NHS Dental Charges in England: Bands, Costs and Free Treatment
NHS dentistry in England is charged in bands: one charge per course of treatment, depending on what the treatment involves. The bands are the same across England, they are set by the government each year, and a large group of people — children, pregnant women, and people on certain benefits — pay nothing at all. This guide explains the three bands, what each one covers, how to find an NHS dentist, and who gets free treatment. It gives no clinical dental advice.
The bands at a glance (2026/27)
From 1 April 2026: Band 1 is £27.90, Band 2 is £76.60, and Band 3 is £332.10. Urgent treatment costs £27.90. You pay one charge per course of treatment — only the highest band that applies. In 2025/26 the bands were £27.40, £75.30, and £326.70. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have different dental systems and charges.
The three bands
Band 1, at £27.90, covers an examination, diagnosis (including X-rays), advice on preventing future problems, and a scale and polish if clinically needed, plus fluoride varnish or fissure sealant. It is the band for check-ups and prevention.
Band 2, at £76.60, covers everything in Band 1 plus further treatment such as fillings, root canal work, and extractions. Band 3, at £332.10, covers everything in Bands 1 and 2 plus more complex work that needs a laboratory, such as crowns, dentures, and bridges. Urgent treatment — for example, for severe pain or a broken tooth — costs £27.90.
The key rule is that you pay one charge per course of treatment, and only the highest band that applies. If you have an examination and then need a filling, you pay the Band 2 charge once, not Band 1 plus Band 2. The dentist should tell you the cost before treatment starts.
How charges have changed
The 2026/27 bands came into force on 1 April 2026, set by a Written Ministerial Statement on 10 March 2026. They are a rise of about 1.7% on 2025/26, when the bands were £27.40, £75.30, and £326.70. Dental charges are uprated each year, so if you are reading this guide later, check the current figures on nhs.uk before you book.
The scale of NHS dentistry is large: 18.8 million adults in England saw an NHS dentist in the 24 months ending March 2026 — about 40% of the adult population. But access is a real problem in many areas, and finding a practice that is taking new NHS patients can take persistence.
Who gets free dental treatment
You get free NHS dental treatment in England if you are under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education; if you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months; or if you had a stillbirth in the past 12 months. You also get it free if you are being treated in an NHS hospital by a hospital dentist, though you may still have to pay for dentures or bridges.
You also qualify if you or your partner receive Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit — or Universal Credit, if your earnings are within the limits. If you or your partner receive one of those benefits, your dependants under 20 also get free treatment. You also qualify if you hold a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate or a valid HC2 certificate under the NHS Low Income Scheme.
Two warnings from the NHS’s own guidance. First, reaching State Pension age does not by itself entitle you to free dental treatment — you need Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or an HC2 certificate as well. Second, some benefits do not qualify: contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance and contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, and Pension Credit Savings Credit on its own do not give free dental treatment.
Help with costs if you do not qualify
If you do not qualify for free treatment outright and you are on a low income, the NHS Low Income Scheme can help. You apply with form HC1, available at dentists, GP surgeries, and pharmacies, and online from the NHSBSA. An HC2 certificate gives full help with NHS costs; an HC3 certificate gives partial help and states how much you must pay.
A few items are free for everyone, whether or not you are exempt: having stitches removed, having bleeding stopped, and having dentures repaired. Replacing dentures that cannot be repaired is charged. And if you paid an NHS dental charge and later find you were entitled to free or reduced-cost treatment, the NHSBSA says you can claim a refund — you must claim within 3 months of paying.
Finding an NHS dentist
The NHS website has a “Find a dentist” service that lists practices near you and whether they are taking new NHS patients. If no practice near you is taking patients, you can ask your local Healthwatch or Integrated Care Board for help, and you can join waiting lists at more than one practice.
Be careful about mixed treatment: some practices offer both NHS and private care, and private treatment is charged separately at private prices. Your dentist should tell you clearly which parts of your treatment are NHS and which are private, and what each will cost, before you agree. Free treatment and help with costs apply to NHS care only — they do not make private treatment free.
Sources: NHS website, How much NHS dental treatment costs and Who can get free NHS dental treatment (updated April 2026); Written Ministerial Statement, 10 March 2026; NHSBSA Dental Statistics for England 2025/26.