NHS Dental Check-Up Cost 2026: Band 1 Fees, Free Care & What's Included

An NHS dental check-up costs £27.90 in England and Wales under the Band 1 charge from April 2026. This covers more than just the examination — it includes X-rays and a scale and polish if your dentist considers it necessary. Here is everything you need to know about NHS check-up costs, who is exempt, and what to expect at the appointment.

What is included in NHS Band 1 (£27.90)?

The Band 1 charge of £27.90 covers all of the following when provided during the same course of treatment:

• Dental examination: Full check of all teeth, gums, soft tissues (lips, tongue, cheeks) and jaw. Your dentist also screens for oral cancer at every routine check-up.
• Dental X-rays: Bitewing X-rays (showing in-between tooth surfaces) and periapical X-rays (showing the tooth root) if needed. You do not pay extra for X-rays on the NHS.
• Scale and polish: Removal of tartar (calculus) and plaque from teeth surfaces using an ultrasonic scaler and hand instruments, if your dentist considers it clinically necessary. This is not provided as a routine cosmetic procedure but as part of gum disease prevention.
• Preventive advice: Oral hygiene instructions, dietary advice and fluoride varnish application if appropriate.
• Treatment plan: If any treatment is needed, your dentist will provide a written treatment plan and cost estimate before starting.

Note: If your dentist identifies treatment that needs to be done (a filling, extraction, root canal, etc.), this moves into Band 2 (£76.60) or Band 3 (£332.10). The Band 2 charge includes everything in Band 1 plus the restorative treatment needed. You do not pay both Band 1 and Band 2 for the same course of treatment.

NHS Band 1, 2 and 3 charges explained (April 2026)

These are per course of treatment charges, not per item. If you need a filling at your check-up, you pay Band 2 (£76.60) — not Band 1 for the exam plus a separate charge for the filling. The band covers everything done in one continuous course of treatment.

Who gets free NHS dental check-ups?

The following groups receive free NHS dental treatment (including check-ups) in England and Wales:

• Children under 18
• Young people aged 18 in full-time education
• Pregnant women and those who have given birth in the past 12 months
• People receiving Income Support
• People receiving Universal Credit (with or without dependants)
• People receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• People receiving Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• People receiving Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• NHS low-income scheme — holders of a valid HC2 certificate (full help) or HC3 certificate (partial help)
• People named in an NHS complex treatment plan started before their 18th birthday

For more detail on free NHS dental care, see our guide to free NHS dental care eligibility.

NHS dental check-up costs by UK nation

England

Band 1: £27.90 per course of treatment. This charge applies whether you attend one appointment or several for the same course. Charges rose from £26.80 in April 2025 to £27.90 in April 2026.

Wales

Wales uses the same band system as England. Band 1: £27.90 from April 2026.

Scotland

NHS dental treatment is free for all Scottish residents regardless of age or income. This includes check-ups, X-rays, scale and polish, fillings, extractions, root canals and more complex treatment. Scotland has maintained free NHS dental care for adults since 2006.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland uses an item-of-service payment system rather than the band system. Patients in Northern Ireland pay a percentage of the item fee (currently around 80% of the item cost, subject to a cap). A routine examination in Northern Ireland costs approximately £7.20. X-rays and scale and polish are charged separately per item. Maximum patient charge per course of treatment is also capped.

How often should you have an NHS dental check-up?

The NHS does not prescribe a fixed check-up interval for all patients. Instead, your dentist determines your recall interval based on your oral health risk level using NICE Clinical Guideline CG19:

• Low risk (stable, healthy): Recall interval up to 24 months
• Medium risk (some historical treatment, mild gum disease): Recall interval 6–12 months
• High risk (active decay, periodontal disease, dry mouth, complex medical history): Recall interval 3–6 months

If your NHS dentist recalls you more frequently than every 24 months when you are in good oral health, you may wish to ask them to explain their reasoning — though frequent recalls are clinically justifiable in many cases.

What happens if I need treatment found at my check-up?

If your dentist finds decay, gum disease or other issues at your check-up, they will provide a written treatment plan. If you proceed, the band charge upgrades:

• Check-up only: Band 1 (£27.90)
• Check-up + filling or extraction: Band 2 (£76.60) — the £27.90 is absorbed into the Band 2 charge
• Check-up + crown or denture: Band 3 (£332.10)

You are not obliged to have treatment immediately. You can ask for time to consider, seek a second opinion, or decide to have the treatment done privately if your NHS dentist has a long waiting list for restorative work.

Private dental check-up costs in 2026

For comparison, private dental check-ups in the UK cost significantly more than NHS:

Private patients typically pay separately for the examination and the hygienist appointment, whereas NHS Band 1 includes both if clinically needed. A full private check-up with a scale and polish can cost £120–£300 in central London.

How to find an NHS dentist for a check-up

Finding an NHS dentist taking new patients is the biggest challenge for most UK adults. Tips:

• Use the NHS website find a dentist tool (find-a-dentist.nhs.uk) to search by postcode
• Call practices directly — availability changes frequently and the NHS website is not always current
• Register early if you move to a new area — NHS dentist lists often fill within days of opening
• Contact your local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) — they sometimes maintain a waiting list and can refer you
• Use NHS 111 for dental emergencies while you wait to register

For the full strategy, see our guide to how to find an NHS dentist in the UK.

NHS check-up vs private check-up: which is better value?

For patients who qualify for NHS treatment, an NHS check-up at £27.90 (or free, if exempt) represents unbeatable value compared to private check-ups at £35–£150. The clinical standard of an NHS examination is not lower than private — dentists follow the same guidelines and professional standards. The difference is time (NHS appointments are shorter), available materials (NHS may limit to composite or amalgam), and access (finding an NHS dentist can take weeks or months).

For more guidance on when private dental care is worth paying for, see our guide to when it is worth paying for private dental treatment.