Private dental care costs in the UK are a postcode lottery, according to new research.
The research, carried out by Whatclinic.com, looked at the fees charged by 12,629 private dentists around the UK and found that dental check-ups can vary by £170.
‘These figures show the huge amount of savings that can be made by shopping around for dental care, even within the same city,’ Emily Ross, director of Whatclinic.com, said.
‘Regular dental check-ups every six months are recommended for all the family, and as everyone knows, these costs can really add up.
‘It is important that patients are more aware of the options available to them, and that money can be saved.’
Rise in enquiries
Birmingham was found to charge the least on average for dental check-ups (£31), while Milton Keynes was the most expensive (£62).
The research also shows that there has been a 115% rise in enquiries for check-ups in the past year, with the average cost for check-ups increasing by 28% in the last six months.
‘Patient reviews are a valuable resource to find a suitable dentist that can deliver the best treatment, at a price that suits too,’ Emily Ross continued.
‘As costs vary from city to city, savings can also be made by taking a short trip to a nearby town or city.
‘Always be careful of special offers and discounts, do your research, and make your dental health a priority when choosing a practitioner.’
Average prices
The table below shows the average price across 20 towns and cities in the UK for the five most common dental treatments.
Location |
Dental check-up |
Veneers |
Teeth whitening |
Root canals |
Dental implants |
Belfast |
£40 |
£340 |
£221 |
£223 |
£1,461 |
London |
£53 |
£493 |
£328 |
£303 |
£2,420 |
Reading |
£38 |
£561 |
£317 |
£332 |
£1,906 |
Milton Keynes |
£62 |
£388 |
£261 |
£246 |
£1,885 |
Plymouth |
£46 |
£436 |
£209 |
£211 |
£1,463 |
Bournemouth |
£48 |
£511 |
£312 |
£316 |
£1,675 |
Brighton |
£44 |
£430 |
£342 |
£275 |
£2,044 |
Cardiff |
£45 |
£394 |
£253 |
£238 |
£2,062 |
Cheltenham |
£35 |
£570 |
£255 |
£228 |
£2,061 |
Southampton |
£35 |
£485 |
£258 |
£305 |
£1,945 |
Glasgow |
£50 |
£343 |
£234 |
£185 |
£1,752 |
Manchester |
£34 |
£368 |
£265 |
£222 |
£1,531 |
Leicester |
£40 |
£318 |
£359 |
£258 |
£1,795 |
Liverpool |
£37 |
£402 |
£218 |
£250 |
£1,427 |
Newcastle Upon Tyne |
£44 |
£413 |
£382 |
£267 |
£1,383 |
Birmingham |
£31 |
£370 |
£258 |
£253 |
£1,804 |
Leeds |
£43 |
£417 |
£313 |
£253 |
£1,740 |
Cambridge |
£32 |
£424 |
£385 |
£320 |
£2,393 |
Edinburgh |
£39 |
£432 |
£317 |
£233 |
£2,215 |
York |
£40 |
£521 |
£294 |
£356 |
£2,117 |
National average |
£46 |
£443 |
£298 |
£267 |
£2,101 |