Best Dentists in Wellington
We assessed 22 dentists in Wellington and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 3,929 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 30 August 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
Dental fees in NZ are unregulated and vary widely between practices, so the same treatment can cost very differently across town. Ask for a written treatment plan with itemised costs before agreeing to anything, check whether the dentist is registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand, and ask how after-hours emergencies are handled.
Top 5 Dentists in Wellington
The top 5 dentists in Wellington are #1 Johnsonville Dental Centre, #2 Wellington Dentists, #3 City Dentists, #4 Newtown Dental, and #5 Supreme Dental Concepts, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you choose.
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1
Johnsonville Dental Centre
★ 4.9 972 reviews +10 Top5 Score 200 +135★ 919 4★ 45 3★ 4 2★ 1 1★ 3Johnsonville Dental Centre is a good fit for nervous patients, with dentists Robin and Ryan noted for a calm, unhurried approach to checkups, fillings, braces, and hygiene work. Ryan in particular guided multiple family members through full orthodontic treatment, while Tee draws praise for thorough but gentle hygiene appointments that include specific take-home advice.
location_on Level 2/128 Johnsonville Road, Johnsonville, Wellington
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2
Wellington Dentists Ltd
★ 4.9 904 reviews +8 Top5 Score 200 +135★ 878 4★ 4 3★ 4 2★ 2 1★ 16Wellington Dentists handles checkups, root canals, wisdom tooth removal, veneers, and emergency tooth repairs, drawing repeat patients who stay for years. Dentists like Rob, Emma, Jane, and Ruth are noted for explaining procedures clearly before starting, and the practice provides TV and headphones during treatment to help anxious patients stay relaxed.
location_on 124A Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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3
City Dentists
verifiedVerified★ 4.9 356 reviews +17 Top5 Score 187 +105★ 322 4★ 29 2★ 2 1★ 3City Dentists attracts patients who stay for decades, with dentists Chris, Kamil, Alice, and Kristen each building long-running relationships through plain-English explanations and conservative, no-upsell treatment decisions. Anxious patients who avoided dental care for years, sometimes over a decade, describe leaving appointments calm and genuinely willing to return.
Reviews most often describe: Long-term patients who want consistent, trusted dentists
- ✓ Dentists explain procedures in plain language before starting work
- ✓ Nervous and lapsed patients treated without pressure or judgment
- ✓ Multiple dentists available including Chris, Kamil, Alice, and Kristen
location_on 119/123 Featherston Street, Wellington Central, Wellington schedule Mon 7am–8pm · Tue 7am–4pm · Wed 7am–8pm · Thu–Fri 7am–4pm · Sat–Sun Closed
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4
Newtown Dental
↑ 1★ 4.7 488 reviews +7 Top5 Score 177 +35★ 436 4★ 9 3★ 4 2★ 7 1★ 32Newtown Dental takes on wisdom tooth extractions, impacted teeth, and emergency dental work that other Wellington practices have turned away, including cases referred to oral surgeons elsewhere. Their seven-day availability, with weekend and extended evening hours, means patients in acute pain can get same-visit treatment without waiting until the working week.
location_on Lychgate Centre Level 1/100 Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington
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5
Supreme Dental Concepts
↓ 1★ 4.9 393 reviews Top5 Score 1765★ 378 4★ 8 3★ 2 2★ 1 1★ 4Supreme Dental Concepts has built a following among dental-anxious patients, with dentists Kevin, Navin, and Minh each noted for calm, unhurried chairside manner across procedures including extractions, crown repairs, and routine care. Kevin in particular draws praise for upfront cost breakdowns and clear explanation of options before any work begins, and both Navin and Kevin have patients who have returned for 20 to 30 years.
location_on 32 Lorne Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Before you choose a dentist in Wellington
Drawn from 255 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does dental treatment typically cost in New Zealand? expand_more
Adult dental care in New Zealand is largely user-pays, with fees unregulated and varying between practices. A standard check-up and clean runs between $100 and $250, while a basic filling ranges from around $150 to $400.
Crowns can cost $1,500 to $2,500 or more, and reviews here flag that a single extraction can reach $750 at some central-city clinics, while the same procedure costs significantly less elsewhere. Children under 18 receive free basic dental care through the Community Dental Service or enrolled private dentists, and adults facing financial hardship can apply for an emergency dental grant through Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ).
ACC covers emergency dental treatment caused by a physical accident, but routine decay and wear fall outside that cover. Before booking, verify your dentist holds a current annual practising certificate on the Dental Council of New Zealand public register at dentalcouncil.org.nz.
How do I check that a dentist is registered and what to do if something goes wrong? expand_more
Every practising dentist in New Zealand must be registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand (DCNZ) and hold a current annual practising certificate, which you can confirm for free on the public register at dentalcouncil.org.nz before you book. The register also covers dental specialists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, and clinical dental technicians, so you can check the credentials of whoever is treating you, not just the principal dentist.
If something goes wrong, the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) investigates complaints about health and disability services under the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994, and you can lodge a complaint directly through their office. For conduct concerns that fall short of a formal HDC complaint, the Dental Council of New Zealand itself can investigate, impose conditions on practice, suspend, or decancel a dentist's registration.
How do I avoid being sold treatment I do not need? expand_more
Ask for a written treatment plan with itemised costs and clearly stated alternatives before agreeing to anything, as reviewers here specifically valued dentists who explained options and pricing upfront rather than presenting a single course of action. Practices that use intra-oral cameras or X-rays to show you the problem on a screen give you something concrete to base your decision on, which is a reasonable standard to expect. If a recommended treatment feels sudden, expensive, or hard to justify, a second opinion from an independent practice is entirely reasonable and any competent dentist should support that without pressure.
