NHS dental charges
Choose the treatment you need to see the fixed NHS band charge in England and exactly what it covers, including how urgent care is priced.
How it works
NHS dentistry in England uses three fixed charge bands rather than pricing each item of work. Band 1, at £27.90, 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, at £76.60, adds further treatment such as fillings, root canal work and extractions. Band 3, at £332.10, covers the most complex work, including crowns, dentures and bridges. You pay one band charge for a complete course of treatment.
Two rules keep the cost predictable. First, 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 for each element, no matter how many visits it takes. Second, urgent care is charged at the Band 1 rate of £27.90 even when more than one appointment is needed. If you get a qualifying benefit, are pregnant, or hold an HC2 certificate, the treatment is free.
Worked example
Suppose you attend for a check-up and the dentist finds you need two fillings. The check-up alone would be a Band 1 charge, but because fillings fall into Band 2, the whole course is charged once at £76.60. If the same visit also flagged a crown, the course would move up to a single Band 3 charge of £332.10, covering 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.