NHS or Private Dentist?
If you've moved to the city, or your practice has changed how it works, you may be weighing up NHS and private dental care. Here's a fair look at both, and at how we work at Comely Bank Dental.
What's the Difference Between an NHS and a Private Dentist?
NHS and private dentists have the same training and registration; the difference is how care is paid for, which shapes appointment time, choice and access. In Scotland NHS dental examinations are free and NHS treatment is free for everyone under 26, while most other adults pay part of the cost. Comely Bank Dental in Edinburgh sees adults privately, where an examination is £70, and registers the children of dental plan members under the NHS.
How Do NHS and Private Dentists Differ?
NHS and private dentists have the same training and are registered with the same regulator, the General Dental Council, and many dentists work in both systems. The difference is in how care is paid for, and that shapes how much time is available, the choice of treatments and materials, and how easy it is to get an appointment.
In Scotland, NHS dental examinations are free for everyone, NHS treatment is free for children and under-26s, and most other adults pay part of the cost of their treatment up to a set maximum. Private care is paid for directly, at fees set by the practice.
At Comely Bank Dental in Edinburgh, our plan members' children are seen under the NHS and adults are seen privately.
How Does NHS Dentistry Work in Scotland?
To have NHS treatment, you register with a dental practice that's accepting NHS patients. In Scotland, registration doesn't lapse just because you haven't been for a while, although a practice can end it.
The main points:
- Dental examinations are free for everyone registered for NHS care.
- Treatment is free for children and young people under 26, for pregnant women and those who've had a baby in the last year, and for people on certain benefits or getting help through the NHS Low Income Scheme.
- Most other adults pay 80% of the NHS fee for each course of treatment, up to a set maximum.
- The NHS covers what's clinically necessary to keep your mouth healthy. Treatments done purely for appearance, such as whitening, veneers or cosmetic bonding, aren't available, and implants are provided only in limited circumstances, usually through hospital services.
NHS fees are set nationally, so every NHS practice in Scotland charges the same amount for the same item of treatment.
Moving to Private Care?
There's no waiting list for adults, and our plan members' children are seen under the NHS. Book a new patient examination and we'll talk through what you need and what it costs.
What the NHS Does Well
It's worth saying plainly: the NHS provides good dental care, and many excellent dentists work within it.
- Value. Free dental examinations, and treatment that's either free or capped, make the NHS the most affordable route for many people.
- Children's care. Free treatment and Scotland's Childsmile programme put prevention at the centre from the earliest age.
- Essential treatment. Fillings, root canal treatment, extractions, gum treatment, crowns and dentures are all available where they're clinically needed.
If you're under 26, qualify for free treatment or need only straightforward care, an NHS place can be the right choice, and it's worth looking for one.
What Does Private Dental Care Add?
Private care is paid for directly, so an appointment can be shaped by what the treatment needs rather than by a fixed national fee. In practice, that usually means:
- More time. Longer appointments for examinations, discussion and treatment, with time to answer your questions properly.
- More choice of materials. For example, all-ceramic crowns, porcelain onlays and tooth-coloured fillings chosen for how they look and how long they last.
- Treatments the NHS doesn't offer. Dental implants, Invisalign for adults, whitening, composite bonding and porcelain veneers.
- Easier access. We have no waiting list, and later appointments can be arranged.
- Clear fees in advance. You can see guide prices before you book, and you get a written treatment plan before anything starts.
Private care isn't automatically better care. A good dentist recommends the same thing whichever system you're in, and you should only ever be offered treatment you need or have asked for.
NHS and Private Care Side by Side
| Feature | NHS in Scotland | Private at Comely Bank Dental |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Anyone registered with a practice that has NHS places | Adults; plan members' children are seen under the NHS |
| Dental examinations | Free | £70, or £95 for new patients |
| Treatment costs | Free for children, under-26s and some others; most adults pay 80% up to a maximum | Guide prices, confirmed in a written treatment plan |
| Appointment time | Shaped by national fees | Planned around the treatment |
| Cosmetic treatment and implants | Cosmetic treatment not available; implants only in limited cases | Available, with free consultations for implants, bonding and Invisalign |
| Getting an appointment | Adult NHS places can be hard to find | No waiting list |
Neither column is right for everyone. The table is a starting point for deciding what matters most to you.
Why Are We Private for Adults and NHS for Their Children?
We look after adults privately so that appointments can be planned around what each person needs, with the time, materials and range of treatment that private care allows, from hygiene visits to implants and Invisalign.
We see our plan members' children under the NHS so that families don't pay for their children's dental care, which is free on the NHS in Scotland. It also means families can be looked after together: parents privately and children under the NHS, often with appointments booked back to back. Many of the families we see live close by in Comely Bank and Stockbridge.
We don't have NHS places for adults. If you're an adult who would prefer NHS care, that's a perfectly sensible choice, and NHS inform has information on finding a practice that's accepting NHS patients.
What Does Private Care Cost at Comely Bank Dental?
Our fees are guide prices, confirmed in writing before treatment starts. Some common examples:
- New patient examination: £95
- Routine examination: £70
- Hygiene visit (30 minutes): £90
- Small filling: £170
- Crown on a back tooth: £760
- Emergency appointment for registered patients: £75
Consultations for implants, composite bonding and Invisalign are free. Many adults join one of our dental plans: Plan A and Plan B include examinations and hygiene visits and take 10% off most private treatment. The full list is on our fees page.
Which Is Right for You?
There's no single right answer, but as a rough guide:
The NHS may suit you best if you're under 26, qualify for free treatment, have straightforward needs or cost is the deciding factor, and you can find a practice with NHS places.
Private care may suit you better if you'd like more time with your dentist, want cosmetic treatment or implants, would like a wider choice of materials, can't find an NHS place, or need to be seen without waiting.
Many families use both: NHS care for the children and private care for the adults. Whatever you choose, going for regular dental examinations matters more than which system they're in.
Emergency Care If You're Not Registered Anywhere
If you're in pain and not registered with a dentist, you still have options. In Edinburgh, NHS Lothian provides emergency dental care for people who aren't registered with a practice, and NHS 24 on 111 can advise outside normal hours.
We also see people who aren't registered with us for emergency appointments, at £99. Call us on 0131 332 3971 as early in the day as you can. Our emergencies page explains what to do in the meantime.
Questions
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to say what is right for your teeth.