NHS Dentists in Eltham: How to Find One, What You Pay and Getting an Urgent Appointment

NHS dentists in Eltham, New Eltham and Mottingham decide for themselves whether they are taking new NHS patients, and that changes often. For that reason, check directly with a practice before relying on it. This guide tells you how the NHS says to find one, what NHS treatment costs as published, and how to get urgent dental care.

How do I find an NHS dentist near Eltham?

The NHS's how to find an NHS dentist page says you can contact any NHS dentist and ask for an appointment if you have symptoms or need a routine check-up, and links to the NHS service search where you can enter an SE9 postcode. A few things it says are worth knowing:

• At your first visit you may be asked to fill in a registration form, but this does not guarantee you NHS appointments at that practice in future.
• Some practices run waiting lists.
• Some practices offer both NHS and private care, so ask specifically for an NHS appointment.
• If you cannot find an NHS dentist locally, you can contact your local integrated care board (ICB), which commissions dental services in the area. For Eltham that is NHS South East London.
• General dental practices should provide NHS care for patients with additional or special needs, and specialist treatment may be by referral to Special Care Dentistry.

What does NHS dental treatment cost?

According to the NHS's dental charges page, the charge bands at the time we read it were:

• Band 1, £27.90: examination, assessment and advice, plus X-rays, a fluoride application and simple gum scaling where needed.
• Band 2, £76.60: everything in Band 1 plus fillings, root canal treatment, extractions and extensive gum disease management.
• Band 3, £332.10: everything in Bands 1 and 2 plus crowns, dentures, bridges and orthodontic treatment.
• Urgent treatment, £27.90: the same as Band 1, covering an examination, emergency fillings and abscess drainage, among other things.

If you need a mix of treatments from different bands, the NHS says you pay the cost of the highest band. These amounts are revised periodically, so check the page. Some people are entitled to free NHS dental care; the NHS pages cover who qualifies.

How do I get an urgent dental appointment?

NHS South East London's announcement of extra urgent dental appointments, published on 19 January 2026, says you can book an urgent appointment through NHS 111, using the NHS App, 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111. You may also contact participating dental practices directly. It also says you do not need to be registered with an NHS dental practice to have an urgent appointment.

The conditions it lists include severe toothache that painkillers cannot control, a dental abscess with swelling, pain or fever, broken or knocked-out teeth after an injury, uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth after a procedure or injury, significant facial or mouth swelling that may suggest infection, painful fractured or loose fillings, and severe gum bleeding. The announcement says further treatment beyond the urgent care may need extra visits and may cost more.

If swelling is spreading to your eye or neck, or you are struggling to breathe or swallow, treat it as an emergency and use A&E or 999 rather than waiting for a dental slot.