NHS dental charges 2026/27
In England, NHS dental treatment costs £27.90 for a check-up, £76.60 if you need fillings, root canal or extractions, and £332.10 for crowns, bridges or dentures. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland charge differently, up to a maximum of £384 per course.
NHS dental charges in England
Charges from 1 April 2026. You pay one charge per course of treatment, based on the highest band you need.
| Band | What it covers | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | A check-up: examination, diagnosis and advice, plus X-rays, a scale and polish and fluoride if needed. | £27.90 |
| Band 2 | Everything in Band 1 plus treatment such as fillings, root canal treatment and extractions. | £76.60 |
| Band 3 | Everything in Bands 1 and 2 plus lab-made work such as crowns, bridges and dentures. | £332.10 |
| Urgent | Urgent or emergency care such as pain relief, a temporary filling or draining an abscess. | £27.90 |
Previous charges (from 1 April 2025): Band 1 £27.40, Band 2 £75.30, Band 3 £326.70, urgent £27.40.
Source: legislation.gov.uk · nhs.uk
NHS dental charges in Wales
From 1 April 2026, Wales replaced Bands 1–3 with care packages. You pay a fixed charge for each package you need, up to £384 per course of treatment. Treatment that started before then keeps the old charge.
| Care package | What it covers | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent dental care package | Urgent assessment and treatment to relieve pain and stop a problem getting worse. | £37.50 |
| New patient assessment | A first full check-up at a practice, with X-rays, prevention advice and fluoride if needed. | £27.21 |
| Recall appointment | A routine check-up for an existing patient, at the interval your dentist sets. | £25 per visit |
| Simple restorative care package | Fillings or extractions on up to 4 teeth. | £36.03 |
| Extensive restorative care package | Fillings or extractions on 5 to 8 teeth. | £68.75 |
| Periodontal care package | Treatment for gum disease, including deep cleaning. | £48.53 |
| Denture care package | Upper and/or lower dentures (laboratory charges are extra). | £86.40 |
| Stabilisation care package | Getting widespread decay (7 or more decayed teeth) under control. | £75 |
| Anterior root canal care package | Root canal treatment on up to two front teeth. | £91.18 |
| Posterior root canal care package | Root canal treatment on up to two back teeth (laboratory charges are extra). | £182.72 |
| Crown, bridge, inlay, onlay and veneer care package | Up to two crowns or a bridge of up to three units (laboratory charges are extra). | £140.44 |
| Miscellaneous care package | Smaller items outside a current package, such as denture repairs or stitch removal. | £25 |
Examinations are free for people under 25 and people aged 60 or over (if other treatment such as an X-ray or scale and polish is given at the visit, the full recall charge applies).
Source: gov.wales
NHS dental charges in Scotland
For each item of treatment, unless you qualify for free treatment.
Your dentist should tell you the cost before treatment starts.
Free for everyone: NHS dental examinations, including review examinations.
| Example treatment | You pay |
|---|---|
| Check-up | £0 |
| Check-up with preventive advice | £17.32 |
| Simple extraction (per tooth) | £31.80 |
| Full upper and lower dentures | £379.60 |
Examples correct as at 1 November 2025.
Source: nhsinform.scot
NHS dental charges in Northern Ireland
For each item of treatment, unless you qualify for free treatment.
Your dentist should tell you the cost before treatment starts.
Free for everyone: repairs to dentures, stopping bleeding (arrest of haemorrhage), an emergency visit by your dentist to your home.
Fees for each item are set in the Statement of Dental Remuneration.
Source: bso.hscni.net
Who gets free NHS dental treatment
You don’t pay NHS dental charges if, when treatment starts, you are:
- Under 18 (Scotland: under 26)
- Aged 18 and in full-time education (England: under 19 and in full-time education)
- Pregnant, or had a baby in the last 12 months
- You (or in England, Wales and NI, your partner) get certain income-related benefits, such as Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or Universal Credit under an income limit
England
A stillbirth in the last 12 months; War Pension or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme treatment for an accepted disability (usually pay and claim back from Veterans UK); dependants under 20 of someone who qualifies through benefits. Benefits named: income-related ESA, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, Universal Credit (income limit).
Wales
Free examinations for everyone under 25 and everyone aged 60 or over (other treatment at that visit is charged). Treatment free for under 18s, 18-year-olds in full-time education, pregnant or had a baby in the 12 months before treatment starts, NHS hospital dental patients, certain benefits, the low income scheme, and NHS tax credit exemption certificate holders.
Scotland
All NHS treatment is free for everyone under 26. NHS dental examinations are free for everyone, at any age. Also free if pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months, or with a certificated exemption for low income or certain benefits.
Northern Ireland
Also free for Hospital Dental Service outpatients and Community Dental Service patients (dentures and bridges may be charged) and war pensioners whose treatment relates to their pensioned disability. Universal Credit claimants qualify if last-period net earnings were £435 or less, or £935 or less if claiming for children or assessed as having limited capability for work.
Treated by a hospital dentist as an NHS hospital patient is free in England, Wales and NI (dentures and bridges may still be charged).
Sources: England · Wales · Scotland · Northern Ireland
Can’t get an NHS dentist?
Many practices have long NHS waiting lists. If you go private, prices vary a lot between clinics, so compare before you book.
Always confirm the charge with your dental practice before treatment starts. Charges usually change each April, and we update this page when they do.