NHS Dental Charges by UK Nation 2026
FOUR NATIONS COMPARED
What You Pay on the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and NI
The four UK nations fund NHS dental care in four different ways, so a routine check-up can cost you £27.90 in England, £25.00 in Wales and nothing at all in Scotland. England uses a three-band system; Wales replaced its bands with fixed care-package charges on 1 April 2026; Scotland charges 80% of an item-of-service fee capped at £384 per course, with everything free under 26; Northern Ireland uses an item-of-service scale. The figures below are effective from 1 April 2026.
Just need England? Band 1, 2 and 3 charges explained in full →
What the same treatment costs on the NHS in each nation (from 1 April 2026)
| Treatment | England | Wales | Scotland (adult, 80% share) | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check-up | £27.90 (Band 1) | £25.00 recall · £27.21 new patient | Free | from £9.36 |
| Filling | £76.60 (Band 2) | £36.03 (up to 4 teeth) | £14.00–£29.92 | 80% of item fee |
| Root canal | £76.60 (Band 2) | £91.18 front · £182.72 back | £104.68–£169.20 | 80% of item fee |
| Crown | £332.10 (Band 3) | £140.44 + lab charges | £164.52–£204.76 | 80% of item fee |
| Dentures | £332.10 (Band 3) | £86.40 + lab charges | up to £379.60 (full set) | 80% of item fee |
| Urgent visit | £27.90 | £37.50 | 80% of item fee | 80% of item fee |
| Maximum per course | One band charge | £384 | £384 | £384 |
England: one band charge per course of treatment. Wales: one charge per care package; laboratory items for crowns, bridges and dentures are paid separately. Scotland: the examination is free, everything is free under 26, and other adults pay 80% of the fee (NHS inform, fees as at 1 November 2025). Northern Ireland: 80% of each item on the Statement of Dental Remuneration. All three devolved nations cap a course of treatment at £384.
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
Source: NHS England — How much NHS dental treatment costs · checked
Wales
Wales replaced the Band 1 / 2 / 3 charges on 1 April 2026 under its new NHS dental contract. You pay one fixed charge per care package (assessment, restorative, root canal, crown and bridge, dentures and so on), even when the package takes several visits. Laboratory charges for crowns, bridges and dentures are paid separately unless you are exempt. Total patient charges are capped at £384 per course of treatment.
- New patient assessment£27.21
- Full clinical and general health assessment
- Soft-tissue examination and X-rays where appropriate
- Preventive care and advice
- Recall appointment£25.00 per visit
- Review examination at the interval set by your individual risk (NICE guidance)
- Urgent care package£37.50
- Oral health assessment plus treatment to relieve pain or stop the problem worsening
- Simple restorative package£36.03
- Fillings, temporary crowns, Hall crowns and extractions for up to 4 teeth
- Extensive restorative package£68.75
- The same treatments for 5 to 8 teeth
- Periodontal care package£48.53
- Gum disease treatment: tailored oral hygiene instruction and plaque removal
- Stabilisation package£75.00
- Extensive decay (7 or more teeth): extractions, prevention, restorations and gum support
- Anterior root canal package£91.18
- Root canal treatment on up to two front teeth
- Posterior root canal package£182.72
- Root canal treatment on up to two premolars or molars
- Crown, bridge, inlay, onlay and veneer package£140.44 + laboratory charges
- Up to 2 crowns, or a bridge of up to 3 units
- Laboratory charges paid separately unless you are exempt
- Denture care package£86.40 + laboratory charges
- Upper and lower dentures
- Laboratory charges paid separately unless you are exempt
- Miscellaneous package£25.00
- Denture repairs, relines and adjustments
- Bite-raising appliances, study models, biopsy
- Re-cementing crowns, bridges or veneers; removing sutures
- Maximum per course of treatment£384.00
- Cap on total patient charges for one course of treatment, laboratory items included
Source: GOV.WALES — NHS dental charges and exemptions · checked
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
Source: NHS inform — Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland · checked
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
Source: nidirect — Dental costs (Statement of Dental Remuneration) · checked
Cite this page:
Dentist Cost UK (2026). NHS dental patient charges: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, from 1 April 2026. https://www.dentistcost.co.uk/nhs-bands (CC BY 4.0).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)
COMMON SCENARIOS
What Will I Actually Pay?
I need a check-up and a filling — what will I pay?
In England: £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 Wales: the £25.00 recall (or £27.21 new-patient assessment) plus the £36.03 simple restorative package. In Scotland: free examination plus 80% of the filling fee (£14.00–£29.92). In Northern Ireland: 80% of both fees, capped at £384 per course.
I need three fillings — do I pay three times £76.60?
No — in England 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. In Wales the £36.03 simple restorative package covers up to 4 teeth (£68.75 for 5–8 teeth).
I need a crown after root canal — total cost?
In England: £76.60 (Band 2, includes the root canal) + £332.10 (Band 3, includes the crown) = £408.70 in total, as two separate courses of treatment. In Wales: the root canal package (£91.18 front tooth or £182.72 back tooth) plus the £140.44 crown package and the laboratory charge, capped at £384 per course.
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 is replaced free of charge. After 12 months, a normal Band 2 charge applies in England (or the £36.03 restorative package in Wales).
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) in England and Wales (Scotland and Northern Ireland have the same exemption). Apply for MatEx at your first antenatal appointment. It covers every band — examinations, fillings, even crowns and dentures.
LOW-INCOME SUPPORT
How to Apply for HC2 / HC3
- Get form HC1. Get form HC1 from any Jobcentre Plus, dental practice reception, or download it from nhsbsa.nhs.uk.
- Complete and post the form. Complete and post the form with proof of household income and rent or mortgage costs.
- NHSBSA assesses your application. NHSBSA assesses your application in 2–6 weeks and posts a certificate to you.
- HC2 or HC3 certificate. HC2 (full help) means all NHS treatment is free. HC3 (partial help) means you pay a reduced amount — the certificate states your share.
- Reapply before expiry. 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