimum of £600. So one visit could end up costing me well over £1,000.

All of the NHS dentists within a 100 mile radius are closed to new patients. I check regularly but what the NHS website says is very different to the actual reality.

It’s an absolute travesty. When did something as basic as dental care become a sheer luxury?

OP posts:
Mukey · 20/01/2026 08:03

That’s very expensive. I’m a hygienist and I work at one practice in outer London that’s £65 to see me (then £60 check up and £15 per xray) and one just outside London that’s £80 to see me (£70 a check up with £20 per xray.)

You say you’ve checked all the NHS practices around, but have you asked what their private fees are as well? You must be able to get cheaper than that even including travel to it!

Catza · 20/01/2026 07:59

All my practices are full too but when I rang around, some were more affordable than others. Yes, you may have to travel a bit further. My dentist is in the nearest large town to me. If you only have one dentist in your town, they can just charge whatever they want, don't they?
I probably pay somewhere around £60-75 for a checkup which insides 3 butterfly x-rays.

MyCatPrefersPeaches · 20/01/2026 07:58

That’s extortionate. How about surrounding towns? Where we are, the going rate is £85-100 for a check up (bit more for new patients because of X-rays). A big filling at my dentist is £250. We are Home Counties and not a cheap area.

PollyPlumPeach · 20/01/2026 07:57

ithinkiveseenthisfilm · 20/01/2026 07:54

That’s the only dental practice in my town (the joys of small town living). There’s a few practices that state they’re taking on NHS patients but when you call them, they’ve “no availability”

Show quote history

Go to another town

ShetlandishMum · 20/01/2026 07:56

I have struggled for years. Now forget about it unless it's very very necessary.

jamandcustard · 20/01/2026 07:55

That’s extortionate. Have you looked into DenPlan?

Original poster
ithinkiveseenthisfilm · 20/01/2026 07:54

Junction6 · 20/01/2026 07:53

You need to shop around. Those prices are wild.

That’s the only dental practice in my town (the joys of small town living). There’s a few practices that state they’re taking on NHS patients but when you call them, they’ve “no availability”

OP posts:
Junction6 · 20/01/2026 07:53

You need to shop around. Those prices are wild.

Mchill79 · 20/01/2026 07:52

Find another dentist. Private here is £50 for a check up, £75 for hygiene and from £150 for a fillling

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