CMA Private Dentistry Review 2026 — our comparisons are fully independent

Compare UK Dental PlansFind the Right Cover for Your Teeth

13 million people cannot get an NHS dentist. Compare Denplan, Simplyhealth, BUPA and more — free, unbiased, updated for 2026.

6 providers compared
Free & independent
Updated April 2026

NHS Dental Crisis 2026

97% of adults without a registered NHS dentist cannot find a new one in some areas (BDA, 2026). Private dental plans start from £8/month and offer predictable costs for routine and emergency care.

Not sure which plan is right for you?

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Question 1 of 30% complete

What do you mainly need from a dental plan?

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Top-rated dental plans

Independently reviewed and updated for 2026

Most Popular
DP

Denplan

Denplan Care

from £13/mo

8.2/10
Capitation Plan

UK's largest dental payment plan with 6,700+ member dentists

6,700+ dentistsPersonalised feeRestorative cover
Any dentist
Online signup
Emergency included
No assessment needed
Most Popular
SH

Simplyhealth

Simply Dental

from £8/mo

8.5/10
Health Cash Plan

Flexible health cash plan — use any dentist, claim from day one

Any dentistNo waiting periodNHS + private cover
Any dentist
Online signup
Emergency included
No assessment needed
Most Popular
BP

BUPA

BUPA Dental Cover

from £8/mo

8.0/10
Dental Insurance

Trusted dental insurance with worldwide emergency cover

Worldwide emergencyAny dentistOnline claims
Any dentist
Online signup
Emergency included
No assessment needed

3 types of dental cover explained simply

Understanding the difference is the key to choosing correctly.

🦷

Capitation Plan

e.g. Denplan

You pay a fixed monthly fee to your dentist, who covers all agreed treatment. Your fee is based on your own oral health, so people with healthy teeth pay less.

Best for:

People with an existing private dentist who want predictable costs.

💰

Health Cash Plan

e.g. Simplyhealth, Westfield

You pay a monthly premium and claim back costs when you have treatment. You can use any NHS or private dentist. There are annual limits per treatment type.

Best for:

People who want flexibility and the ability to use any dentist.

🛡

Dental Insurance

e.g. BUPA, Boots, WPA

Like health insurance but for teeth. You pay monthly premiums and claim for treatment up to annual limits. Often includes emergency cover and sometimes worldwide cover.

Best for:

People who want insurance-style cover, especially for emergencies.

CMA Private Dentistry Review 2026

The Competition and Markets Authority launched a review of private dentistry in March 2026, focusing on price transparency and consumer information. Our comparisons are fully independent — no advertiser can pay for better rankings on DentalPlanFinder.co.uk.

What does the CMA review mean for you? →