NHS dental charges
NHS dental treatment in England is charged at one of three fixed bands set by the NHS Business Services Authority: Band 1 is £27.90, Band 2 is £76.60, and Band 3 is £332.10 for 2026/27. Urgent treatment is charged at the Band 1 rate.
How much does an NHS dentist cost?
NHS dentistry in England uses three fixed charge bands rather than pricing each item of work, according to the NHS Business Services Authority.
Band 1 is £27.90 and covers an examination, diagnosis and advice, plus X-rays, a scale and polish and preventive care where the dentist judges they are needed.
Band 2 is £76.60 and adds further treatment such as fillings, root canal work and extractions.
Band 3 is £332.10 and covers the most complex work, including crowns, dentures and bridges.
Only one band charge is payable for a complete course of treatment, whatever it contains.
A course of treatment is charged at the highest band it contains, so a plan that mixes a check-up, fillings and a crown costs a single Band 3 charge, not one charge for each element, no matter how many visits it takes.
Urgent care is charged at the Band 1 rate of £27.90, even when more than one appointment is needed to resolve it.
Treatment is free of charge for people who get a qualifying benefit, are pregnant or have had a baby in the last twelve months, or hold an HC2 certificate.
What if I need several treatments at once?
A single course of treatment is charged once, at the highest band it reaches, whatever the mix of work involved.
A check-up alone would be a Band 1 charge, but if fillings are also needed, the whole course is charged once at £76.60.
If the same visit also identifies a crown, the course moves up to a single Band 3 charge of £332.10, which then covers everything in that plan.
Common questions
How much does an NHS dentist cost?
NHS dental treatment in England falls into three fixed bands. Band 1 is £27.90 for a check-up and basic preventive care, Band 2 is £76.60 for treatment such as fillings and extractions, and Band 3 is £332.10 for complex work such as crowns and dentures. You pay one band charge per course of treatment.
What if I need several treatments at once?
You pay a single charge for the whole course of treatment, set at the highest band you need. So a course that includes a check-up, two fillings and a crown is charged once at the Band 3 rate, not band by band, however many appointments it takes.
How much is urgent or emergency dental treatment?
Urgent NHS dental treatment is charged at the Band 1 rate of £27.90, even if you need more than one appointment to resolve the problem. Any follow-up non-urgent work is then charged separately in the usual bands.
Who gets free NHS dental treatment?
NHS dental treatment is free if you are under 18, or under 19 in full-time education, pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, or you get a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit within the earnings limits. An HC2 certificate from the NHS Low Income Scheme also gives free treatment.
Are these charges the same across the UK?
No. These bands apply in England only. Wales sets its own NHS dental charges, Scotland has a different system, and dental care in Northern Ireland is free only in limited circumstances. Check your nation if you are not in England.
Sources & Rate Verification
Rates verified against official statutory guidance on 6 September 2026.