BANDS
Highest band, paid once
If your treatment mixes bands you pay only the highest band. Several treatments in the same band are charged once.
Check a treatmentMost adults in England pay towards NHS dental care.
The charge does not depend on how many fillings or X-rays you need. NHS treatment is grouped into three bands, and you pay the band charge once for a course of treatment, at the level of the highest band it includes.
- Pay the highest band once
- Ask the cost first
- Some people pay nothing
- NHS charges in England
THE SHORT ANSWER
The band sets
the price.
Charges as shown on the NHS website in October 2026.
They apply to NHS treatment in England only.
FREE CARE
Who pays nothing
Under-18s, under-19s in full-time education, and people who are pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months get free NHS dental treatment, among others.
How it works
FINDING CARE
Ask any NHS dentist
You can contact any NHS dentist for an appointment. If none near you is taking NHS patients, the NHS says to contact your local integrated care board.
See the numbersGeneral information only, not medical advice. For advice about your own health, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified health professional.
FOUR THINGS TO KNOW
Before the chair,
not after.
These points are taken from the NHS's own pages on dental charges and on finding a dentist in England.
Ask for an NHS appointment
Some practices offer both NHS and private care. The NHS says to ask specifically for an NHS appointment.
Expect the cost up front
The dental professional should tell you how much treatment will cost before they start.
Bring proof if you are exempt
Free treatment needs proof, such as an HC2 certificate, a maternity exemption certificate or a birth certificate.
Claim back if you overpaid
If you paid and later find you could have had free or cheaper treatment, you may be able to get a refund through NHSBSA.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Know the band,
know the window.
One figure on the top charge,
one on the time limit for follow-up work.
£332.10
Highest NHS dental charge
The Band 3 charge in England covers complex work such as crowns, bridges and dentures, and includes everything in Bands 1 and 2 in the same course of treatment.
BAND 3 · NHS
2 months
Window for no extra charge
If you need more treatment within 2 months that falls in the same or a lower band, you do not pay again. A higher band means paying the higher fee.
FURTHER TREATMENT · NHS
If you are not entitled to free treatment but have a low income, the NHS Low Income Scheme may help with part of the cost. NHSBSA says you cannot apply if you or your partner have more than £16,000 in savings, investments or property, not counting your home.
A QUICK BAND CHECK
Which band is
this treatment?
Pick a type of NHS dental treatment to see which band the NHS puts it in and what that band costs in England. The bar shows the relative size of the charge.
Based on the NHS page "How much NHS dental treatment costs". Your dentist decides what treatment is clinically needed and should tell you the cost first. Not dental or financial advice.
WHEN NO DENTIST HAS SPACE
Registration is
not a guarantee.
The NHS says you may be asked to join a waiting list, and filling in a registration form at your first visit does not mean you will always get NHS care at that practice.
If you cannot find an NHS dentist, the NHS says to contact your local integrated care board (ICB), which manages dental services in your area and may know where appointments are available.
In conversation
Questions people ask
How much is an NHS dental check-up in England?
A routine check-up is a Band 1 treatment. The NHS website lists Band 1 at £27.90, which can also include X-rays, fluoride and scaling if clinically needed.
Do I pay separately for each filling?
No. Treatments in the same band are charged once per course of treatment. If you need fillings (Band 2) and a crown (Band 3), you pay the Band 3 charge only.
Who gets free NHS dental treatment?
The NHS lists under-18s, under-19s in full-time education, people who are pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months, hospital dental patients and people on certain benefits, among others.
Are white fillings available on the NHS?
When clinically necessary, yes. The NHS says a white filling may be given for front teeth, while a silver-coloured amalgam filling may be more effective for back teeth.
What if I cannot find an NHS dentist?
The NHS says to contact your local integrated care board, which manages dental services in your area and may be able to tell you where to get an appointment.
Sources
Each figure on this page comes from the sources below.