Dentures Cost UK 2026: NHS vs Private False Teeth Prices

If you’ve been told you need dentures, whether it’s a single false tooth or a full set, you’ll want to know what it will cost. On the NHS in England, the answer is £332.10 in 2026. That one Band 3 charge covers full or partial dentures, in plastic or metal. Upper and lower sets made in the same course count as one charge. Privately, a partial acrylic denture starts at £635 to £1,045 and a full acrylic denture at £835 to £1,195. Those are Bupa Dental Care prices we checked in September 2026.

The price gap between NHS and private is wide. This guide sets out the real dentures cost UK-wide, nation by nation, plus what relines and repairs cost. It also covers a cheaper private route that many people don’t know about.

Last updated: 30 September 2026. Prices checked on the day of update.

Dentures Cost UK: 2026 Price Table

Here is what you pay for dentures in each UK nation, with private prices from Bupa Dental Care practices and a clinical dental technician’s denture clinic.

Treatment	NHS England	NHS Wales	Scotland and Northern Ireland	Private (examples checked)
Full acrylic denture	£332.10 (Band 3)	£86.40 plus lab fees	80% of the fee, max £384	Bupa: from £835 to from £1,195
Partial acrylic denture	£332.10 (Band 3)	£86.40 plus lab fees	80% of the fee, max £384	Bupa: from £635 to from £1,045
Metal (cobalt chrome) partial	£332.10 (Band 3)	£86.40 plus lab fees	80% of the fee, max £384	Denture clinic: from £1,089
Reline	£76.60 (Band 2)	£25 plus lab fees	80% of the fee, max £384	Denture clinic: £290
Repair	Free	£25 plus lab fees	80% of the fee, max £384	Denture clinic: from £75

 

Sources: NHS England charges from the NHS guide to dental charges. Wales from the Welsh Government’s NHS dental charges and exemptions page. Scotland from NHS Inform and Northern Ireland from the Business Services Organisation. Bupa prices are “from” prices at Market Harborough, Sale and Trowbridge. Denture clinic prices are from The Natural Denture Clinic in Havant, run by a clinical dental technician. All private prices were checked on 30 September 2026.

What the NHS charge covers

The Band 3 charge covers the whole course of treatment. That includes the examination, impressions, try-in visits and fitting. The NHS lists dentures “made from plastic or metal” under Band 3, so a metal-framed partial denture is not automatically a private extra. Your dentist decides what is clinically necessary.

• Upper and lower together: both sets made in the same course are one Band 3 charge in England.
• Immediate dentures: if you need teeth quickly, for example straight after extractions, the NHS says immediate dentures can usually be made within a few days.
• Follow-up visits: if you need more treatment within two months, and it falls in the same band or a lower one, you don’t pay again.

 

Wales works differently since April 2026. The denture care package costs £86.40, covers upper and lower dentures, and lab fees are added on top. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the most you pay for one course of NHS treatment is £384. Our guide to NHS dental charges in 2026 explains all three bands.

 

 

How we worked out the pension figures: we divided each price by the full new State Pension of £241.30 a week for 2026-27, as published by Age UK. So £835 divided by £241.30 is 3.5 weeks, and £1,195 is 5.0 weeks.

 

How Much Do False Teeth Cost on the NHS?

False teeth cost £332.10 on the NHS in England, whether you need one tooth replaced or a complete set. That flat price is the big advantage of NHS dentures. A partial denture for a single gap costs the same as a full upper and lower set.

What do NHS dentures look like?

Modern NHS dentures are usually acrylic: tooth-coloured teeth set in a gum-coloured base. Well-made ones look natural in everyday conversation. The NHS notes that you may have a wider choice of materials if you pay privately. That mainly affects tooth shape, shade and how thin the plate can be.

Are dentures free for over-60s?

No, not in England. Turning 60 gives you free prescriptions, but not free dental treatment. You pay nothing only if you qualify for another reason, such as receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or holding a valid HC2 certificate.

If you are struggling to get seen, our guide on how to find an NHS dentist in 2026 covers the practical steps.

 

How Much Do Dentures Cost Privately?

Private dentures start at about £635 for a partial and £835 for a full acrylic denture at the Bupa practices we checked. Prices rise with the material and the number of teeth.

