You are entitled to free NHS dental treatment if, at the start of your treatment if you

Get or are included in an award of someone getting:
-Income Support
-Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance paid on its own or with contribution-based Jobseeker’s allowance
-Income-related Employment and Support Allowance paid on its own or with contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance.
-Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit) paid on its own or with Pension Credit (Savings Credit)

-Universal Credit
are entitled to, or are named on, a valid NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate

are named on a valid HC2 or HC2W certificate (an NHS Low Income Scheme certificate)

NHS dental charges


There are 3 NHS charge bands:

Band 1: £25.80

Covers an examination, diagnosis and advice. If necessary, it also includes X-rays, a scale and polish (if clinically needed), and planning for further treatment.

Band 2: £70.70

Covers all treatment included in Band 1, plus additional treatment, such as fillings, root canal treatment and removing teeth (extractions).

Band 3: £306.80

Covers all treatment included in Bands 1 and 2, plus more complex procedures, such as crowns, dentures and bridges.

Find out what's included in each NHS dental band charge, or ask your dentist to explain the charge for your treatment.

What if I need more treatment?

If, within 2 calendar months of completing a course of treatment, you need more treatment from the same or lower charge band, such as another filling, you do not have to pay anything extra.

If the additional treatment needed is in a higher band, you'll have to pay for the new NHS course of treatment.

But once 2 months have passed after completing a course of treatment, you'll have to pay the NHS charge band for any NHS dental treatment received.

Certain treatments (including lost items) are guaranteed for 12 months from the date they were completed.

These are:

  • fillings
  • root fillings
  • inlays
  • porcelain veneers
  • crowns

Treatments provided under this guarantee must be similar or related to the original treatment, but they do not have to be like for like.

Emergency or urgent treatment

If you require urgent care, you'll pay a Band 1 charge of £25.80.

Most urgent treatments can be done in 1 appointment.

Once your urgent course of treatment is complete, you may be advised to make another appointment for a separate course of non-urgent treatment.

In this case, the relevant NHS banding charge will apply.

When you do not have to pay

There's no dental charge:

  • for denture repairs
  • to have stitches removed
  • if your dentist has to stop blood loss
  • if your dentist only has to write out a prescription – but if you pay for prescriptions, you'll have to pay the usual prescription charge of £9.65