Dentistry is one of the few NHS services where you have to pay a contribution towards the cost of your care. The information on this page explains what you may have to pay for your NHS dental treatment.
- Emergency dental treatment – £25.80 This covers emergency care in a primary care NHS dental practice such as pain relief or a temporary filling.
- Band 1 course of treatment – £25.80 This covers an examination, diagnosis (including X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if clinically needed, and preventative care such as the application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant if appropriate.
- Band 2 course of treatment – £70.70 This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or removal of teeth but not more complex items covered by Band 3.
- Band 3 course of treatment – £306.80 This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures, bridges and other laboratory work.
For information about help with dental charges, including how to claim a refund, see our section on help with health costs.
Any treatment that your dentist believes is clinically necessary to achieve and maintain good oral health should be available on the NHS.
You will not be charged for individual items within an NHS course of treatment.
Depending on what you need to have done, you should only ever be asked to pay one charge for each completed course of treatment, even if you need to visit your dentist more than once to finish it.
A course of treatment is completed when the treatment listed in your treatment plan has been provided in full.
Most dentists provide both NHS and private dental treatment. Make sure you understand whether you are paying for NHS or private treatment, or a mixture of the two, before treatment begins.
Be aware that being repeatedly late for your treatment sessions or failure to attend appointments may result in the early termination of the course of treatment.
Helpful Links
NHS Dentistry: Understanding NHS dental charges
