How to find a dentistFind a dentist in England

Use our search tool to find an NHS dentist

Use our search tool to find an NHS dentist near you

You can find dentists in your area using our NHS dentist search tool.

All you need to do is enter your postcode and it will give you local contact details to find an NHS dentist.

Search for an NHS dentist near you

If you can't find a dentist

If you've tried the numbers you found with our search tool and still can't find an NHS dentist, we'd like to hear about the problems you faced.

Our feedback form should only take a minute to fill in and by doing so you'll be helping us to understand where it is still difficult to find an NHS dentist, and which PCTs are not giving the help they should.

We'd also be like to hear about PCTs who are doing this job really well – so please do feedback your good experiences too.

Tell us how helpful you found NHS services when trying to find a dentist

Other ways to find an NHS dentist

There are several other ways to look for an NHS dentist near you that is taking on patients:

You can visit the NHS Choices website
Call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47
You can also text 'dentist' to NHS GO on 64746 - just make sure you send the text from the area in which you need a dentist
Or contact your local Primary Care Trust - you can find contact details for your local Primary Care Trust from NHS Choices.

How your PCT should help you

Your local Primary Care Trust is now responsible for making sure that NHS dentists are available in your area, and is committed to providing care to anybody who seeks to access to NHS dental services.

'Primary care' services are provided by the people we first see when we have health problems – for example GPs, dentists and pharmacists. Primary Care Trusts are part of the NHS and manage these services in local areas. In 2006, changes were made to the way that NHS dental care is provided.

In the past, patients 'registered' with NHS dentists who were paid according to how many patients they had registered. This has now changed, and dentists are no longer required to register' their patients. However they can still keep lists of regular patients, and provide continued treatment. You don't have to use an NHS dentist which is near your home.

Find a private dentist

To find a private dentist near you, you can search a database of dentists on the British Dental Association website. You may also find it useful to ask friends and family to recommend one.

Remember an NHS dentist cannot tell you they'll only take your children on as NHS patients if they take you on as a private patient.

Find a dentist in an emergency

You should always be able to get urgent or out-of-hours care when necessary even if you don't have a regular NHS dentist.

If you do have a regular NHS dentist and you need urgent help contact them in the first instance. You can also contact your local Primary Care Trust, which is responsible for making sure that urgent and out-of-hours dental care is available in your area.

If you need dental care immediately but don't have a regular dentist you should contact your local Primary Care Trust. To find your local Primary Care Trust, search the NHS Choices website at or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647. Alternatively, if you know the number you can contact your local urgent dental service directly.

If your condition is not serious, the local out-of-hours dental service may ask you to take pain relief and make an appointment during regular hours.

Urgent NHS dental treatment it should cost £16.50, although some people are entitled to free treatment. See our section on dental costs to find out if this applies to you.

Emergency treatment from private dentists

Like NHS dentists, private dentists have a responsibility to make sure their patients can access urgent or out-of-hours-care. We suggest you ask your private dentist about local arrangements when you first become a patient.