Private dentists in Leeds: check-up prices, NHS or private, how to choose

NHS or private: what the difference is

nhs.uk says the NHS provides clinically necessary treatment needed to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy, and that you’ll usually need to get cosmetic treatments privately. Many Leeds practices see both NHS and private patients; a listing says which where the practice’s own website does.

NHS treatment in England is paid for in three bands, each one charge for a course of treatment, however many visits it takes; nhs.uk’s figures are in our NHS guide. A private practice sets its own prices. nhs.uk says the dental professional should tell you how much it will cost before they start any treatment, and that for Band 2, Band 3 or a mix of NHS and private treatment your dentist must give you a written treatment plan setting out the proposed treatment and the costs, which you sign and get a copy of. If you choose private options, this should be included in your treatment plan.

Private dentists in Moortown and north Leeds

Practices in Moortown, Roundhay, Chapel Allerton and Adel whose websites say they see private patients, with the features each states. Areas follow the postcode district, so the LS17 practices of Alwoodley and Shadwell appear under Moortown.

What a private check-up costs, by area

The lowest price each private practice publishes on its own website, and what it is for. Practices price different things first: a check-up at one, a new-patient examination at another, and some publish no price, in which case the listing says to ask the practice. Read what each price is for before you compare; an examination fee doesn’t include treatment.

Hygienist appointments

A listing says “Hygienist” where the practice’s own website says it offers hygienist appointments. The price beside each is still the lowest the practice publishes, usually a check-up; where a practice publishes a hygienist fee, it is on its own site. Dental hygienists are among the professionals the General Dental Council registers, so a hygienist’s name can be checked on the GDC register like a dentist’s.

How to choose a practice

Dental Leeds doesn’t rate or rank practices. What can be checked, and compared, is this:

• CQC registration. The Care Quality Commission says a provider must register with it to provide a regulated activity in England, and that it is an offence to carry on a regulated activity without being registered. Every listing on Dental Leeds starts from the CQC’s register of dental practices and links to the practice’s CQC profile, where the CQC publishes what it holds on the practice, including its inspection reports.
• The GDC register. The General Dental Council is the UK regulator for dental professionals and registers dentists, dental nurses, hygienists, therapists, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians and orthodontic therapists. It says it protects patients by ensuring all dental professionals are registered before they work in the UK, and that offering dental treatment or advice without being registered is illegal practice. Anyone can search the register by name on the GDC’s website.
• NHS or private. A listing says “NHS patients” or “Private patients” only where the practice’s own website says so. Whether a practice is taking new NHS patients changes week to week, so the listing doesn’t say: ask the practice, or use the NHS’s Find a dentist service.
• What the practice publishes. Opening hours, evening and weekend appointments, treatments, access and parking are on a listing only where the practice states them, with the date we checked. The price on a listing is the lowest the practice publishes and what it is for, which is usually a check-up.
• How often you should go. nhs.uk says the time between check-ups can vary from 3 months to 2 years, depending on how healthy your teeth and gums are and your risk of future problems, and up to 1 year if you’re under 18.