How to Find a Dentist in the UK

Step 1: Decide NHS or private

Before you search, it helps to know which type of dental care you are looking for — or whether you are open to both.

NHS dental care is subsidised by the government and charged at three fixed bands: Band 1 £26.80 (check-ups, X-rays, treatment planning), Band 2 £73.50 (fillings, root canals, extractions) and Band 3 £319.10 (crowns, dentures, bridges). If you are under 18, pregnant, on certain benefits or hold a valid HC2 certificate, NHS treatment may be free or reduced.

Private dental care is priced by each practice individually. Costs are higher, but you typically get shorter waiting times, longer appointments, a wider range of cosmetic and elective treatments, and more flexibility with scheduling.

Mixed care is also common. Many practices offer both NHS and private treatment, so you could have your check-up on the NHS (Band 1 £26.80) and opt for private teeth whitening at the same practice.

You do not need to commit to one route before searching. OpenWide shows both NHS and private options together, so you can compare costs and availability side by side. But having a preference in mind helps you filter results more efficiently.

If you are unsure, a good rule of thumb: if budget is the priority and you can be patient with availability, start with NHS. If speed and choice matter more, consider private.

Step 2: Search by postcode on OpenWide

Go to OpenWide and enter your postcode, town name or clinic name in the search bar. OpenWide returns a list of dental practices near you, sorted by distance.

Each result shows key information at a glance:

• Practice name and address
• NHS status: currently accepting NHS patients, NHS list closed, or private only
• Patient reviews: average rating and number of reviews
• CQC rating: the Care Quality Commission's most recent inspection result
• Distance: how far the practice is from your search location

You can also switch to a map view to see practice locations plotted against your postcode, which is useful if you want to find something on your commute or near your workplace rather than your home.

The default search radius covers practices within a reasonable travel distance, but you can widen it if results are limited — particularly relevant in areas where NHS availability is sparse.

Step 3: Filter for practices accepting new patients

This is the step that saves the most time. Without OpenWide, you would need to phone each practice individually to ask "are you taking new NHS patients?" — a process that can mean ten or more calls before you find one that says yes.

On OpenWide, toggle the "NHS Only" filter to see only practices that are currently accepting new NHS patients. If you are open to private care, leave the filter off and you will see all practices, with their NHS status clearly labelled.

You can combine the NHS filter with other filters:

• Treatment type: need a specific procedure? Filter for it.
• CQC rating: only want practices rated "Good" or higher? Set the filter.
• Reviews: sort by average patient rating.

The combination of these filters turns a frustrating search into a two-minute task. Instead of phoning ten surgeries, you see a curated list of practices that meet your specific requirements.

If your filtered search returns no NHS-accepting practices nearby, OpenWide will suggest widening the search radius or show you private alternatives with clear pricing so you can weigh your options.

Step 4: Compare reviews, prices and CQC rating

Once you have a shortlist of practices, compare them on the metrics that matter to you. OpenWide displays these side by side so you do not need to open multiple tabs or cross-reference different websites.

Price comparison:

• For NHS treatment, charges are the same everywhere: Band 1 £26.80, Band 2 £73.50, Band 3 £319.10.
• For private treatment, fees vary between practices. OpenWide shows available pricing data so you can compare like for like.

Review comparison:

• Look beyond the star rating. Scan for recurring themes — long waits, rushed appointments, friendly staff, clear explanations. A practice with 4.2 stars and consistently positive comments about communication may suit you better than one with 4.5 stars but complaints about waiting times.

CQC rating:

• Ratings are "Outstanding," "Good," "Requires Improvement" or "Inadequate." The vast majority of practices are rated "Good." If a practice is rated "Requires Improvement," read the CQC report summary to understand why before ruling it out — sometimes the issue is administrative rather than clinical.

Practical factors:

• Opening hours, parking, public transport access and wheelchair accessibility can all affect whether a practice works for you in practice.

Take five minutes to compare three or four practices properly. It is time well spent — you may stay with this dentist for years.

Step 5: Book or request a callback

When you have chosen a practice, OpenWide lets you take the next step directly:

• Request an appointment or callback: submit your details through OpenWide and the practice will contact you to arrange your first visit.
• Phone the practice: contact details are displayed on every listing if you prefer to call.
• Visit the practice website: a direct link is provided if you want to learn more before booking.

For your first NHS appointment, the practice will typically:

1. Register you as a new patient.
2. Carry out an initial check-up and assessment (Band 1 £26.80).
3. Create a treatment plan if further work is needed, explaining costs at each Band level.

For a private first appointment, the practice will usually carry out an examination and quote you for any recommended treatment.

Either way, you will have arrived at this point informed — you already know the practice's pricing, reviews, CQC rating and NHS status because you compared them on OpenWide before booking.

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Search for NHS and private dentists near you — enter your town or postcode to see who is currently accepting patients.