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NHS Dental Charges 2026

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NHS DENTAL SYSTEM

How Much You Pay on the NHS Across the UK

Each UK nation funds NHS dental care differently. England and Wales use a three-band system. Scotland charges 80% of an item-of-service fee capped at £384 per course. Northern Ireland uses an item-of-service scale. The figures below are effective from 1 April 2026.

England

Three-band course of treatment. You pay one band charge per course, even if you need several visits.

  • Band 1£27.90
    • Examination, assessment and advice
    • X-rays (if clinically needed)
    • Scale and polish (if clinically needed)
    • Fluoride or fissure sealant application
    • Minor denture or brace adjustments
  • Band 2£76.60
    • Everything in Band 1
    • Fillings (amalgam or composite)
    • Root canal treatment
    • Tooth extractions
    • Complex periodontal (gum) treatment
  • Band 3£332.10
    • Everything in Bands 1 and 2
    • Crowns (metal, porcelain bonded to metal)
    • Dentures (acrylic or metal-based)
    • Bridges
    • Inlays and onlays
    • Other lab-made appliances
  • Urgent / Emergency£27.90
    • Pain relief or temporary treatment for an urgent dental problem
    • May include up to two extractions, dressings and re-cementing crowns

Wales

NHS Wales is moving away from the band system in April 2026. The traditional Band 1 / 2 / 3 charges still appear on legacy treatments but new courses are organised into care packages. Patients pay 50% of the package value, capped at £384 per course.

  • Routine examination£20.00 (legacy Band 1)
    • Examination, X-rays and advice
    • Lower than the equivalent England Band 1 of £27.90
  • Fillings / extractions (legacy Band 2)£62.00
    • All clinically necessary fillings in one course
    • Root canal treatment
    • Tooth extractions
  • Crowns / bridges / dentures (legacy Band 3)£260.00
    • Crowns, bridges, dentures, inlays and onlays
    • Lab-made appliances
  • New care-package system (from April 2026)50% of package, max £384 / course
    • Examination + radiographs included
    • Treatment grouped into care packages by time and complexity
    • Total patient contribution capped at £384 per course of treatment
  • Urgent£20.00 (legacy)
    • Emergency course of treatment under the legacy banded system

Scotland

No banding. NHS examinations are FREE for every registered patient in Scotland. For other treatment, adults pay 80% of the treatment fee, capped at £384 per course. Everyone under 26 receives all NHS treatment completely free, not just examinations.

  • NHS examinationFree
    • Routine check-up — free for every registered patient
    • Review examinations
  • Under-26s — all NHS treatmentFree
    • Every item including fillings, root canals, crowns and dentures is free for patients under 26
  • Adult patient contribution80% of item-of-service fee
    • Applied to each item of treatment using the Statement of Dental Remuneration
  • Maximum per course (adults)£384.00
    • Any cost above this cap is fully NHS-funded

Northern Ireland

Item-of-service charging from the Statement of Dental Remuneration. You pay 80% of each item up to a maximum of £384 per course of treatment. Examinations are charged. Under-18s and other exempt groups pay nothing.

  • Examination (adult)from £9.36
    • Routine HSC examination
  • Scale and polishfrom £10.36
    • Per item, when clinically required
  • White / amalgam filling£12 – £42
    • Per filling, depending on surfaces
  • Extractionfrom £14
    • Simple extraction
  • Maximum per course£384.00
    • Cap on total patient contribution

EXEMPTIONS

Who Gets Free NHS Dental Care?

  • Under 18 years old
  • Under 19 and in full-time education
  • Pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months (with maternity exemption certificate)
  • In receipt of qualifying low-income benefits (Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, Universal Credit meeting earnings criteria)
  • Named on a valid NHS HC2 certificate (full help with health costs)
  • Named on a valid HC3 certificate (partial help — reduced charge)
Apply for the NHS Low Income Scheme using form HC1 if you don't receive a qualifying benefit but your household income is low — an HC2 certificate gives full free treatment, an HC3 certificate reduces the charge. If you have paid in the last three months and were entitled to free care, claim a refund using form HC5(D).

COMMON SCENARIOS

What Will I Actually Pay?

I need a check-up and a filling — what will I pay?

In England or Wales: £76.60. The filling is Band 2 which automatically includes everything in Band 1 (examination, X-rays, scale and polish). You pay the higher band charge only — not both. In Scotland: free examination plus 80% of the filling fee. In Northern Ireland: 80% of both fees, capped at £384 per course.

I need three fillings — do I pay three times £76.60?

No — you pay one Band 2 charge of £76.60 regardless of how many fillings are done in the same course of treatment. Schedule them all in one course to maximise this saving.

I need a crown after root canal — total cost?

£76.60 (Band 2, includes the root canal) + £332.10 (Band 3, includes the crown) = £408.70 total. These are two separate courses of treatment.

My filling fell out — is the replacement free?

Not automatically. NHS treatment carries a 12-month guarantee for the same tooth on the same restoration. If your NHS filling fails within a year of placement, it's replaced free of charge. After 12 months, a normal Band 2 charge applies.

I'm pregnant — what's included?

All NHS dental treatment is free during pregnancy and for 12 months after birth, with a valid Maternity Exemption Certificate (MatEx). Apply for MatEx at your first antenatal appointment. The MatEx covers all bands — examinations, fillings, even crowns and dentures.

LOW-INCOME SUPPORT

How to Apply for HC2 / HC3

  1. Get form HC1 from any Jobcentre Plus, dental practice reception, or download from nhsbsa.nhs.uk.
  2. Complete and post the form with proof of household income and rent/mortgage costs.
  3. NHSBSA assesses your application in 2–6 weeks and posts a certificate to you.
  4. HC2 (full help) means all NHS treatment is free. HC3 (partial help) means you pay a reduced amount — the certificate states your share.
  5. Certificates last 6–12 months. Reapply before expiry to maintain cover.

If you've paid by mistake

If you paid for NHS dental treatment in the last 3 months and you were entitled to free care (HC2, qualifying benefits, pregnancy, under 18 etc.), claim a refund using form HC5(D). Send the form with your dental receipt to the NHSBSA. Refunds are typically issued within 6–8 weeks.

Warning: claiming free treatment when you are not entitled risks a Penalty Charge Notice of up to £100 plus the original treatment cost. If you are unsure, pay first and claim a refund — the NHSBSA runs random checks.

FURTHER READING

NHS & Private Cost Guides

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About these figures. Prices shown are guideline ranges. NHS charges are the official 2026 rates published by NHS England, NHS Wales, NHS Scotland and HSC Northern Ireland. Private fees reflect typical UK market ranges and will vary by clinic, region and clinical complexity. Always ask your dentist for a written treatment plan and itemised quote before agreeing to treatment.