Methodology: How This Directory Is Built
331 practices in 14 districts were compiled from Google Maps and Google Business Profile in September 2026. 256 practice websites (77%) could be read for services. Every dated figure on the site comes from this process.
Where does the practice list come from?
Practices come from Google Maps searches for dentists near more than 100 Essex towns, run in September 2026. Overlapping results were merged into unique places. Entries that were not dental practices (for example vets, pharmacies and laboratories) and individual dentists listed at the same address as their practice were removed.
How is a practice placed in a district?
Each practice's own map coordinates were matched to its local authority district, and only districts in the county of Essex (including Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock) were kept. A practice is never placed by which search returned it.
What are the contact details based on?
Address, postcode, phone number, website and accessibility features come from each practice's public Google Business Profile, read on 30 September 2026. We do not publish opening hours because the data captured was incomplete.
What does "the website mentions" mean?
For practices with a website, the home page and up to five related pages (such as treatments, fees and contact) were read automatically. A treatment is flagged when the text mentions it. That is evidence of a mention only. It does not confirm the practice offers the treatment, has capacity, or is taking new NHS patients. NHS wording may include statements that a practice is not taking NHS patients.
How are ratings shown?
Ratings are a dated snapshot of the star rating and review count shown on Google Maps. They are Google users' opinions, not our assessment, and the site does not rank by them. We do not mark them up as review structured data.
What is not published?
- Prices a practice does not state on its own website. Where it does, we copy them with the source page and read date and do not verify them. NHS charges are national; see how they work.
- "Accepting new NHS patients" claims.
- Rankings such as "best" or "top rated".
- Patient reviews from third-party sites, and any testimonial we did not read on the practice's own website. Where a practice publishes patient comments on its own site we may show up to two short extracts, labelled as its own unverified selection.
Known limits
- Websites read successfully: 256 of 331. Treatment counts are therefore minimums.
- Practices open, close, move and change phone numbers. Data is re-collected on a schedule and each figure shows the date it was checked.
- Some practices share an address or building; each is listed separately when its Google listing is separate.
How can I fix an error?
Use report inaccurate data, or claim your listing if you run the practice. Corrections are checked against public sources before publishing.
Frequently asked questions
How are practices placed in a district?
Each practice is placed using its own map coordinates, looked up against official boundaries, not by the search that found it. A practice appears in the district its coordinates fall in.
Which sources does the directory use?
Google Maps and Google Business Profile listings for names, addresses, phone numbers, ratings and accessibility attributes, and each practice's own website for treatments, NHS and private mentions, team names, facilities and opening hours when published in structured data. Last checked 30 September 2026.
What happens when a fact has no source?
It is left out. The directory does not estimate opening hours, prices or NHS availability, and does not fill gaps with typical values.
Why are some practices missing?
Listings with no street address in any source, duplicates, laboratories and non-dental businesses are excluded. The directory is a snapshot and cannot see practices that are not on Google Maps.
How often is the data refreshed?
The data was last checked 30 September 2026. The site owner re-runs the collection monthly and updates the checked date only after a real re-check.
How do I ask for a correction or removal?
Use the report page or email [email protected]. Practice owners can also claim a listing.