---
title: "Gum Disease Treatment Cost UK 2026: NHS & Private"
description: NHS gum treatment is £27.90–£76.60 by band. Private root planing £110–£300 per quadrant, full mouth £440–£1,200, plus periodontist and maintenance fees.
canonical: "https://www.dentistcost.co.uk/cost-guides/gum-disease-treatment-cost-uk"
format: text/markdown alternate of the HTML page at canonical
published: 2026-06-20
updated: 2026-09-26
publisher: Dentist Cost UK — independent UK dental price guide, not a dental practice
prices_effective: 2026-04-01
sources:
  - https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/dental-costs/how-much-will-i-pay-for-nhs-dental-treatment/
  - https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-dental-costs
  - https://111.wales.nhs.uk/localservices/dentalservices
  - https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/nhs-services/dental/receiving-nhs-dental-treatment-in-scotland/
  - https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/dental-costs
  - https://www.mytribeinsurance.co.uk/treatment/cost-of-private-dental-treatment-uk
---

## Gum Disease Treatment Cost UK 2026 — NHS & Private Prices

URL: https://www.dentistcost.co.uk/cost-guides/gum-disease-treatment-cost-uk
Published: 20 June 2026 · Updated: 26 September 2026 · Category: Treatments · 9 min read

> Bleeding gums, gum recession and bone loss: how much does treating gum disease cost in the UK? NHS vs private root planing, specialist periodontists and maintenance costs explained.

**Quick answer:** On the NHS, gum disease treatment costs £27.90 (Band 1) for a basic scale and clean, or £76.60 (Band 2) for deeper treatment including root planing — this is the same price regardless of how many quadrants need treating. Private root planing costs £110–£300 per quadrant, so a full-mouth course of four quadrants typically runs £440–£1,200. Specialist periodontist fees in London are at the higher end: £700–£1,600 for a full-mouth course.

### Key takeaways

- NHS Band 1 (£27.90) covers basic scaling; Band 2 (£76.60) covers root planing for as many quadrants as needed in one course.
- Private root planing costs £110–£300 per quadrant — a full course (4 quadrants) runs £440–£1,200.
- A specialist periodontist charges more but is appropriate for advanced or non-responding disease.
- Periodontal maintenance visits every 3 months are essential after active treatment: £60–£150 each.
- Smoking dramatically worsens outcomes — quitting is the most impactful thing a patient can do.

Gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in UK adults. Around 45% of the UK population has some form of gum disease (Oral Health Foundation), yet many people only find out when their dentist spots bone loss on an X-ray. The good news: caught and treated early, gum disease can be halted completely.

### NHS gum disease treatment prices 2026

| Treatment | NHS England | Scotland |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scale, clean and oral hygiene advice (Band 1) | £27.90 | £17.32 (check-up with scale and polish) |
| Root planing / subgingival debridement (Band 2) | £76.60 | £35.52–£142.08 (80% of fee) |
| Periodontal surgery (Band 3) | £332.10 | 80% of fee, max £384 |

The NHS Band 2 charge covers as many quadrants of root planing as needed in a single course of treatment — a significant saving over private treatment if multiple areas are affected.

### Private gum disease treatment prices 2026

| Treatment | UK average | London |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Periodontal assessment | £80–£200 | £120–£300 |
| Root planing per quadrant | £110–£300 | £180–£400 |
| Full-mouth root planing (4 quadrants) | £440–£1,200 | £700–£1,600 |
| 3-monthly maintenance visit | £60–£150 | £85–£200 |
| Periodontal surgery per quadrant | £600–£1,500 | £900–£2,000 |

### Gingivitis vs periodontitis: does it affect the cost?

**Gingivitis** is the early, reversible stage of gum disease — gums are red, swollen and bleed when brushed. Treatment is a professional clean plus oral hygiene coaching: NHS Band 1 (£27.90) or a private hygienist appointment (£60–£150). No surgery is needed.

**Periodontitis** is the more advanced stage where the bone and fibres anchoring your teeth have been damaged. Treatment requires root planing (Band 2 on NHS / £110–£300 per quadrant privately) and ongoing 3-monthly maintenance indefinitely.

### Do I need a specialist periodontist?

Most patients with mild to moderate gum disease are treated effectively by their general dentist or hygienist. A referral to a **specialist periodontist** (a dentist with postgraduate training and GDC specialist registration in periodontics) is appropriate when:

- Pocket depths remain above 6mm after two rounds of root planing
- Furcation involvement (disease reaching the fork of multi-rooted teeth)
- Vertical bone defects that might respond to regenerative surgery
- Implant-related gum disease (peri-implantitis)

Specialist periodontists charge £180–£400 per quadrant for root planing and £900–£2,000 per quadrant for surgical procedures. Referral to the periodontics department at a dental hospital provides specialist-level treatment on the NHS.

### What happens without treatment?

Untreated periodontitis progresses at an average rate of 1–2 mm of bone loss per year. Over a decade, this can lead to loose teeth and ultimately tooth loss — requiring implants (£2,000–£3,500 per tooth), bridges or dentures at costs far exceeding the price of early treatment.

### Reducing the cost

- Use the NHS if possible — Band 2 (£76.60) covers all root planing in a single course
- Ask for referral to a dental hospital periodontal department — specialist care, often free on NHS
- Stop smoking — dramatically improves outcomes and reduces the number of repeat treatments needed
- Invest in an electric toothbrush and interdental brushes — good home care reduces chair time
- Book a dental therapist rather than a specialist for maintenance if disease is stable

For more information see our [gum disease treatment](https://www.dentistcost.co.uk/treatments/gum-disease-treatment) page and our guide to [hygienist scale and polish costs](https://www.dentistcost.co.uk/treatments/hygienist-scale-and-polish).

### FAQs

**Q: How much does gum disease treatment cost privately in the UK?**
A: Private root planing (deep cleaning) costs £110–£300 per quadrant. A full-mouth course of four quadrants runs £440–£1,200. You also need an initial periodontal assessment (£80–£200) and ongoing 3-monthly maintenance visits (£60–£150 each).

**Q: Is gum disease treatment free on the NHS?**
A: Yes — if you are exempt from charges (under 18, pregnant, on qualifying benefits etc.) gum disease treatment is free. Otherwise, it costs £27.90 (Band 1) or £76.60 (Band 2) regardless of how many teeth need treating in one course of treatment.

**Q: How many appointments does gum disease treatment take?**
A: A typical non-surgical course involves 2–4 root planing appointments (treating one or two quadrants per session) plus a review at 6–8 weeks. Expect 3–5 appointments over 2–4 months in total.

**Q: What is root planing and how much does it cost?**
A: Root planing (deep cleaning or subgingival debridement) is the process of removing plaque and tartar from tooth root surfaces below the gum line under local anaesthetic. It costs £110–£300 per quadrant privately, or is included in the NHS Band 2 charge of £76.60.

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