Paying for dental treatment in the UK Why do I have to pay my dentist when I don’t pay my GP? 
Charges for NHS dental treatment were introduced in 1951 to help cover treatment costs. 
The NHS spends around £2.25 billion on dental treatment a year, and patients only pay £550 million for this. So, although it may not seem fair that you have to pay for dental treatment, the NHS still carries the biggest share of dental costs. 
How can I pay for dental treatment? 
You can pay for dental treatment on the NHS or as a private patient. This will depend on the arrangements you make with your dentist. If your dentist’s NHS list is full, or if they do not see NHS patients, they may only be able to treat you privately. If you cannot afford this, your local primary care trust will help you find a dentist in your area who will treat you as an NHS patient, or you can visit www.nhs.uk. 
There are many ways you can pay for treatment, either on the NHS or privately: 

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https://www.dentalhealth.org/p....aying-for-dental-tre