NHS Dental Charges 2026: Band 1, 2 & 3 Costs Explained for All UK Nations

NHS dental charges in England and Wales changed in April 2026, rising by approximately 4% across all bands. Understanding the band system is key to knowing exactly what your NHS dental visit will cost — and whether you might qualify for free treatment.

NHS dental band charges April 2026 — full table

Band	2026 charge	2025 charge	Change	What it covers
Band 1	£27.90	£26.80	+£1.10 (+4.1%)	Examination, X-rays, scale and polish, fluoride varnish, preventive treatment
Band 2	£76.60	£74.60	+£2.00 (+2.7%)	All Band 1 treatment plus fillings, tooth extractions, root canal treatment (unlimited within one course)
Band 3	£332.10	£323.70	+£8.40 (+2.6%)	All Band 1 and 2 treatment plus crowns, bridges, dentures and veneers (if clinically necessary)
Band Urgent (U)	£27.90	£26.80	+£1.10	Emergency pain-relief only — one urgent treatment, not a full course of care
Referral to hospital	Free	Free	—	NHS hospital dental treatment is free regardless of the treatment needed

How the NHS band system works

The NHS band system charges you once per course of treatment, not per individual procedure. A "course of treatment" starts when your dentist begins treating you and ends when all planned treatment is complete. This means:

• If you need three fillings at one appointment, you pay Band 2 once (£76.60) — not three separate filling charges.
• If you need a filling discovered at your check-up, you pay Band 2 (£76.60) — not Band 1 for the check-up plus extra for the filling. Band 2 absorbs Band 1.
• If you need a crown in addition to several fillings, you pay Band 3 (£332.10) — which covers all the fillings and the crown in one charge.

Band upgrading explained

Each band includes all treatments in the band below it:

• Band 1 (£27.90) = examination + X-rays + scale and polish + preventive advice
• Band 2 (£76.60) = everything in Band 1 + any filling, extraction or root canal
• Band 3 (£332.10) = everything in Band 1 and 2 + crowns, bridges, dentures

If treatment starts as Band 1 and your dentist discovers you also need a filling, the charge upgrades to Band 2. You do not pay both Band 1 and Band 2.

What is included in each NHS band?

Band 1 — £27.90

Band 1 covers all of the following when provided during the same course of treatment:

• Dental examination: Full check of all teeth, gums, soft tissues and jaw. Oral cancer screening is included at every NHS exam.
• Dental X-rays: Bitewing and periapical X-rays if clinically indicated. No extra charge on the NHS.
• Scale and polish: Removal of plaque and tartar if your dentist considers it clinically necessary (not provided as a cosmetic service).
• Fluoride varnish: Applied as a preventive measure if appropriate.
• Preventive advice: Oral hygiene guidance, dietary advice.
• Treatment plan: A written plan and cost estimate if further treatment is needed.

Band 2 — £76.60

Band 2 includes everything in Band 1 plus:

• Dental fillings: White (composite) or silver (amalgam) fillings, at the dentist's clinical discretion. Composite fillings are now routinely available on the NHS for all teeth.
• Tooth extractions: Simple extractions of any tooth.
• Root canal treatment: For single-rooted teeth such as front teeth. Multi-rooted back teeth root canals are covered but may be referred to a specialist.
• Any number of the above within a single course of treatment — no cap on quantity.

Band 3 — £332.10

Band 3 includes everything in Bands 1 and 2 plus:

• Crowns: To restore a heavily damaged tooth. Metal, PFM (porcelain-fused-to-metal) or all-ceramic at the dentist's discretion.
• Bridges: Fixed replacements for missing teeth, supported by adjacent natural teeth.
• Dentures: Partial or full dentures to replace missing teeth.
• Veneers: Only when clinically necessary (extremely rare on the NHS — cosmetic veneers are not funded).

For detailed pricing of crowns, bridges and dentures compared to private rates, see our guides to dental crown costs and dental bridge costs.

NHS dental charges by UK nation

England — April 2026

Band 1: £27.90 | Band 2: £76.60 | Band 3: £332.10

These charges apply to all NHS dental treatment in England from 1 April 2026. They are set by the Department of Health and Social Care and reviewed annually, typically increasing by around 3–5% per year.

Wales — April 2026

Wales uses the same band charge system as England. From April 2026: Band 1 £27.90 | Band 2 £76.60 | Band 3 £332.10. Charges in Wales mirror England and are updated at the same time.

Scotland — Free for all residents

Scotland has provided free NHS dental treatment for all residents regardless of age or income since 2006. Check-ups, fillings, extractions, root canals, crowns, bridges, dentures — all are free. This includes scale and polish, X-rays and preventive treatments. There is no equivalent of England's band charge system for NHS dental patients in Scotland.

