How do I register with an NHS dentist in Colchester?

To register with an NHS dentist in Colchester, contact the practice directly and ask if they are accepting new NHS patients. You do not need to register in the same way as with a GP - simply book an appointment and confirm you'd like NHS treatment. If you're struggling to find a practice, call NHS 111 or contact your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) for help finding availability.

What is the difference between NHS and private dental treatment?

NHS dental treatment covers clinically necessary care at fixed prices set by the government. Private treatment offers a wider range of options including cosmetic procedures and premium materials, but at higher costs set by each practice. Both NHS and private dentists are qualified to the same standard - the difference is in the range of treatments available and the materials used.

Can I get emergency NHS dental treatment in Colchester?

Yes, if you have a dental emergency such as severe pain, swelling, or trauma, you can contact an NHS dental practice in Colchester for urgent care. If your regular dentist can't see you, call NHS 111 for help finding an emergency dental service. Emergency treatment falls under Band 1 (£27.90) unless further treatment is needed.

What NHS dental treatments are available for children in Colchester?

Children under 18 (or under 19 and in full-time education) are entitled to free NHS dental treatment. This includes check-ups, fillings, extractions, and orthodontic treatment where clinically necessary.

NHS Dentists in Colchester Accepting New Patients (11)

Dentists found

4.6/5

Average rating

£93

Average check-up price

£88

Average hygienist price

2k+

Reviews analysed

11 dentists

The Art Of Dentistry

★★★★★ 5.0 (176 reviews)

3 The Avenue, Colchester CO3 3PA, CO3 3PA

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

£130

Hygienist

£160

Patients say

Likes most

Friendly staff
Gentle hygienist
Professional care
Long-term trust

176 reviews

View prices View reviews

Dedham Dental

★★★★★ 4.9 (143 reviews)

1 Princel Ln, Dedham, Colchester CO7 6HD, CO7 6HD

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

£60

Hygienist

£40

Patients say

Likes most

Friendly staff
Thorough dentist
Professional service
Good communication

143 reviews

View prices View reviews

The Avenue Smile Clinic

★★★★★ 4.9 (80 reviews)

12 The Avenue, Colchester CO3 3PA, CO3 3PA

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

80 reviews

View prices View reviews

The Smile Clinic

★★★★★ 4.8 (680 reviews)

61 Mill Rd, Mile End, Colchester CO4 5LE, CO4 5LE

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

Patients say

Likes most

Friendly staff
Great with children
Puts nervous patients at ease
Modern equipment

Worth knowing

Phone can be hard to reach

680 reviews

View prices View reviews

The Essex Dental Clinic at Earls Colne

★★★★★ 4.7 (133 reviews)

14B Field House, Rural Business Park, Earls Colne Airfield, Colchester CO6 2NS, CO6 2NS

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

£90

Hygienist

—

Patients say

Likes most

Friendly staff
Great for nervous patients
Sedation options
Quick extractions

133 reviews

View prices View reviews

North Hill Dental Care

★★★★★ 4.7 (43 reviews)

65A North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX, CO1 1PX

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

£65

Patients say

Likes most

Friendly staff
Great for nervous patients
Excellent emergency care
Clear communication

43 reviews

View prices View reviews

Together Dental Colchester (St Botolph's Street)

★★★★★ 4.6 (214 reviews)

12 St Botolph's St, Colchester CO2 7DU, CO2 7DU

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

214 reviews

View prices View reviews

The Smile Clinic Cosmetic Dentistry & Implant Centre

★★★★★ 4.6 (728 reviews)

39 St Botolph's St, Colchester CO2 7EA, CO2 7EA

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

Patients say

Likes most

Friendly staff
Gentle dentists
Great with nervous patients
Good with children

Worth knowing

Appointment delays

728 reviews

View prices View reviews

North Hill Dental Layer Road

★★★★☆ 4.4 (61 reviews)

172 Layer Rd, Colchester CO2 9LA, CO2 9LA

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

61 reviews

View prices View reviews

Together Dental Colchester (Queen Street)

★★★★☆ 4.3 (233 reviews)

