NHS dental charges are set separately in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, they are described in three different ways, and they change over time. This page gives the figures we could verify on official pages, shows when we checked them and says plainly where we could not find one.
All figures in pounds sterling, checked in October 2026. Charges are revised by regulation from time to time, so confirm the amount with your practice or the official page before you rely on a figure.
How do NHS dental charges work?
The NHS provides dental care that is clinically necessary.6 Patients who are not exempt pay a charge towards it, but the practice does not set that charge. In England it is fixed by regulations, and the amounts are revised from time to time.
The current England figures were set by the National Health Service (Primary Dental Services and Dental Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, which took effect on 1 April 2026.2
The charge is not an itemised price for each filling or crown. It is a payment attached to a band of treatment in England, to a package of treatment in Wales and to a share of the cost in Scotland. That is why a single sentence such as “an NHS crown costs this much” is true only for one nation at a time.
What do Band 1, Band 2 and Band 3 cover in England?
England uses three bands: Band 1 for examinations, advice and X-rays if clinically needed, Band 2 for fillings, root canal treatment and extractions, and Band 3 for crowns, dentures and bridges. The NHS charges page sets them out, and the table gives the current amounts.1
| Band | What it covers | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | Routine examination, assessment and advice; X-rays if clinically needed; fluoride; simple gum treatment such as scaling. Urgent treatment is charged at the same rate | £27.90 |
| Band 2 | Everything in Band 1, plus fillings, root canal treatment, extractions and other oral surgery | £76.60 |
| Band 3 | Everything in Bands 1 and 2, plus crowns, inlays and onlays, dentures, bridges and orthodontic treatment where clinically necessary | £332.10 |
NHS dental charges
England: three bands
England’s bars share one scale. Figures checked in October 2026.
If your course mixes treatments from different bands, you pay the charge for the highest band only, according to the same NHS page.1 The dental professional should tell you the cost before treatment starts. On the NHS charges page, further treatment in the same band or a lower one within two months is not charged again, while further treatment in a higher band means paying the higher band’s fee.1 The page also lists some work that carries no charge, namely having stitches removed, stopping bleeding and repairing dentures.
Urgent treatment is charged at the Band 1 rate. The NHS charges page includes in that urgent band work such as refixing a crown or inlay, treating sensitive teeth and draining an abscess, together with aftercare.1 That matters if a crown from treatment elsewhere comes loose, and it is a sound reason to call a UK dentist or NHS 111 rather than wait. Who to call, and when, is set out on NHS care and emergencies at home.
How are charges different in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Each nation sets its own charges. The Welsh Government publishes package charges with a maximum per course,3 the Scottish Government says patients pay 80% of the cost up to a maximum unless they are entitled to free care,4 and nidirect confirms a set scale of charges in Northern Ireland,5 though we could not verify any figures there.
Wales
The Welsh Government page on NHS dental charges and exemptions, last updated on 27 July 2026, lists charges by package of treatment and a maximum for a whole course.3
| Package | Charge |
|---|---|
| New patient assessment | £27.21 |
| Recall visit | £25 |
| Urgent care | £37.50 |
| Crown, bridge, inlay, onlay or veneer | £140.44, with laboratory charges extra |
| Maximum for a course of treatment | £384 |
The Welsh page lists further packages, such as fillings and root canal treatment, which we do not reproduce here, so use the official page for those.
Scotland
The Scottish Government says that patients who are not entitled to free care pay 80% of the cost of NHS dental treatment, up to a maximum of £384 per course of treatment.4 We do not give per-item Scottish charges, because the only pages that list them are not official government pages that we could verify.
Northern Ireland
nidirect confirms that a Health Service dentist has a set scale of charges, and that the charges are published each year in the Statement of Dental Remuneration.5 It gives no pound figures, and we did not find an official page we could verify that does, so we give none. The nidirect page is the place to start, and your practice should be able to tell you the charge before treatment.
