Dentists & Dental Clinics in Antigua: The Complete 2026 Guide

TL;DR: Antigua has a growing network of private dental clinics concentrated in St. John's, with internationally trained dentists offering everything from routine cleanings to orthodontics and implants. Key names to know: 268 Dental (walk-ins welcome), Gentle Dental, Hadeed Dental Clinic, Pearls Dental Clinic, and Ghanem Dental. For after-hours emergencies, head to Mount St. John's Medical Centre or call 911.

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You're mid-holiday in Antigua, sipping a rum punch at Dickenson Bay, when a tooth starts throbbing. Or maybe you've just relocated to the island and need to find a reliable dentist for your family. Either way, finding quality dental care in a new country feels daunting.

Here's the good news: Antigua has a solid network of private dental clinics. Most are concentrated right in St. John's parish, the island's capital, and staffed by internationally trained professionals. The Antigua and Barbuda Dental Association (ABDA) currently counts around 25 active members and has even won an international award for its community dental outreach work. Standards are high.

This guide maps every major dental clinic, explains who offers emergency walk-ins, breaks down realistic costs in both EC dollars and USD, and tells you exactly what the public health system covers. Whether you're a tourist with a toothache, an expat building a new life here, or a long-term resident hunting for an orthodontist, this is the only guide you need.

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Where Can I Find a Good Dentist in Antigua?

Most private dental clinics in Antigua are in St. John's, Friars Hill Road, and the High Street area. The five most-searched practices are 268 Dental (Friars Hill Road), Gentle Dental (High Street), Hadeed Dental Clinic (Rowan Henry Street), Pearls Dental Clinic (Deanery Lane), and Ghanem Dental (Redcliffe Street/Gambles). There is also a dental and medical practice in English Harbour for visitors in the south.

According to Expat Focus, the quality of care at established private clinics in Antigua is generally well regarded, with practitioners who trained internationally, often in the UK, the US, or Cuba. There is no formal patient-registration system like the NHS in the UK. You simply call a clinic, book an appointment, and attend as a private patient.

The best starting point for newcomers is the ABDA's website, which lists member dentists and advocates for dental access across the island. All dentists practicing in Antigua must also be registered with the Antigua and Barbuda Medical Registration Board (ABMRB), so you have baseline assurance that every practicing dentist has met a recognized standard.

Browse the full Health & Medical directory on AntiguaSearch to see all listed clinics with phone numbers, addresses, and reviews in one place.

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268 Dental: Antigua's Most-Searched Clinic

If you only have time to read about one clinic, make it this one. 268 Dental is Antigua's best-known private dental practice and the island's most-searched dental name online. It is run by Dr. Kamal Moursy, a British-trained dentist who graduated from the University of Leeds in 2003, spent eight years working in general practice and emergency rooms in London, and has made Antigua home since 2011.

Location: Unit 11, Village Walk Centre, Friars Hill Road, St. John's Phone: (268) 562-9501 / 562-9502 WhatsApp (emergencies): +1 268 764 9501 Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm; Saturday, 9am to 1pm

The practice focuses on family dentistry, nervous patients, and children. 268 Dental explicitly states it offers next-day and walk-in appointments for emergencies. You can also contact the team directly by WhatsApp for urgent cases. That makes it one of the most tourist-accessible clinics on the island, especially during high season from November through April when demand spikes.

Services include preventive dentistry, composite bonding, short-term orthodontics, teeth whitening, and restorative work. The 268 team has also been recognised by the superyacht industry as a go-to for crew and visiting yacht owners in English Harbour and beyond.

Dr. Moursy is an active member of the Antigua and Barbuda Dental Association, which runs the award-winning Sunny Smiles Project, bringing preventive dental care to schools across the island and even to Barbuda.

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Gentle Dental, Hadeed Dental & Ghanem: Downtown St. John's Choices

Three more well-established clinics sit within easy reach of the capital. Each serves a slightly different patient profile.

Gentle Dental

Gentle Dental is a full-service practice on High Street in St. John's, right in the heart of the capital. The clinic has over 1,000 Facebook followers and consistently earns positive word-of-mouth among both locals and expats. Gentle Dental screens for oral cancer at every examination and takes a strong prevention-first approach.

Address: 23 High Street, St. John's Phone: (268) 462-2000 Email: gentledental268@gmail.com

This is a good choice for routine check-ups, cleanings, and families who prefer a central, walkable location.

Hadeed Dental Clinic

Hadeed Dental Clinic is one of the more established names among locals in St. John's, with a presence on Rowan Henry Street near the downtown core.

Address: Rowan Henry Street, St. John's Phone: (268) 562-7878

The clinic offers general dentistry services and operates on an appointment basis. It has a modest online footprint, so calling ahead to confirm hours and availability is recommended.

