Best Dental Plans UK 2026: Expert Comparison

How we assessed the best dental plans

We assessed every major UK dental plan provider across five criteria: monthly cost, scope of coverage, annual limits or treatment caps, provider network availability, and value for money at different levels of dental usage.

We did not accept payment from providers to influence rankings. Our assessments are based on publicly available plan details and independent analysis.

Best for routine cover: Simplyhealth Level 1

If you mainly need cover for check-ups and hygiene appointments, Simplyhealth Level 1 at £8.50/month is our top pick for 2026. It offers £120/year cashback for dental appointments, covers two check-ups and one hygiene visit annually, and includes emergency dental cover when abroad.

Why it wins: It is the cheapest way to get meaningful dental cover in the UK. Check-ups typically cost £50–£80 privately; Level 1 cashback will cover most or all of a standard check-up. For patients with healthy teeth who simply want routine maintenance covered, this is excellent value.

The limitation: Annual cashback is modest. If you need a filling, you will still pay most of the cost out of pocket. Simplyhealth Level 1 is best thought of as maintenance cover, not treatment cover.

Best for comprehensive cover: Denplan Care

For patients who need restorative treatment, Denplan Care is the best UK dental plan in 2026. Monthly costs range from £15 to £22+ depending on your dentist's assessment of your dental health, but the coverage is unmatched: routine appointments, all restorative treatment (fillings, crowns, root canals), and 24/7 worldwide emergency cover are all included.

Why it wins: Unlike cashback plans, Denplan Care covers the full cost of treatment with no annual limit on restorative work. If you need a £700 crown, it is covered. If you need multiple fillings, they are covered. This predictability and comprehensive coverage makes it the best plan for anyone with active dental needs.

The limitation: You must be registered with a Denplan-participating dentist, and your monthly premium is set individually based on your dental health. Patients with significant existing dental issues will pay more.

Best for flexible cover: Boots Health Hub Level 2

Boots dental plans offer a good middle ground: more cover than the cheapest Simplyhealth tier, available online without needing a specific dentist, and competitive pricing at £12.99/month for Level 2.

Level 2 includes £300/year cashback for dental treatment (75% of costs up to the limit), emergency dental cover, and worldwide accident cover for dental injuries. It suits patients who occasionally need treatment beyond routine check-ups but do not have the volume of restorative work that would make Denplan Care worthwhile.

Why it works: Boots plans are straightforward to sign up for online, work with any dentist, and the Level 2 limit of £300/year covers most standard treatment needs.

Best for employees: WPA Dental

WPA Dental stands out for employer group plans. While their individual plans are competitively priced, their group employer policies offer significant discounts and broader coverage that make them the top choice for businesses wanting to offer dental benefits.

WPA also differentiates with slightly higher annual treatment limits on comparable tiers versus Simplyhealth and Boots, which matters for employees with higher dental needs.

Best budget pick: Westfield Health Level 1

Westfield Health, a not-for-profit provider, offers dental cashback starting from approximately £7/month — the cheapest option in the market. As a not-for-profit, surplus funds are reinvested rather than distributed as profit, which helps keep premiums competitive.

Coverage at Level 1 is basic (around £80/year dental cashback), but for the absolute minimum cost of having some dental cover, Westfield is a legitimate option. Their customer service ratings are consistently strong.

Also worth considering: AXA Health dental insurance

AXA Health offers standalone dental insurance plans that are a strong alternative to cashback plans — particularly for patients who want FCA-regulated insurance rather than a subscription dental plan.

AXA Core (NHS only, from ~£12/month): Covers routine NHS check-ups, hygiene treatment, and restorative treatment on the NHS. A 24/7 emergency helpline is included. Best for patients who still access some NHS dentistry but want a safety net.

AXA Premium (NHS and private, from ~£25/month): Covers 50% of private dental costs up to £1,000/year, with a £500 sub-limit for crowns, bridges, implants, inlays, and onlays. Also includes up to £12,000 mouth cancer cover, £2,500 worldwide accident cover (up to 4 incidents per year), and a hospital cash benefit of £60/night for up to 30 nights. A no-claims discount of up to 35% builds over 8 claim-free levels.

AXA holds a 5-star Defaqto rating and a Trustpilot score of 4.1/5 from over 14,000 reviews. The no-claims discount structure is unique among UK dental plans and rewards good oral health over time.

Our verdict: which plan should you choose?

The best dental plan in the UK for 2026 depends entirely on your dental situation:

Healthy teeth, just want check-up cover → Simplyhealth Level 1 (£8.50/month) Regular restorative needs → Denplan Care (£15–£22/month via your dentist) Occasional treatment, flexible dentist choice → Boots Level 2 (£12.99/month) Want the very cheapest option → Westfield Level 1 (~£7/month) Employer looking for group cover → WPA Dental (contact for quote) Want FCA-regulated insurance with no-claims discount → AXA Premium (from ~£25/month)

Use our free comparison tool to see all six providers side by side, filter by your budget, and compare exactly what is and is not covered at each price point.