Note: If you live in England and use an NHS dentist during a visit to Scotland (or vice versa), the charges follow your home nation's rules.

Northern Ireland — Item-of-service system

Northern Ireland does not use the England/Wales band system. Instead, patients pay a percentage (currently 80%) of an item-of-service fee, subject to a maximum charge per course of treatment. As a result, patients pay per item rather than per band:

Treatment	Approximate patient charge (2025/26)
Examination (routine)	~£7.20
X-rays (bitewing, per pair)	~£3.20
Scale and polish	~£10.40
Filling (anterior)	~£13.60
Filling (posterior)	~£16.00
Extraction (simple)	~£16.00
Root canal (single-rooted)	~£40.00
Crown	~£80.00
Denture (partial, acrylic)	~£64.00

These are approximate figures and may vary. Northern Ireland patient charges are generally lower than England/Wales for complex treatment due to the item-of-service structure and the maximum charge cap per course of treatment.

Who gets free NHS dental treatment?

The following groups receive free NHS dental treatment in England and Wales:

• Children and young people under 18
• Young people aged 18 in full-time education
• Pregnant women and those who have given birth in the past 12 months
• Holders of a valid HC2 certificate (NHS Low Income Scheme — full help)
• Holders of a valid HC3 certificate (partial help — reduced charge)
• People receiving: Universal Credit, Income Support, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, income-related ESA, income-based JSA
• NHS complex treatment plan started before age 18 — if treatment continues after 18th birthday
• Patients in hospital — NHS hospital dental treatment is free regardless of financial circumstances

For the full eligibility guide including the HC1 application process, see our free NHS dental care eligibility guide.

NHS Band 2 (£76.60) — is it worth it?

For most patients, Band 2 represents exceptional value. Consider what £76.60 covers at a private practice:

Treatment	Private cost (typical)	NHS Band 2 covers
Single white filling	£90–£250	Yes (unlimited fillings)
Root canal (front tooth)	£400–£800	Yes
Simple extraction	£80–£180	Yes
All of the above + check-up	£600–£1,300+	Yes, all for £76.60

The only limitation is finding an NHS dentist willing to take you as a new patient. For more on access issues, see our NHS dental waiting list guide.

NHS Band 3 (£332.10) — crowns and dentures

Band 3 at £332.10 covers crowns, bridges and dentures. This is where the saving over private care is most dramatic:

Treatment	Private cost (typical)	NHS Band 3	Saving
Single crown	£700–£1,500	£332.10 (including all other treatment)	£370–£1,170+
Partial denture	£800–£2,500	£332.10	£470–£2,170+
Full denture (upper + lower)	£1,500–£4,500	£332.10	£1,170–£4,170+
Dental bridge (3-unit)	£1,800–£4,500	£332.10	£1,470–£4,170+

How much have NHS charges risen over the years?

Year	Band 1	Band 2	Band 3
2020/21	£23.80	£65.20	£282.80
2021/22	£23.80	£65.20	£282.80
2022/23	£23.80	£65.20	£282.80
2023/24	£25.80	£70.70	£306.80
2024/25	£26.80	£74.60	£323.70
2025/26 (current)	£27.90	£76.60	£332.10

Charges were frozen for three consecutive years (2020–2023) during and following the COVID-19 pandemic before resuming annual increases.

Urgent and emergency NHS dental charges

If you have a dental emergency — severe pain, swelling, a broken tooth — NHS urgent treatment is available. The charge for urgent emergency treatment (Band U) is £27.90, the same as Band 1. Urgent treatment covers:

• Temporary or permanent filling to relieve pain
• Emergency extraction
• Antibiotics or pain medication prescription
• Re-cementing a loose crown temporarily

For urgent NHS dental access, call NHS 111 or use your local NHS urgent dental care service. If you are registered with an NHS dentist, call them first. For full emergency cost information, see our emergency dentist cost guide.

Can I have private treatment at an NHS visit?

Yes. NHS dental practices can offer a "mixed" appointment where some treatment is NHS and some is private. For example:

• Your check-up and fillings are NHS (Band 2 at £76.60)
• You separately pay privately for teeth whitening (£300–£700 extra)
• Or you pay privately for a tooth-coloured (ceramic) crown instead of the NHS PFM crown at a specific tooth location

Your dentist must clearly explain and get your written consent before charging you privately for anything. They cannot charge you privately for a treatment that is available on the NHS without giving you a fair explanation of the difference.

NHS vs private: is the NHS worth it?

For clinically necessary dental work, the NHS offers unbeatable value. Band 2 at £76.60 covers unlimited fillings and extractions in one course of treatment — a single white filling can cost £90–£250 privately. The only real barrier is access: finding an NHS dentist taking new patients in England can take months. For a full comparison, see our guide to NHS vs private dental care.