Private dental care
What is private dental care?
Private dental care is available to everyone, you don't need insurance and there's no membership or contract involved.
It's all about choice. You choose from a wide range of treatments you can't get on the NHS, at a time that suits you, with different types of payment options available to you.
So, whether you're looking for a routine check-up or a smile makeover, private dental care might be the right choice for you.
What are the benefits of private dental care?
Longer appointments at a time that suits you
- Flexible appointment times: Evenings, early mornings and weekend appointments are often available as a private patient.
- Longer appointments: You’ll typically have more time in the chair during private appointments. This allows us plenty of time to listen to your needs, get to know you and provide the advice and choice you need
- Appointment availability: With private dental care, you can usually be seen relatively quickly
More choice
- Wider choice of services: As a private patient, you can access a wider choice of services unavailable on the NHS to help improve your smile. This may include adult teeth straightening, professional whitening, white fillings, implants or an entire smile makeover.
- More ways to relax: If you’re nervous about visiting the dentist , you can access a wider choice of techniques to help you relax, including dental sedation
- Appointment availability: With private dental care, you can usually be seen relatively quickly
- More ways to pay: You can pay per appointment or sign up for a subscription plan. There are also finance options available
We’re the leading provider of private dental care in the UK.1 To discuss becoming a private patient, or for further information, find your local Bupa Dental Care practice.
Ways to pay for private dental care
Pay as you go
You simply pay for the treatment you have, at the time you have it
Bupa Smile Plan
This is a pay-monthly subscription plan so you can spread the cost of your routine dental care, including check-ups, hygiene appointments and X-rays across 12 easy payments. You can also access the benefit of 10% off selected treatments*
Payment options available.
In partnership with Novuna Personal Finance, we can offer you a loan at 0% APR** for up to 40 monthly repayments† to cover the cost of your treatment. Speak to your local practice to learn more
• Instant claim on your Bupa dental insurance
If you have a Bupa dental insurance policy and visit a Bupa Dental Care practice within our dental insurance network, the practice submits the claim directly to us, and we take care of it without you needing to do anything further
What’s the difference between private dental care and NHS?
There are several differences between private dental care and NHS, including the services available, the appointment length and appointment times.
Private dental care
Access a full range of dental care options, including check-ups, hygiene appointments, implants, teeth straightening, composite bonding, whitening, facial aesthetics and more.
NHS dental care
A range of treatments necessary to support good oral health, including check-ups, fillings and dentures.
Can you mix NHS and private dental treatment?
What dental treatments are only available privately?
Several treatments are only available on a private basis. On the NHS, you can access services required to keep your mouth healthy, such as check-ups and fillings, while private dental care offers a full spectrum of dental services. These include:
- Cosmetic orthodontics: Where treatment is not clinically required, but you want it for aesthetic reasons
- Dental implants: A fixed, natural-looking solution to replace missing or failing teeth
- Teeth whitening: Professional whitening treatment overseen by a dentist to ensure it’s safe and effective
- Composite bonding: A cosmetic treatment that can fill minor gaps between teeth, or minor damage such as chips and fractures
Find a Bupa Dental Care private dentist near you.
'The staff are all polite and friendly. James and his dental nurses are all very thorough and always happy to explain procedures and plans in great detail. I was a patient of an NHS practice until late last year, I had become very disconcerted about the practice and decided to go private. I did a great deal of research and decided upon Kelvin Lodge, I was assigned to James and I’ve not been disappointed!'
‘Dr Nong is just brilliant nothing is ever too much for him I’m a private patient and he’s been brilliant. Reception are very easy to deal with and help with flexible appointments.’
‘First impressions count and the reception staff were very welcoming, next, I met my new dentist and dental nurse who again were very welcoming. My new dentist was very professional and gave me good advice, overall my experience at Parks Dental Practice was very positive.’
‘Friendly, efficient, professional and caring with no sense of rush. Clear explanations. Very clean environment.’
What about children's private dental care?
Although all children are entitled to free dental care on the NHS, some families prefer to have the whole family treated privately. This may be for the benefits listed above, or to have parents and children treated at the same practice.
1 Source: LaingBuisson, Dentistry UK Market Report, 5th ed. If you require verification please email [email protected].
2 Average price stated for a private check-up is based on published prices at 324 Bupa Dental Care practices as at March 2019.
^ We may record or monitor our calls.
Bupa Dental Care is a trading name of Oasis Dental Care Limited. Registered in England and Wales No: 00478127. Registered office: Bupa Dental Care, Vantage Office Park, Old Gloucester Road, Hambrook, Bristol, United Kingdom BS16 1GW.
Oasis Dental Care Limited has a number of trading names including Bupa Dental Care. For a list of all our different trading names please follow this link.
