In 2026 a private dental examination in the UK typically costs £40–£90, a hygiene visit £60–£120, a white filling £100–£300, a crown £600–£1,200, root canal treatment £400–£1,000, a single implant with crown £2,000–£3,500 and Invisalign £1,500–£5,500. At Dental & Wellness London, a private dentist in Islington, every fee is published: examination £65, hygiene £85, children's examination £45.
Why private fees vary so much
Three things set the number: where the practice is (central London rents add a little, not a lot, to every fee), who is doing the work (postgraduate-trained clinicians charge more for the treatments that training is for, such as implants and complex restorative work), and what is included. The third is where quotes mislead. One practice's £60 examination includes x-rays and a written plan; another's £40 adds £25 for x-rays and £30 for a treatment plan. Always ask what the examination fee covers and whether a hygiene visit is separate.
Typical UK private fees, 2026
| Treatment | Typical UK range | At our Islington clinic |
|---|---|---|
| Dental examination (new patient) | £40–£90 | £65, 30 minutes, with a written risk assessment |
| Children's examination | £25–£60 | £45; under-5s free with a parent's examination |
| Hygiene visit | £60–£120 | £85 (30 min) · £135 Diamond with air polish |
| Emergency assessment | £50–£150 | £75 incl. small x-ray and immediate treatment |
| White filling | £100–£300 | Quoted at examination by size |
| Root canal treatment | £400–£1,000 | £550–£950 by tooth |
| Crown, onlay or inlay | £600–£1,200 | £750–£1,200 |
| Composite bonding, per tooth | £150–£400 | £175 simple · £350 complex |
| Teeth whitening (supervised) | £250–£800 | £450 single method · £780 combined |
| Single implant with crown | £2,000–£3,500 | From £2,200 incl. crown |
| Invisalign | £1,500–£5,500 | Express from £1,500 · Moderate £3,400 · Unlimited £4,500–£4,900 |
| Dentures | £500–£2,500 | Flexible single-tooth from £750 · cobalt chrome from £1,600 |
UK ranges are market guidance gathered from published practice fee lists, not quotes; our fees are the ones on our price list. 0% APR finance over 12 months via Tabeo, subject to status, applies to treatment plans.
What private patients are paying for
Time, mostly. A private examination that lasts thirty minutes allows a proper look at the gums, the bite, the soft tissues and old restorations, photographs, and a conversation about what can wait and what cannot. The second thing is choice of materials and techniques, which matters most for crowns, veneers and implants. The third is continuity: seeing the same clinician, who knows the mouth, each time. What it does not buy is better biology; a well-done filling is a well-done filling wherever it is placed, and no price guarantees a result.
How to compare two practices honestly
Ask for the examination fee and what it includes; the hygiene fee and length; whether a written plan with every fee comes before any treatment; the clinician's GDC number (check it on the GDC register) and their qualifications for the treatment you need; and whether the practice is CQC-registered. A practice that publishes every fee has already answered most of this.
Questions people ask
Is a private dentist worth it?
For most people the difference shows in time per visit, continuity and the range of options; whether that is worth it depends on what you need. Many patients see us privately for cosmetic or complex work and keep routine care elsewhere, and that is fine.
Do private dentists charge for a consultation?
Usually, yes, for the examination; many offer free consultations for specific treatments. Ours: examination £65, Invisalign consultation free, implant consultation free for a limited number of patients.
Can I pay monthly?
Most practices offer finance. Ours is 0% APR over 12 months via Tabeo, subject to status.
Written by Dr Vishal Patel, BDS (Liverpool), MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry (Manchester), GDC 103127, founder of Dental & Wellness London (2010). Fees on this page were checked on 2 November 2026. To see what a private examination here involves, visit our private dentist in Islington page.
