The city’s cost increase for white fills (52.11%) is among the highest in the region
Private dental costs in Liverpool have soared in the past two years according to new figures, with some treatments seeing rises of more than 50%. A single white fill in a Liverpool training session cost an average of £144.50 in 2024 – £49 more than the average of £95 in 2022.
New research from myTribe Insurance Experts billing data from hundreds of dental practices across the UK has revealed huge regional disparities in dental costs. Price increases in Liverpool soared above the national average, with the most significant increases being the cost of sealings and non-surgical exports.
The city’s cost increase for white fills (52.11%) is among the highest in the region, beating Manchester’s 45.96%. However, routine treatment costs remain competitive and closer to national averages, making Liverpool one of the most 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 167 NHS dental practices in Merseyside revealed that 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 young adult patients.
Meanwhile, 67% of NHS dentists in Merseyside did not see children aged 17 and under and Liverpool West Derby again did not have a single practice accepting new child patients. The problem was mirrored nationally, with nearly 4,800 out of 6,500 NHS dentists (73%) not accepting adults aged 18 and over.
As more and more people are forced to rely on private dental practices, the cost of these services shows a steady year-on-year increase between 2022 and 2024 nationally. The average cost of a consultation for new patients has risen from £65 in 2022 to £80 in 2024 – an increase of 23.08%.
Routine check-ups for existing patients rose from £48 in 2022 to £55 in 2024, a 30-minute scale and varnish 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 such as root canals rose from £350 in 2022 to £399 in 2024.
In Liverpool these increases are even higher, with white fills going from an average of £95 in 2022 to £144.50 in 2024 – well outpacing the UK average increase of 22.86%. Simple exports rose from £95 to £130, and initial consultations rose from £70 to £87.50, in line with the wider North West median of £80. Routine treatments also showed modest increases.
Liverpool facts:
Treatment name
Average cost (2022)
Average cost (2023)
Average cost (2024)
22-24 change
Initial consultation for a new patient
£70.00
£77.50
£87.50
25.00%
Routine check for existing patient
£55.00
£55.00
£60.00
9.09%
Scale and polish 30 minutes
£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%
