NHS or Private Dental Care: Understanding the Difference
For anyone choosing between NHS and private dental care, this page explains how each is charged, what each covers, how to find an appointment, where materials differ and what Deepcar Dental Care offers. Neither suits everyone, and NHS band charges and private fees do not compare line by line.
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Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
How do NHS and private dental care compare?
NHS and private dental care differ mainly in charging and cover, and neither is the right choice for everyone.
| NHS dental care | Private dental care | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is charged | One band charge per course of treatment, if you pay; some people get free treatment | The practice's own fee for each treatment |
| What it covers | Clinically necessary treatment; cosmetic treatment is usually private | Clinically necessary and cosmetic treatment, as each practice offers |
| Material options | White fillings when clinically necessary, though amalgam may be the more effective option for a back tooth; a metal-coloured crown may be offered on a back tooth | Options such as a white filling on a back tooth, with their risks, benefits and costs |
| Finding an appointment | Contact any NHS dentist; you may join a waiting list | Contact the practice you choose and ask when it can see you |
| Complaints | NHS complaints process | The practice first, then the General Dental Council (GDC) Dental Complaints Service |
| Who treats you | GDC-registered dental professionals | GDC-registered dental professionals |
How does each system work?
NHS dental care in England is charged in three bands, and private care at each practice's own fee per treatment.
How NHS dental care works
If you pay for NHS dental treatment, a course of treatment is charged once, at the highest band of treatment it includes.
Most adults pay for NHS dental treatment. NHS guidance says it is free in England if:
- you are under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
- you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
- you have had a stillbirth in the past 12 months
- a hospital dentist treats you in an NHS hospital (you may still pay for dentures or bridges)
- you receive War Pension Scheme or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability
- you or your partner receive certain benefits, which the NHS website lists (your dependants under 20 also qualify)
On a low income, the NHS Low Income Scheme may help with part of the cost.
How private dental care works
Each practice sets its own private fees. General Dental Council standards require clear prices on practice websites, with a 'from' and 'to' range allowed where a cost varies.
What does the NHS cover, and what is private?
NHS dental care covers the treatment you clinically need for a healthy mouth, teeth and gums; cosmetic treatment is usually paid for privately.
NHS guidance gives teeth whitening and sports guards as examples of treatment that must be paid for privately. Your dentist must make clear which options the NHS provides and which are private only, with the cost of each.
To ask about private dental treatment at Deepcar Dental Care, book online or call 0114 288 2121.
Where do the practical differences lie?
NHS and private dental care differ in how you find an appointment and, for some treatments, in the choice of materials.
Any NHS dentist can be asked for an appointment, though NHS guidance says you may need to join a waiting list. If you cannot find one locally, your integrated care board may be able to tell you where to get an appointment, and the NHS website's Find a dentist service lists NHS dentists near you. For private care, ask your chosen practice when it can see you.
NHS guidance says white fillings are available on the NHS where clinically necessary, though an amalgam (silver-coloured) filling may be the more effective option for a back tooth; your dentist can advise on the private cost, risks and benefits of a white one. On the NHS, a metal-coloured crown may be offered on a back tooth, and alternatives that may be available privately can be discussed with their risks, benefits and costs.
What are NHS band charges and private fees?
If you pay for NHS dental treatment in England, these are the charges shown on the NHS website on 3 November 2026. Band 1 is £27.90, Band 2 is £76.60, Band 3 is £332.10 and urgent treatment is £27.90.
Band 1 can include an examination, X-rays and scaling where clinically needed. Band 2 can add fillings, extractions and similar items, and Band 3 can add crowns, bridges, dentures and similar items.
An NHS band covers a whole course of treatment and a private fee list prices each item, so the figures do not compare line by line.
Checked on 3 November 2026, the Deepcar Dental Care fee list includes ranges of £150 to £220 for a white composite filling and £120 to £260 for a tooth extraction. It says fees are reviewed from time to time and can change. You can see the fee list for routine treatment prices.
What does Deepcar Dental Care offer?
Deepcar Dental Care provides private treatment only and does not offer NHS treatment, including NHS orthodontics.
The practice's private treatment includes general dentistry, with routine check-ups at a standard 6-month interval for a healthy adult, plus crowns, bridges, dentures, hygiene appointments, composite bonding, teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and clear aligners and fixed braces for adults.
Frequently asked questions
Can you have NHS and private dental treatment together?
Yes, at a practice that offers both. NHS guidance says a dentist has to give a treatment plan for a mix of NHS and private treatment, and any private options you choose should be on it. If you are eligible for free NHS dental treatment, only the NHS treatment is free; you pay for any private treatment.
Does NHS dental care include orthodontic treatment?
NHS guidance says NHS orthodontic treatment is free for under-18s with a clear health need, scored on the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need. Grades 4 and 5 qualify, grade 3 is usually judged individually, and appearance concerns about the teeth, jaw or face may count. Adults usually do not qualify but may be approved case by case for health reasons.
What happens if NHS treatment needs more work within two months?
If you pay for NHS dental treatment, further treatment within 2 months of completing a course costs nothing extra in the same or lower band. Treatment in a higher band is paid in full; after 2 months, any further treatment is charged. NHS guidance says the 2-month rule does not apply after urgent treatment or an unfinished course.
How can you compare NHS and private options for your own treatment?
Ask for a written treatment plan. General Dental Council (GDC) standards say a plan must set out the proposed treatment, a realistic idea of its cost and which parts are NHS or private. NHS guidance adds that you can ask your dentist why each option is being suggested.
What should new patients at Deepcar Dental Care bring?
Bring a list of your medicines; your medical history can be filled in online before you arrive. A new patient appointment at Deepcar Dental Care lasts 30 minutes. Before booking online or by phone, read what it takes to register as a new patient.
Book a consultation.
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You can book private dental treatment online or by phone. The practice is at 334 Manchester Road, Deepcar, Sheffield, S36 2RH, with free parking directly outside.
334 Manchester Road
Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2RH
0114 288 2121
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Opening hours
Open 8am to 8pm, seven days
Free parking at the door