12 Queen St, Colchester CO1 2PJ, CO1 2PJ

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

233 reviews

View prices View reviews

Bromley Road Dental Surgery/Oracle dental group

★★★★☆ 4.0 (41 reviews)

Bromley Road Dental Surgery, 13A Bromley Rd, Colchester CO4 3JE, CO4 3JE

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

41 reviews

View prices View reviews

Nearby Locations

London dentists Glasgow dentists Birmingham dentists Manchester dentists Bristol dentists Leeds dentists

All Dentists Colchester

NHS Limited

The Art Of Dentistry

★★★★★ 5.0 (176 reviews)

3 The Avenue, Colchester CO3 3PA, CO3 3PA

Opens Mon 8:30am

£130 View Details

NHS Limited

Dedham Dental

★★★★★ 4.9 (143 reviews)

1 Princel Ln, Dedham, Colchester CO7 6HD, CO7 6HD

Opens Mon 8am

£28 View Details

NHS Limited

The Avenue Smile Clinic

★★★★★ 4.9 (80 reviews)

12 The Avenue, Colchester CO3 3PA, CO3 3PA

Opens Mon 8:30am

View Details

NHS Limited

The Smile Clinic

★★★★★ 4.8 (680 reviews)

61 Mill Rd, Mile End, Colchester CO4 5LE, CO4 5LE

Opens Mon 9am

£0 View Details

The Essex Dental Clinic at Earls Colne

★★★★★ 4.7 (133 reviews)

14B Field House, Rural Business Park, Earls Colne Airfield, Colchester CO6 2NS, CO6 2NS

Open until 3pm

£90 View Details

NHS Limited

North Hill Dental Care

★★★★★ 4.7 (43 reviews)

65A North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX, CO1 1PX

Opens Mon 8:30am

£52 View Details

NHS Limited

Together Dental Colchester (St Botolph's Street)

★★★★★ 4.6 (214 reviews)

12 St Botolph's St, Colchester CO2 7DU, CO2 7DU

Opens Mon 8:15am

View Details

NHS Limited

The Smile Clinic Cosmetic Dentistry & Implant Centre

★★★★★ 4.6 (728 reviews)

39 St Botolph's St, Colchester CO2 7EA, CO2 7EA

Opens Mon 9am

£0 View Details

North Hill Dental Layer Road

★★★★☆ 4.4 (61 reviews)

172 Layer Rd, Colchester CO2 9LA, CO2 9LA

Opens Mon 8:30am

View Details

NHS Limited

Together Dental Colchester (Queen Street)

★★★★☆ 4.3 (233 reviews)

12 Queen St, Colchester CO1 2PJ, CO1 2PJ

Opens Mon 8:30am

View Details

Bromley Road Dental Surgery/Oracle dental group

★★★★☆ 4.0 (41 reviews)

Bromley Road Dental Surgery, 13A Bromley Rd, Colchester CO4 3JE, CO4 3JE

Opens Mon 8am

View Details

Dentists found

4.6/5

Average rating

£93

Average check-up price

£88

Average hygienist price

2k+

Reviews analysed

11 dentists nearby

The Art Of Dentistry

★★★★★ 5.0 (176 reviews)

3 The Avenue, Colchester CO3 3PA, CO3 3PA

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

£130

Hygienist

£160

Patients say

Likes most

Friendly staff
Gentle hygienist
Professional care
Long-term trust

176 reviews

View prices View reviews

Dedham Dental

★★★★★ 4.9 (143 reviews)

1 Princel Ln, Dedham, Colchester CO7 6HD, CO7 6HD

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

£60

Hygienist

£40

Patients say

Likes most

Friendly staff
Thorough dentist
Professional service
Good communication

143 reviews

View prices View reviews

The Avenue Smile Clinic

★★★★★ 4.9 (80 reviews)

12 The Avenue, Colchester CO3 3PA, CO3 3PA

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

80 reviews

View prices View reviews

The Smile Clinic

★★★★★ 4.8 (680 reviews)

