NHS Dental Charges Calculator UK 2026
Calculate NHS dental charges for England from 1 April 2026 — Band 1 £27.90, Band 2 £76.60, Band 3 £332.10. Check whether you qualify for free NHS dentistry and compare with private prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are NHS dental charges in 2026?
From 1 April 2026, NHS dental charges in England are: Band 1 (examination, X-rays, scale and polish) — £27.90; Band 2 (fillings, extractions, root canal treatment) — £76.60; Band 3 (crowns, dentures, bridges, veneers) — £332.10. Urgent treatment costs £27.90. You pay a single charge per course of treatment, regardless of how many procedures are performed within that band. The charges rose by 1.7% from the previous £26.80 / £73.50 / £319.10.
Who gets free NHS dental treatment in 2026?
Free NHS dental treatment in England is available to: children under 18 (or under 19 in full-time education); pregnant women and those who have given birth in the past 12 months; people receiving Universal Credit (within the earnings threshold), Income Support, Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), Income-related ESA/JSA; NHS Low Income Scheme (HC2 certificate) holders; and inpatients in NHS hospitals where the hospital dentist carries out the treatment.
How much does an NHS filling cost in 2026?
An NHS filling is a Band 2 treatment, costing £76.60 from 1 April 2026. This single charge covers all Band 2 work in one course of treatment — so you pay £76.60 whether you need one filling or several, plus any extractions or root canal treatment in the same course. If you qualify for free NHS dental treatment, fillings cost nothing.
What is a Band 2 dental treatment?
Band 2 includes any treatment that requires more than a basic examination, including: tooth fillings (amalgam or composite), root canal treatment, tooth extractions and other oral surgery, sealants, and extensive gum-disease management. You pay just £76.60 for all Band 2 work in a single course of treatment, no matter how many fillings or extractions are needed.
Why did NHS dental charges go up in April 2026?
NHS dental patient charges in England are reviewed by the Department of Health and Social Care and usually rise each April. From 1 April 2026 they increased by 1.7%, taking Band 1 from £26.80 to £27.90, Band 2 from £73.50 to £76.60, and Band 3 from £319.10 to £332.10. The money collected reduces the cost of the dental service to the NHS.
Are NHS dental charges the same in Scotland and Wales?
No — dental charges vary across the UK. In Scotland, NHS dental examinations are free for everyone and other treatment is charged at 80% of a set fee. In Wales, an NHS dental examination costs a set fee and treatment is banded differently from England. In Northern Ireland, patients pay 80% of the cost of treatment up to a maximum. Only England uses the fixed three-band system of £27.90 / £76.60 / £332.10.
Do I have to pay for an NHS dental check-up?
A routine NHS dental check-up (examination) is a Band 1 treatment costing £27.90 from 1 April 2026, unless you qualify for free treatment. The Band 1 charge also covers X-rays and a scale and polish if your dentist says they are clinically needed, all within the single £27.90 charge.
What can I do if I cannot afford NHS dental treatment?
If you are on a low income but do not qualify for automatic exemption, apply for the NHS Low Income Scheme (Form HC1) via any NHS dental practice, online at nhsbsa.nhs.uk, or at a jobcentre. If granted an HC2 certificate you will pay no NHS dental charges; an HC3 certificate gives partial help. Emergency dental treatment for pain relief is available through NHS 111 (call 111) if you cannot find an NHS dentist.
NHS Dental Charges 2026: Full Breakdown (England, from 1 April 2026)
NHS dental treatment in England is charged using three fixed bands. You pay one charge per course of treatment — if your course mixes treatments from different bands, you pay only the highest band that applies. If you need more than one treatment from the same band, you still pay the band charge once. The figures below took effect on 1 April 2026, a 1.7% rise on the 2025 rates.
| Band | What it covers | 2026 charge | 2025 charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | Examination, diagnosis, X-rays, scale & polish, fluoride varnish, preventive advice | £27.90 | £26.80 |
| Band 2 | Everything in Band 1 plus fillings, root canal treatment, extractions and oral surgery, sealants, gum-disease treatment | £76.60 | £73.50 |
| Band 3 | Everything in Bands 1 & 2 plus crowns, dentures, bridges, inlays/onlays and orthodontics | £332.10 | £319.10 |
| Urgent | Emergency/out-of-hours care — temporary fillings, abscess drainage, removing up to 2 teeth, pain relief | £27.90 | £26.80 |
Worked examples
- A check-up only: you pay one Band 1 charge of £27.90, even if it includes X-rays and a scale and polish.
- A check-up plus two fillings: the fillings put you in Band 2, so you pay £76.60 in total — not £27.90 + £76.60, and not two filling charges.
- A check-up, a filling and a crown: the crown is Band 3, the highest band that applies, so the whole course costs £332.10.
- Further treatment within 2 months: if you return within 2 months for treatment in the same or a lower band, there is no extra charge. A higher band would mean paying the difference up to that band.
Private vs NHS dental costs in 2026
NHS band charges are usually far cheaper than private fees. A private check-up typically runs £40–£100, a private white filling around £100–£250, and a private crown £500–£1,200+ depending on the material and location. That is why an NHS Band 3 course at £332.10 can save you many hundreds of pounds compared with private dentistry. Use the calculator above to estimate your NHS charge and the indicative private equivalent, then read our NHS dentist cost guide and try the dental insurance calculator to weigh up cover. If you are budgeting for other NHS costs, the NHS prescription cost calculator and our NHS 111 cost guide may also help.
Who pays nothing in 2026
You will not be charged for NHS dental treatment in England if you are under 18 (or under 19 in qualifying full-time education), pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, or you receive a qualifying benefit such as Income Support, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, income-based JSA/ESA, or Universal Credit within the earnings threshold. If you are unsure whether a benefit qualifies, check the Pension Credit calculator or the maternity pay calculator to confirm your situation, and always use the NHSBSA "Check before you tick" service before claiming an exemption — claiming wrongly can lead to a penalty charge.
Official Sources
- NHS.UK — How much NHS dental treatment costs (Band 1 £27.90, Band 2 £76.60, Band 3 £332.10)
- NHSBSA — Help with NHS dental costs (current band charges)
- NHS.UK — Who can get free NHS dental treatment or help with dental costs
- GOV.UK — Get help with dental costs
Band charges verified against NHS.UK and NHSBSA for the rates in force from 1 April 2026. Last checked 30 May 2026.