The city’s rise in costs for white fillings (52.11%) is among the highest in the region
13:55, 05 Jan 2025Updated 13:55, 05 Jan 2025
81% of Merseyside dentists were not accepting new patients aged 18 and over last year
Private dental costs in Liverpool have skyrocketed over the past two years according to new data, with some treatments seeing increases of more than 50%. A single white filling at a Liverpool practice cost on average £144.50 in 2024 – a staggering £49 more than the £95 average in 2022.
New research from myTribe Insurance Experts pricing data from hundreds of dental practices across the UK has revealed massive regional inequalities in dental costs. Price hikes in Liverpool soared face above the national average, with the most significant rises being the cost of fillings and non-surgical extractions.
The city’s rise in costs for white fillings (52.11%) is among the highest in the region, outpacing Manchester’s 45.96%. However, routine treatment costs remain competitive and closer to national averages, making Liverpool one of the more accessible cities in the region for check-ups and hygiene services.
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NHS dental care is increasingly strained, with limited availability forcing many to seek alternatives. In November, analysis of the 167 NHS dental practices in Merseyside revealed 136 (81%) were not accepting new patients aged 18 and over. In two constituencies, Liverpool West Derby and Wirral West, not a single NHS dentist was accepting new adult patients.
Meanwhile, 67% of NHS dentists in Merseyside were not accepting children aged 17 or under, and again Liverpool West Derby did not have a single practice accepting new child patients. The problem was reflected nationally, as nearly 4,800 of more than 6,500 NHS dentists (73%) were not accepting adults aged 18 or over.
As more and more people have been forced to rely on private dental surgeries, the cost of these services has shown a consistent year-on-year increase between 2022 and 2024 nationwide. The average cost of a consultation for new patients rose from £65 in 2022 to £80 in 2024 – a 23.08% rise.
Routine check-ups for existing patients rose from £48 in 2022 to £55 in 2024, a 30-minute scale and polish rose from £65 to £75, and white fillings rose from £105 to £129. Simple extractions rose from £105 in 2022 to £139 in 2024, and complex procedures like root canals increased from £350 in 2022 to £399 in 2024.
In Liverpool these increases are even higher, with white fillings going from £95 on average in 2022 to £144.50 in 2024 – far exceeding the UK-wide median increase of 22.86%. Simple extractions rose from £95 to £130, and initial consultations rose from £70 to £87.50, aligning with the broader North West median of £80. Routine treatments also showed moderate increases.
Liverpool’s data:
Treatment name
Median Cost (2022)
Median Cost (2023)
Median Cost (2024)
22-24 change
Initial consultation for new patient
£70.00
£77.50
£87.50
25.00%
Routine check-up for existing patient
£55.00
£55.00
£60.00
9.09%
30 minute scale and polish
£69.50
£75.00
£75.00
7.91%
White filling
£95.00
£127.50
£144.50
52.11%
Simple extraction (non-surgical)
£95.00
£120.00
£130.00
36.84%
Anterior root canal
£445.00
£450.00
£485.00
8.99%