What are the warning signs of a dental practice you should avoid? expand_more
- –A clinic that cancels your appointment without calling you beforehand, and offers no adequate explanation when you arrive, signals poor administration that is likely to affect clinical care too.
- –Pricing that is significantly higher than quotes from other Wellington practices for the same procedure, with no willingness to explain the difference or provide an itemised breakdown, is a red flag.
- –A dentist or staff member who is dismissive of your stated medical needs, such as refusing to accommodate a specific anaesthetic request without discussion, puts your safety at risk.
- –Hygienists or dentists who talk down to patients, refuse to discuss treatment frequency, or treat clinical decisions as non-negotiable rather than collaborative are worth avoiding.
- –Rushed procedures, incomplete extractions requiring follow-up surgery elsewhere, and a practice that deflects rather than takes responsibility when something fails are the most serious warning signs in the reviews here.
- –Unhygienic clinical rooms, staff with loose hair or long nails during procedures, and a generally unkempt environment are grounds to leave before treatment begins.
What should you ask before booking a dentist? expand_more
- –Ask what the first visit costs in total, including X-rays, so you are not surprised by separate charges on top of the consultation fee.
- –Ask whether they provide a written treatment plan with costs and alternatives before any work begins, not just a verbal summary at the chair.
- –Ask how they handle after-hours or weekend emergencies, as some Wellington practices operate seven days and can see urgent cases the same day, while others cannot.
- –Ask whether you will see the same dentist at each visit, since continuity of care matters when you have ongoing treatment or dental anxiety.
- –Ask specifically how they support nervous patients, including whether they offer breaks during procedures, use distraction aids, or can accommodate sedation requests with adequate notice.
- –Ask whether they accept WINZ quotes if cost is a concern, as at least one practice in these reviews accommodates this without making patients feel unwelcome.
Also recommended dentists in Wellington
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Victoria Street Dental
↑ 2★ 4.9 157 reviews +4 Top5 Score 168 +55★ 152 4★ 1 2★ 2 1★ 2Victoria Street Dental gets nervous patients through extractions, wisdom tooth removal, crown repairs, and urgent same-day appointments with staff who check in throughout and follow up by phone afterwards. James, Emily, and Kelly each draw specific praise for explaining procedures clearly before starting and adjusting the pace for patients who needed breaks during treatment.
location_on Level 6/86 Victoria Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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7
Johnsonville Family Dentist
↑ 2★ 4.7 190 reviews Top5 Score 165 +35★ 168 4★ 10 3★ 1 2★ 3 1★ 8Johnsonville Family Dentist covers teeth cleaning, wisdom tooth removal including impacted cases, and general dental treatment, with named dentists Geraldine and Justaniah drawing specific praise for gentle, thorough chairwork. Booking is straightforward, same-day or next-day appointments have come through for some patients, and pricing runs cheaper than comparable Wellington practices.
location_on Level 1, Suite 6/120 Johnsonville Road, Johnsonville, Wellington
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8
The Wellington Dental Practice
↓ 2★ 4.9 169 reviews +1 Top5 Score 1655★ 163 4★ 2 3★ 1 2★ 1 1★ 2The Wellington Dental Practice restores worn and discoloured teeth, fits Invisalign, removes wisdom teeth, and carries patients through years of ongoing care with dentists including Suresh, James, Laura, Isaac, and Gavin. They walk patients through options and costs before any work starts, and coordinate with other providers when needed, something multiple long-term patients credit for keeping their confidence in the chair.
location_on Kelvin House, Level 2, 16 The Terrace, Wellington
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9
Lumino The Terrace Dental Practice | Lumino The Dentists
★ 4.9 92 reviews Top5 Score 1645★ 90 1★ 2Lumino The Terrace covers fillings, crowns, Invisalign, hygiene cleans, and orthodontic treatment, with dentists Louisa, Joo, Andrew, and Preston each drawing long-term patients who return by name. Patients who had avoided dental care for years describe leaving at ease, and the practice is upfront about what needs immediate attention versus what can wait.
location_on 1st Floor/50 The Terrace, Wellington Central, Wellington
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10
Real Dentistry
↓ 3★ 4.7 208 reviews Top5 Score 1645★ 185 4★ 8 2★ 2 1★ 13Real Dentistry covers emergency appointments, teeth whitening, implants, crowns, and hygiene cleans, with dentists Hannah and Dr Nowicki each drawing praise for taking time to explain steps and flag upcoming costs before work begins. Saturday availability has come through for patients who needed urgent care outside the working week, and hygienist Vanessa is noted for thorough cleanings with clear, confident answers to patient questions.
location_on 72 Rongotai Road, Kilbirnie, Wellington
About this ranking
What the 10 dentists listed above hold, at the 30 August 2026 check.
We first assessed dentists in Wellington in June 2026 and have rechecked the ranking twice since. Johnsonville Dental Centre has held first place at every check. The same five businesses have been in the top 5 at every check. Across the 14 locations we assess dentists in, the 140 businesses listed have a median rating of 4.9, and one-star reviews are 3.3% of their total.
What has changed since June 2026? expand_more
- Aug 2026
Lumino The Terrace entered the list at #9.
- Jun 2026
First check. Johnsonville Dental Centre #1.
Months where nothing changed at the top are not listed.
How are the top dentists in Wellington chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for dentists in Wellington. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out. A business whose website no longer resolves and that has had no Google review for six months is treated as dormant and left off the page until either changes. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for dentists in Wellington. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.