How hard is it to get an NHS dentist in Canterbury, and what will it cost?

How do the official figures compare?

Adults are counted if they were seen at least once in 24 months, and children if they were seen in 12 months, to 31 March 2026. The percentage uses the mid-2025 population of Canterbury. South East is the average of its council areas, not a separate survey.

Has access been getting better or worse?

The line shows the official share of adults living in Canterbury who were seen by an NHS dentist in the 24 months to each 31 March. The dashed line is the England figure for the year to 31 March 2026.

What treatment did residents of Canterbury receive?

In 2025/26 there were 89,464 courses of NHS dental treatment recorded for people who live in Canterbury, or about 550 per 1,000 residents. Band 1 is a check-up and simple care; Band 2 includes fillings and extractions; Band 3 includes crowns and dentures. Urgent courses are shown separately.

A person can have more than one course of treatment in a year, so this is not the same as the number of patients seen.

What will NHS dental treatment cost in Canterbury?

NHS dental charges in England are set nationally, so they are the same in Canterbury as anywhere else in England. From 1 April 2026 they are:

• Band 1, including a check-up or urgent care: £27.90
• Band 2, including fillings or an extraction: £76.60
• Band 3, including a crown, denture or bridge: £332.10

You pay one charge for each complete course of treatment, even if it takes more than one visit. Some people pay nothing — children, pregnant women and people on certain benefits are among those who may be exempt. See the NHS dental charges guide and the cost calculator.

Typical advertised private fees in the UK, from published surveys in 2026, were around £50 to £80 for a check-up, about £150 for a white filling, and about £720 to £750 for a crown. Those are national typical figures, not a price list for Canterbury, and they are not official statistics. Details and sources are on the NHS versus private costs page.

Where nearby was NHS dental access better?

These neighbouring or nearby areas had a higher share of adults seen in the same 24 months. Travelling may still not get you a place: the figures do not show which practices are taking patients.

• Swale — 46% of adults seen (this region)
• Ashford — 45% of adults seen (this region)
• Thanet — 43% of adults seen (this region)
• Folkestone and Hythe — 41% of adults seen (this region)
• Dover — 39% of adults seen (this region)
• Maidstone — 34% of adults seen (this region)

Other neighbours:

• Dover 39% of adults
• Thanet 43% of adults
• Swale 46% of adults
• Folkestone and Hythe 41% of adults
• Ashford 45% of adults
• Maidstone 34% of adults

How can you find an NHS dentist, or get urgent help?

Search the official NHS find a dentist service for practices near Canterbury. If you cannot find one taking patients, your integrated care board may be able to advise. This site does not list whether a practice is accepting new NHS patients, because the official activity files do not say.

If you need urgent care and cannot see a dentist, call NHS 111, or use the 111 online service. Call 999 only if it is a life-threatening emergency. There is a longer emergency dentist guide and a guide to finding an NHS dentist.

Information only, not medical advice. If you are in pain or worried about a dental problem, contact a dentist, call NHS 111, or call 999 in an emergency. Dentist Atlas is independent and is not part of, or endorsed by, the NHS.