Ghanem Dental (Dr. Svetlana Ghanem)

Ghanem Dental stands out because of its strong patient reviews, particularly for tourists and visitors who needed emergency or urgent care while on-island. Reviewers note that Dr. Svetlana Ghanem is meticulous, kind, and takes exceptional care with her work.

One visitor wrote: "I was given an emergency appointment whilst on holiday in Antigua to repair a front crown that had fallen off. Dr Ghanem couldn't have taken more care." That kind of feedback matters if you are visiting and cannot plan ahead.

Address: Redcliffe Street / Gambles area, St. John's Phone: (268) 562-5393

If you are a dental clinic in Antigua and not yet visible in the island's most-visited directory, add your listing to AntiguaSearch free and get in front of the thousands of people searching for local health services every month.

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Pearls Dental Clinic: Orthodontics and Implants in Antigua

Does Antigua have an orthodontist?

Yes. Pearls Dental Clinic on Deanery Lane in St. John's is led by Dr. Mamatha Anjappa (BDS, DOrtho, New York) and is the best-known destination on the island for braces, aligners, and orthodontic treatment for both adults and children. The clinic also offers implants and general dentistry, with a dedicated emergency line.

Address: P.O. Box 943, Deanery Lane, St. John's Emergency line: 268-772-1711

This is especially relevant for expat families relocating to Antigua who need to continue or start orthodontic treatment for children without making a trip off-island. Dr. Anjappa's New York postgraduate training in orthodontics gives the practice a strong specialist credential that other general practices on the island do not currently advertise.

Services at Pearls include general cleanings and exams, braces, clear aligners, dental implants, and emergency care. The emergency number (268-772-1711) is worth saving in your phone before you need it.

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Dockyard Dental: The Clinic for English Harbour Visitors

If you are based in the south of Antigua, whether sailing into English Harbour, staying in a villa near Nelson's Dockyard, or living in the St. Paul parish, there is a dedicated option closer to you than St. John's.

Dockyard Dental and Medical sits on Dockyard Drive in English Harbour and combines dental and medical services under one roof. It is particularly popular with the sailing community during Antigua Sailing Week and throughout the charter season. The practice holds a 5.0 rating on AntiguaSearch.

Address: Dockyard Drive, English Harbour, Antigua Phone: (268) 764-5000

For crew members or charter guests with a dental issue mid-season, this removes the need to travel all the way north to St. John's.

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What Happens in a Dental Emergency in Antigua?

Call 268 Dental's WhatsApp line (+1 268 764 9501), contact Pearls Dental's emergency line (268-772-1711), or go directly to the emergency department at Mount St. John's Medical Centre. For any life-threatening situation, dial 911. Emergency care is available to everyone, including tourists, and the public emergency department does not turn people away.

According to Expat Focus, the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (the current name for Mount St. John's Medical Centre) in St. John's is the main hospital-level emergency facility for dental emergencies outside of private clinic hours. Complex cases may be referred to a specialist dentist from there.

Here is what to do based on your situation:

Broken tooth or fallen crown: Call 268 Dental (walk-ins accepted) or Ghanem Dental, both of which have strong track records of same-day emergency appointments. Dr. SenGupta & Associates on Friars Hill Road is also known for Sunday emergency slots based on patient reviews.

Severe pain or swelling: Do not wait. Head to Mount St. John's Medical Centre for hospital-level triage. Dental infections that cause facial swelling need immediate medical attention, not just dental care.

Tourist with no contact: Most private clinics will try to accommodate walk-in emergencies, especially during the November to April high season when they are accustomed to handling visiting patients. Your best bet is to call ahead, explain the situation, and ask for the earliest available slot.

Dental trauma from an accident: If the emergency is connected to a broader accident or injury, go straight to the hospital emergency department first.

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Public vs. Private Dental Care: What's the Difference?

The public system is free but narrowly targeted. Private clinics are the standard for most residents, expats, and tourists. Knowing which applies to your situation saves time.

Antigua's Ministry of Health dentistry department provides free preventive, routine, and emergency services for two groups: school children aged 0 to 16, and senior citizens aged 65 and over. It also provides emergency dental treatment for the general public. Routine adult check-ups, fillings, and elective work outside those categories are not typically provided free through the public system.

In practice, this means most adults, expats, and tourists pay out of pocket at private clinics. Expat Focus notes that Antigua is home to 25 public health clinics offering a range of services including basic dentistry, which extends geographic access across the island beyond just the capital.

For expats, the key takeaway is this: register your children for public dental care early. For yourself, either budget for private care or ensure your international health insurance includes dental coverage as a rider. Providers such as Cigna, Allianz, and GeoBlue offer Caribbean-compatible plans, though dental cover is typically an optional add-on rather than included in the base plan.

