Dental Treatment

Generally speaking, if you are visiting the UK for a holiday and you are unlucky enough to need dental treatment, you will have to attend a private dental practice and pay for any treatment you receive. If, however, you are resident in the UK for a minimum of six months (because you are working or studying) you are eligible for NHS dental treatment.

However, it is notoriously difficult to find an NHS dentist willing to take on new patients, so it is advisable to register with a NHS dentist as soon as you find a place to live and ideally before you start having problems with your teeth.

A list of NHS dentists can be found on www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or by calling NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Cost of treatment

As a rough guide, (once you are registered as an NHS patient) a standard check-up will cost about £6 and a filling around £8.

Emergency treatment

An emergency dentist is available at The Royal London Hospital Accident & Emergency Department, Whitechapel Road (Tel: 020 7377 7000) from 8am to 3:30pm and 6pm to 11:45pm Monday to Friday. NOTE: You will be charged for treatment.