NHS Dental Crisis 2026: Cannot find an NHS dentist? Private plans give you predictable monthly costs. Compare plans from £5/month →

Compare UK Dental Plans 2026

Independent comparison of the UK's leading dental plans. Use the filters to find the right cover for your needs and budget.

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Side-by-side comparison

Side-by-side comparison of all seven UK dental plans: price, plan type, dentist choice, emergency cover and score
FeatureDenplanSimplyhealthBUPABootsWPAWestfield HealthAXA Health
Monthly pricefrom £13/mofrom £8/mofrom £8/mofrom £8/mofrom £12/mofrom £5/mofrom £12/mo
Plan typecapitationcash planinsuranceinsuranceinsurancecash planinsurance
Any dentist✗✓✓✓✓✓✓
Online signup✗✓✓✓✓✓✓
Emergency included✗✓✓✓✓✗✓
Worldwide emergency✗✗✓✗✓✗✓
NHS cover✗✓✗✓✗✓✓
Hygienist included✓✓✓✗✓✓✓
No assessment needed✗✓✓✓✓✓✓
Overall score8.2/108.5/108.0/107.5/107.8/107.6/108.0/10
Read ReviewRead ReviewRead ReviewRead ReviewRead ReviewRead ReviewRead Review

Prices last verified July 2026. Always verify directly with the provider before purchasing.

Browse and filter plans

Showing 7 plans

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
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
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
AX

AXA Health

AXA Dental Insurance

from £12/mo

8.0/10
Dental Insurance

Dental insurance with a unique no-claims discount of up to 35%

No-claims discountNHS + private optionsMouth cancer cover
✓Any dentist
✓Online signup
✓Emergency included
✓No assessment needed
WP

WPA

WPA Dental Cover

from £12/mo

7.8/10
Dental Insurance

Comprehensive private dental insurance with strong customer service

Worldwide emergencyHygienist coverFamily plans
✓Any dentist
✓Online signup
✓Emergency included
✓No assessment needed
WH

Westfield Health

Westfield Health Dental

from £5/mo

7.6/10
Health Cash Plan

Great-value health cash plan — dental cover from just £5/month

From £5/monthNo waiting periodAny dentist
✓Any dentist
✓Online signup
✗Emergency included
✓No assessment needed
BT

Boots

Boots Dental Insurance

from £8/mo

7.5/10
Dental Insurance

Affordable dental insurance backed by the trusted Boots brand

From £8/monthNHS + privateNo health assessment
✓Any dentist
✓Online signup
✓Emergency included
✓No assessment needed

Prices last verified July 2026. Always verify directly with the provider before purchasing.

Head-to-head comparisons

Two plans, one page: price, cover, waiting periods and who each one suits.

Before you choose

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a dental plan and dental insurance?

A dental plan (like Denplan) is a monthly payment arrangement with your dentist that covers routine and restorative treatment. Dental insurance (like BUPA) is an insurance product where you pay premiums and claim for treatment up to annual limits. A health cash plan (like Simplyhealth) lets you claim back costs from any dentist.

Is Denplan or Simplyhealth better?

It depends on your situation. Denplan is better if you already have a private dentist and want one monthly fee to cover all treatment. Simplyhealth is better if you want flexibility to use any dentist, including NHS, and prefer to claim back costs.

Do I need a dental plan if I have an NHS dentist?

Not necessarily. NHS treatment is subsidised, with charges of £27.90, £76.60, or £332.10 per course of treatment in England. If you visit regularly, a dental cash plan (like Simplyhealth or Westfield) can help cover these costs and any private hygienist fees.

Can I get a dental plan without a dental check-up first?

It depends on the provider. Denplan typically requires a dental assessment before joining. Simplyhealth, BUPA, Boots, WPA, AXA and Westfield Health generally don't require an assessment — you can join online immediately.

Are dental plans worth it in 2026?

For regular dental users (two or more visits per year), a dental plan usually works out cheaper or comparable to pay-as-you-go. Use our dental cost calculator to get a personalised estimate based on your usage and region.