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What Does Dental Treatment Cost in Antigua?

Private dental care in Antigua is affordable by Caribbean and North American standards. A routine cleaning starts from approximately USD $55 (around EC$149) at established private clinics, though prices vary by practice and practitioner. Complex restorative work, implants, and orthodontics are priced higher but still competitive compared to US and UK rates.

Here is a rough guide to help you budget:

| Procedure | Approximate Cost (EC$) | Approximate Cost (USD) | |---|---|---| | Routine cleaning | EC$150+ | USD $55+ | | Filling (composite) | EC$250 to EC$500 | USD $90 to $185 | | Extraction | EC$300 to EC$600 | USD $110 to $220 | | Root canal | EC$1,000 to EC$2,000 | USD $370 to $740 | | Crown | EC$2,000 to EC$4,000 | USD $740 to $1,480 | | Dental implant | EC$5,000+ | USD $1,850+ |

These are indicative ranges based on regional Caribbean market data. Always confirm exact fees directly with the clinic before proceeding.

The EC dollar is pegged at 2.70 EC to 1 USD, so these conversions are stable. Most clinics accept cash and major credit cards. There is no public dental insurance scheme in Antigua covering routine adult care, so budgeting for private costs is essential.

One useful tip for expats: the ABDA's Sunny Smiles Project provides free preventive dental care to school-age children across Antigua and Barbuda, including in rural areas and Barbuda. If you have children who qualify, this is worth pursuing.

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Conclusion

Finding a dentist in Antigua is easier than most newcomers expect. The island has a mature network of private clinics, all staffed by internationally trained professionals. For tourists with a dental emergency, 268 Dental on Friars Hill Road and Ghanem Dental near Redcliffe Street are the most accessible options with strong reputations for same-day urgent care. For expat families settling in, Pearls Dental Clinic handles orthodontics for both adults and children, while Gentle Dental on High Street offers a central, community-focused option for routine care.

Three things to remember: save 268 Dental's WhatsApp number (+1 268 764 9501) and Pearls' emergency line (268-772-1711) before you need them. Check whether your international health insurance includes a dental rider. And if you have children aged 0 to 16, register them for free public preventive care through the Ministry of Health.

Explore all dental and health listings in the capital on the St. John's parish page and browse the full Health & Medical category on AntiguaSearch for phone numbers, addresses, and current reviews.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a walk-in dentist in Antigua?

Yes. 268 Dental on Friars Hill Road explicitly offers walk-in and next-day emergency appointments. You can also contact the clinic by WhatsApp at +1 268 764 9501 for urgent cases. Most other private clinics prefer appointments but will try to accommodate genuine dental emergencies on the same day when capacity allows. Calling ahead, even for a walk-in, gives the best chance of being seen quickly.

How much does a dentist cost in Antigua?

A routine cleaning at a private clinic starts from approximately EC$150 (around USD $55) based on Caribbean regional rates. Fillings typically cost EC$250 to EC$500, and more complex work like crowns and root canals ranges from EC$1,000 upward. Most clinics accept cash and credit cards. There is no public dental insurance scheme covering routine adult care in Antigua, so paying out of pocket or holding private insurance with a dental rider is standard practice.

Does Antigua have an orthodontist for braces?

Yes. Pearls Dental Clinic on Deanery Lane in St. John's is led by Dr. Mamatha Anjappa, who holds a postgraduate orthodontic qualification from New York. The clinic offers braces and clear aligners for both adults and children, as well as dental implants and general dentistry. The emergency contact number is 268-772-1711. This is particularly useful for expat families who need to continue orthodontic treatment without traveling off-island.

What should I do for a dental emergency in Antigua as a tourist?

Call 268 Dental's WhatsApp line (+1 268 764 9501) or Pearls Dental's emergency line (268-772-1711) as your first step. Both clinics are accustomed to treating visiting patients quickly. For severe pain or swelling that may indicate infection, go directly to the emergency department at Mount St. John's Medical Centre in St. John's, where emergency care is available to all, including tourists. Dial 911 for any life-threatening dental or medical emergency.

Is dental care in Antigua covered by travel insurance?

It depends on your policy. Many standard travel insurance plans include emergency dental treatment as part of their medical coverage, but routine check-ups and elective procedures are generally not covered. Always check your policy wording before travel. Expats living in Antigua should look at international health insurance plans from providers such as Cigna, Allianz, or GeoBlue, where dental coverage is available as an optional add-on. The Antigua and Barbuda Dental Association does not operate a public insurance scheme, so private coverage or out-of-pocket payment is the norm for adult residents.