61 Mill Rd, Mile End, Colchester CO4 5LE, CO4 5LE

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

Patients say

Likes most

Friendly staff
Great with children
Puts nervous patients at ease
Modern equipment

Worth knowing

Phone can be hard to reach

680 reviews

View prices View reviews

The Essex Dental Clinic at Earls Colne

★★★★★ 4.7 (133 reviews)

14B Field House, Rural Business Park, Earls Colne Airfield, Colchester CO6 2NS, CO6 2NS

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

£90

Hygienist

—

Patients say

Likes most

Friendly staff
Great for nervous patients
Sedation options
Quick extractions

133 reviews

View prices View reviews

North Hill Dental Care

★★★★★ 4.7 (43 reviews)

65A North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PX, CO1 1PX

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

£65

Patients say

Likes most

Friendly staff
Great for nervous patients
Excellent emergency care
Clear communication

43 reviews

View prices View reviews

Together Dental Colchester (St Botolph's Street)

★★★★★ 4.6 (214 reviews)

12 St Botolph's St, Colchester CO2 7DU, CO2 7DU

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

214 reviews

View prices View reviews

The Smile Clinic Cosmetic Dentistry & Implant Centre

★★★★★ 4.6 (728 reviews)

39 St Botolph's St, Colchester CO2 7EA, CO2 7EA

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

Patients say

Likes most

Friendly staff
Gentle dentists
Great with nervous patients
Good with children

Worth knowing

Appointment delays

728 reviews

View prices View reviews

North Hill Dental Layer Road

★★★★☆ 4.4 (61 reviews)

172 Layer Rd, Colchester CO2 9LA, CO2 9LA

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

61 reviews

View prices View reviews

Together Dental Colchester (Queen Street)

★★★★☆ 4.3 (233 reviews)

12 Queen St, Colchester CO1 2PJ, CO1 2PJ

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

233 reviews

View prices View reviews

Bromley Road Dental Surgery/Oracle dental group

★★★★☆ 4.0 (41 reviews)

Bromley Road Dental Surgery, 13A Bromley Rd, Colchester CO4 3JE, CO4 3JE

Private NHS

Prices from

Check-up

—

Hygienist

—

41 reviews

View prices View reviews

View all 45 dentists in Colchester

11 dental practices in Colchester (of 45) are currently listed as accepting new NHS patients — 5 taking adults and 11 taking children.

NHS availability last checked 2 June 2026. Availability can change week to week — call practices directly to confirm.

NHS dental charges in Colchester

NHS dental treatment in England is charged at fixed rates across three bands. These prices apply to all NHS dental practices in Colchester and across England.

Band	What's included	Cost
Band 1	Check-up, X-rays, scale & polish, urgent care	£27.90
Band 2	Fillings, extractions, root canal treatment	£76.60
Band 3	Crowns, bridges, dentures	£332.10
Urgent	Emergency examination & treatment	£27.90

Who qualifies for free NHS dental care?

You may be entitled to free NHS dental treatment if you fall into one of the following categories. Currently 5 NHS dental practices in Colchester are accepting patients entitled to free care.

Age-based

Under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
Pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months (with a valid MatEx certificate)

Benefits-based

Income Support
Income-related Employment & Support Allowance
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
Universal Credit (with no earnings or net earnings below the threshold)

Other exemptions

Being treated in an NHS hospital by a hospital dentist
NHS Low Income Scheme - full help (HC2 certificate)
War pensioners (for treatment related to the accepted disability)

If you're on a low income but don't qualify for full help, you may still get partial help through the NHS Low Income Scheme (HC3 certificate). Apply using form HC1, available from Jobcentre Plus or NHS hospitals.

NHS dental availability in Colchester

11 NHS dental practices

5 accepting adults

11 accepting children

5 accepting free care patients

NHS dental availability can change frequently. We recommend contacting the practice directly to confirm they are currently accepting new NHS patients before travelling.

Find an NHS dentist — NHS.uk

Nearby Locations

NHS dental charges in Colchester

Who qualifies for free NHS dental care?

Age-based

Benefits-based

Other exemptions

NHS dental availability in Colchester

NHS Dental Care FAQs - Colchester