NHS dental treatment is heavily subsidised for everyone in the UK — not just students. A check-up costs £26.80, fillings £73.50. Without registration you'd pay hundreds privately. Register early because NHS dentists are in high demand and waiting lists fill up fast.
Go to the NHS website and search for dentists near your postcode. Filter by "Accepting new NHS patients". You may need to try several — availability varies a lot by area. In large university cities, competition for NHS dentist spots is high.
Contact the practice directly — either call them or use their online registration form if they have one. Tell them you are a new patient looking to register. They may add you to a waiting list or book you in directly for a new patient check-up.
Bring your NHS number if you have one (you get this when you register with a GP). If you don't have one yet, that's fine — the dentist can still treat you. You'll pay the Band 1 charge of £26.80 for a check-up, or nothing if you're on a low income and claim an exemption.
This is very common, especially in London and Manchester. Options: (1) Keep checking the NHS website — spaces open up when patients leave. (2) Call NHS 111 — they can help you find urgent dental care. (3) Check if your university has an on-campus dental clinic, which are often cheaper than private practices.
Band 1 (check-up, cleaning): £26.80 | Band 2 (fillings, extractions): £73.50 | Band 3 (crowns, dentures, bridges): £319.10. These cover all treatment needed in a course of treatment, not per item.