Acrylic dentures

Acrylic is the most common material, privately and on the NHS. At Bupa Dental Care, a full acrylic denture starts at £835 in Market Harborough, £1,055 in Sale and £1,195 in Trowbridge. A partial acrylic denture starts at £635, £1,045 and £790 at the same three practices.

Metal (cobalt chrome) dentures

A cobalt chrome partial has a thin metal frame with acrylic teeth. It is lighter and less bulky than an all-acrylic plate. At the denture clinic we checked, a chrome partial starts at £1,089, and a full set with a chrome upper palate starts at £2,310.

Flexible dentures

Flexible partials, made from a nylon-type material, are light and comfortable. The downside is that they are harder to adjust or add teeth to later. The clinic we checked adds a £300 processing fee for flexible dentures, so ask for the full price in writing.

Buying direct from a clinical dental technician

Many people don’t realise that if you have no natural teeth and no implants, you can go straight to a clinical dental technician for full dentures. The General Dental Council allows this without a dentist’s referral. For partial dentures, they need a prescription from a dentist.

At the Havant clinic we checked, a full upper and lower acrylic set starts at £1,200, and a single full denture at £610. That is a useful benchmark when comparing quotes.

Dentures Cost UK Beyond the First Set: Relines and Repairs

Dentures are not a one-off cost. Your gums and jawbone change shape over time, so dentures loosen and need attention.

• Repairs: free on the NHS in England if the denture can be repaired. If it can’t, you pay for a new set. Privately, repairs at the clinic we checked start at £75.
• Relines: a reline refits the underside of the denture to your gums. It is Band 2 on the NHS, at £76.60, compared with £290 for a standard reline at the denture clinic.
• Adding a tooth: Band 2 on the NHS. Privately, the clinic charges from £110 for one or two teeth.
• Minor adjustments: Band 1 on the NHS, at £27.90.

 

Immediate dentures need extra budgeting. The NHS says they often need adjusting or replacing up to a year later, as your gums heal. And one daily tip from the NHS: don’t clean dentures with toothpaste, which can damage them. Use soft soap or washing-up liquid instead.

A broken denture over a weekend? Our guide to emergency dentist costs in the UK explains your options.

NHS or Private Dentures: Which Makes Sense?

NHS dentures cost £332.10 for any type in England, and repairs are free. So it helps to know what the NHS can offer before you compare private quotes.

Going private may suit you better in three situations. You want a specific look, or a thinner, lighter plate. You can’t get an NHS appointment in a reasonable time. Or you have no teeth left and want to deal directly with a clinical dental technician.

If you are replacing just one or two teeth, compare a partial denture with a bridge. Our guide to dental crowns and bridges cost UK shows that a bridge is the same single Band 3 charge on the NHS. For a fixed alternative, see our guide to dental implants cost UK.

Questions to Ask Before You Commit

• Can I have these on the NHS? Including a metal partial, if you want one.
• What exactly is included? Privately, ask whether the quote covers every visit, the try-ins and lab fees.
• Is the price for one denture or a full set? “Full denture” can mean one arch. A full set is upper and lower.
• What happens if they don’t fit? Ask how many adjustment visits are included.
• What will relines and repairs cost? Compare with £76.60 and free on the NHS.
• Is the practitioner registered? Dentists and clinical dental technicians must both be on the GDC register.

 

If you’d rather spread the cost, our guide to private dental insurance for over-50s looks at whether cover is worth it.

 

 

Making Your Decision

A good first step is to check the NHS price. One charge of £332.10 covers any type of denture in England, repairs are free, and relines cost £76.60. Then ask a private dentist or clinical dental technician what, specifically, the extra money buys.

Whether that is worth it will depend on how much a better look or a lighter plate matters to you. Whichever you choose, get every quote in writing.

Explore more: read our guides to NHS dental charges in 2026, NHS vs private dentist costs and dental crowns and bridges cost UK. And join over 100,000 readers in The Best of Health community on Facebook to share your experience of NHS and private dentures.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only. Always consult your GP, dentist or a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions. NHS charges are correct for 2026. Private prices are starting prices listed by individual practices on 30 September 2026 and will vary by practice, location and treatment.