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Best and worst dentist brands compared
We've asked patients about their experiences with dental chains to help you find the best for you.
We surveyed 7,422 Which? members in September 2023 and asked them to score their dentists on factors such as value for money, customer service and availability of appointments.
Independent local practices generally fared better than the larger brands, while the top two rated brands were neck and neck - with one just edging ahead.
Lower scorers fell down on availability of appointments and how highly customers rated the staff knowledge and skill levels.
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Best dentist brands
Which? members can log in now to find out how customers rate UK dental brands.
If you're not a member, you'll see an alphabetically ordered list of the companies reviewed, with insights on where they operate and what they offer. Join Which? today to view the full results.
| Provider | Overall customer score | Customer service | Skill and knowledge of staff | Availability of appointments | Value for money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bupa Dental Care | |||||
| Colosseum | |||||
| Clyde Munro Dental | |||||
| MyDentist | |||||
| Perfect Smile | |||||
| Portman | |||||
| Rodericks |
Bupa Dental Care
Bupa runs more than 400 dental practices across the UK. It does offer NHS dental services alongside private, but most of its customers in our survey paid privately. It is also in the process of closing a number of practices due to well-documented issues recruiting NHS dentists.
Log in or sign up to see how users rated BUPA, or visit the BUPA website to find a dentist near you.
Colosseum
Colosseum has 80 dental clinics across England and Wales. It seems to have a high capacity for NHS patients, with six in 10 customers we surveyed receiving NHS treatment. That doesn’t necessarily mean your local branch will have space for new NHS patients, however, as availability for these is low across England.
Log in or sign up to see how users rated Colosseum, or visit the Colosseum website to find a dentist near you.
Clyde Munro Dental
Scotland-only dental brand Clyde Munro styles itself as Scotland’s leading dental group, with branches across the country and a commitment to local-led dentistry
Log in or sign up to see how users rated Clyde Munro or visit the Clyde Munro website to find a dentist near you.
MyDentist
More members were customers of MyDentist than any other brand in our survey. It has practices across the UK.
Log in or sign up to see how users rated MyDentist or visit the MyDentist website to find a dentist near you.
Perfect Smile
Most Perfect Smile clinics are in London, Berkshire and Surrey, with a handful across Cheshire, Portsmouth, Manchester and Liverpool. The chain offers free consultations and discounts on Invisalign treatment.
Log in or sign up to see how users rated Perfect Smile or visit the Perfect Smile website to find a dentist near you.
Portman
Most Portman customers we heard from were private patients. This isn’t surprising given the chain’s website states it’s struggling to recruit dentists who can offer NHS treatment at present. The chain has practices across the UK.
Log in or sign up to see how users rated Portman or visit the Portman website to find a dentist near you.
Rodericks
It has 140 practices in the UK, and offers private and NHS dental care. The majority of its customers we surveyed were NHS patients.
Log in or sign up to see how users rated Rodericks or visit the Rodericks website to find a dentist near you.
Smile
Smile has branches across England and one in Aberdeen. Smile says it’s committed to sustainable dentistry, and it’s switched to LED lighting, offers recyclable oral hygiene products and has installed drop-off points for recycling old aligners as part of this pledge.
Log in or sign up to see how users rated Smile or visit the Smile website to find a dentist near you.
Together Dental
Together Dental has practices across the UK and says it focuses on using the latest dental technology and treatments.
Log in or sign up to see how users rated Together Dental or visit the Together Dental website to find a dentist near you.
Find out how much different dental treatments typically cost and how NHS dentist charges compare with private dentist fees
NHS vs private dentists
Dental clinics typically offer both NHS and private dental care options. However, in recent years there has been a marked rise in practices turning away NHS patients due to them already having reached full capacity, or choosing to stop NHS treatments altogether and treat private patients only.
Around six in 10 of our survey respondents said they paid for their most recent appointment as a private patient. While most were happy with their treatment, it would appear many didn't have a choice. Four in 10 said they were unable to register with an NHS dentist or that they had no NHS dentists in their local area.
Several members told us they were registered with an NHS dental clinic for years, only for that clinic to ‘go private’ and stop providing NHS treatment.
But this doesn't mean you shouldn't shop around. Use our survey insights to help you get started on finding the best dentists near you.
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How to choose the best dentist
Our survey showed that many people favoured their local, independent practice. With that in mind it's worth asking other local people you trust for recommendations.
If you're struggling to find availability in your local area, it might be worth looking a little further afield, as this can impact prices too. But make sure you'll be able to travel there easily enough if you have an urgent dental problem.
You can also check the General Dental Council website to make sure your dentist is registered to practice.
Getting the most from your dentist appointment
When you do get an appointment make the most out of it – arrive with questions, even if you’re just having a check-up, and make sure you ask them to explain the costs and treatment options fully.
It can be good to ask the following questions:
- If there are complications and I need more treatment, will there be extra charges?
- If I’m unhappy with the results, who pays for the work to correct problems?
- Can you explain my treatment options, along with the pros and cons of each?
If you are dissatisfied, check our guide on how to complain about a dentist.
How to save on dental costs
NHS costs are fixed and fall into different treatment 'bands' with different set costs, ranging from around £25 for a check up to £300 for complex work. Certain people are also entitled to free NHS dental care.
Private care costs can be much higher, and we've found they can vary significantly from dentist to dentist.
As a ballpark, you can expect to pay around £40-£75 for a check up privately, £90-£130 for a hygienist appointment, £120-£180 for a tooth extraction and up to around £1,000 for dentures and bridges.
See our full guide to NHS vs private dental charges, which covers the typical costs for common treatments and procedures. It's based on our pricing research with big dental chains and can help you sense-check prices you are quoted.
If you don't want to pay up front, some dentists will offer a payment plan. Private healthcare insurers may also offer dental care – just make sure you check the small print first, as often these will cover emergency work only.
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How we uncovered the best dentists
We surveyed 7,422 Which? members in September 2023 and asked them to rate their dental provider against a set of criteria including value for money, customer service and availability of appointments.
We asked respondents where they go for treatment, whether they pay for their treatment privately or via the NHS and whether they'd recommend their current dentist.
At Which? we use robust research to give you the best advice – including how to find the best opticians, where to find the best health insurance and how to find out what vitamin supplements you really need.
Tips for anxious dental patients
If you find the prospect of having dental work or visiting the dentist anxiety-inducing, know that you aren't alone as it's pretty common.
It's much better to go for regular check ups and establish a good relationship rather than avoid going until you have to. This way you'll hopefully avoid issues needing more extensive treatment, and be comfortable with the environment and dentist before you reach a crisis point.
Here are some ways to manage your concerns:
- Make sure your dentist knows how you're feeling ahead of the appointment, or when you get there. They may be able to make some changes to help you feel more at ease.
- A morning slot could be better than an afternoon one. That way, you have less time in the day to dwell on things.
- Check if you can bring someone along for support if you need to. You might find listening to some music can help you de-stress.
- You can also check if your dentist provides any specialist services for nervous patients. There are options for extremely anxious patients, such as sedation, on both the NHS and privately.
Establishing a good relationship with a dentist you trust can also help in the long term, and is likely to be cheaper and more practical than having to opt for sedation each time.
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