NHS dental charges in 2026

NHS dentistry isn't free for adults, but it's much cheaper than private. Here's exactly what you pay and when.

Updated 21 May 2026 · finddentist.co.uk

The finddentist team at Sorted UK Independent UK NHS dentist directory. We publish under one team byline rather than individual names. Read why on About.
Published & updated: 21 May 2026 Reviewed by: our content team against NHS England, NHS BSA, and CQC published guidance
This is information, not dental advice. For a personal recommendation see a dentist. If you're in severe pain, have facial swelling, or have suffered trauma, call NHS 111 or visit your nearest A&E. We are not affiliated with the NHS.

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NHS dental treatment in England is split into three flat-rate charge bands, plus a separate band for urgent care. The price is the same whatever the dentist charges in private fees. Band 2 is Band 2.

The 2026 NHS dental charges in England

Band 1: £27.90Examination, diagnosis, X-rays, scale and polish (if clinically needed), advice on prevention.
Band 2: £76.60Everything in Band 1 plus fillings, root canal treatment, extractions.
Band 3: £332.10Everything in Bands 1 and 2 plus crowns, dentures, bridges, more complex work.
Urgent care: £27.90One urgent appointment to deal with pain or trauma (e.g. emergency filling, repair of broken crown, treatment of acute infection).

Prices set by the Department of Health and Social Care. Last increased 1 April 2026. Source: NHSBSA.

How the band system works

You pay the highest band charge that applies to your treatment plan. If you go in for a check-up (Band 1) and the dentist finds a cavity that needs filling (Band 2), you pay Band 2 once, and the filling is included. You don't pay Band 1 + Band 2 separately.

If you need follow-up treatment within two months of finishing the original course of treatment, and it's in the same band, you don't pay again. Good dentists explain this without being asked.

What's NOT covered on the NHS

  • Cosmetic treatments: veneers, whitening, cosmetic orthodontics
  • White fillings on back teeth (some practices include them, but they're not contractually required to)
  • Implants (except in clinically specific cases, see our dental implants guide)
  • Sedation for routine work
  • Multiple dental appointments solely for cosmetic reasons

Other UK nations

Wales: Wales replaced the three-band system on 1 April 2026 under its reformed NHS dental contract, so band prices no longer apply there. Charges are now set per care package, with a cap on each course of treatment. We do not publish Welsh prices. Check the current figures with NHS Wales or your practice.

Scotland: NHS dental check-ups are free for everyone. Other treatments are charged at 80% of a set tariff up to a £384 cap.

Northern Ireland: charges set per individual treatment item, with an 80% patient contribution up to a similar cap.

Who pays nothing

You qualify for free NHS dental treatment if you are:

  • Under 18 (or under 19 in full-time education)
  • Pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months
  • On Income Support, Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, Universal Credit (with low income), Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
  • Holding a valid HC2 (full help) certificate via the NHS Low Income Scheme

Full detail: Who qualifies for free NHS dental treatment.

What if I can't find an NHS dentist?

The crisis we built this site for. You can search by postcode to find surgeries currently accepting new NHS patients, verified by recent patient reports. If nothing locally accepts, call NHS 111. They have a duty to find you an appointment if you have a clinical need.

Frequently asked

How much is a check-up on the NHS?
£27.90 for Band 1, including any X-rays and scale and polish needed.
Is a root canal Band 2 or Band 3?
Band 2, at £76.60, covers root canal treatment. Band 3 only kicks in if a crown is needed on top.
Do I have to pay if the NHS dentist suggests cosmetic work?
Cosmetic work isn't available on the NHS, so any charge for that would be private and outside the band system. Get the quote in writing first.

Sources & further reading

Looking for a specific dentist?

Enter your postcode to see surgeries near you that are currently accepting new NHS patients.

Other guides

Free NHS dental treatment: who qualifies in 2026

Around 1 in 3 adults pay nothing for NHS dental work. Here's the eligibility list and how to prove it.

Emergency dental care UK: what counts as an emergency and where to go

Severe pain, swelling, or trauma. Here's when to call 111, when to head to A&E, and what NHS emergency dental services actually cover.

Dental implants UK: cost, NHS eligibility and what to expect

A single implant typically costs £2,000–£3,500 privately in the UK. The NHS covers them only in narrow clinical cases. Here's the honest breakdown.

How to find an NHS dentist accepting new patients in 2026

The official NHS list is out of date. Here's the modern playbook for finding a surgery that'll actually take you.

NHS vs private dentist: cost, speed and what each one actually covers

A side-by-side comparison of NHS and private dental care in the UK, with real numbers and the trade-offs nobody mentions.

How to register with an NHS dentist (and why it isn't like a GP)

NHS dental "registration" doesn't work the way most people think. Here's what it actually means, and the exact steps to get onto a practice's books.

NHS dentist waiting lists: how they really work

Whether a waiting list even exists near you, how long they actually take, and how to work several at once in your favour.

Can't find an NHS dentist? Your options when every list is full

What actually works when you've rung round and no one is accepting, including the routes most people never hear about.