Who pays nothing?
Who pays nothing depends on your nation and your circumstances, such as age, pregnancy, education or certain benefits, and the rules change, so treat this section as a guide to where to look, not as a complete list. The official pages say:
- England: the NHS charges page links to the NHS page on who can get free dental treatment.1 That page says treatment is free if you are aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education; are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months; have had a stillbirth in the past 12 months; are getting treatment in an NHS hospital from a hospital dentist (though you may still need to pay for dentures or bridges); or receive War Pension Scheme payments, or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments, and the treatment is for your accepted disability. It is also free if you or your partner receive certain benefits, including income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (with or without Savings Credit) and Universal Credit if your income is below a certain amount.
- Wales: the Welsh Government says examinations are free for people under 25 and for those aged 60 and over.3
- Scotland: the Scottish Government says treatment is free for under 26s and for pregnant women and nursing mothers.4
- Northern Ireland: nidirect lists under 18s, 18-year-olds in full-time education, people who are pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months, and people on certain benefits.5
These lists are summaries of the official pages, which carry the full conditions, so read the page for your nation before assuming that you do or do not pay. Wherever you live, ask the practice at the start whether you are exempt, and keep any proof it needs.
What does the NHS not provide: cosmetic treatment?
The NHS page on dental services says that NHS dentistry covers treatment that is clinically necessary to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy, and that cosmetic dentistry is usually private.6 Whitening, veneers chosen for appearance and implants fall on the private side in most cases, and the charges on this page do not apply to them.
A band charge describes what the NHS asks for necessary care. It says nothing about what a private practice or an overseas clinic will charge for cosmetic work, and it should not be used as a yardstick for either.
When is a crown available on the NHS?
A crown is available on the NHS when there is a clinical reason for it, such as a tooth that has broken, decayed or been damaged. The NHS charges for it at Band 3 in England, and the NHS dental services page states that a written treatment plan is required for Band 2 and Band 3 work.6
Ask for that plan before you agree to the work, and check which band and which charge it states. What a crown involves as a treatment is explained in our guide to dental crowns.
A crown wanted only to improve the look of a sound tooth is less clear-cut. The NHS says you will usually need to get cosmetic treatments privately, and that your dentist must make clear which treatments can be provided on the NHS and which only privately, with the costs of each.6 If you are unsure which category your tooth falls into, ask your dentist to explain the clinical reason in writing. That one sentence tells you whether the NHS charge applies at all.
How does this compare with private and overseas prices?
It does not compare directly. The NHS charge is fixed by regulation, for necessary care. Private fees are set by each practice, and prices abroad by each clinic. Our pages on private dental fees in the UK and dental treatment costs in Turkey show the advertised starting prices we found and what to ask for in each case.
If you cannot find an NHS dentist, our page on finding NHS dental care explains the routes available, and the overview at what dental treatment costs brings the three price worlds together.
Frequently asked questions
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How much is an NHS crown?
In England a crown falls in Band 3, which is currently £332.10, where it is clinically needed. In Wales the charge for a crown, bridge, inlay, onlay or veneer package is £140.44, with laboratory charges extra. Scotland charges 80% of the cost up to £384 per course of treatment. We give no figure for Northern Ireland.
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Do I pay again if I need more treatment?
In England, further treatment in the same band or a lower one within two months is not charged again, according to the NHS charges page. The rules in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ, so ask your practice how your course of treatment will be charged before it starts.
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How much is an NHS check-up?
In England a check-up falls in Band 1, which is currently £27.90. In Wales the new patient assessment is £27.21 and a recall visit is £25. We could not verify a per-item Scottish or Northern Irish figure on an official page, so we give none.
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Can I have cosmetic dental work on the NHS?
Generally not. The NHS provides treatment that is clinically necessary, and cosmetic dentistry is usually private. Where a tooth needs treatment for a clinical reason, the NHS route exists and the normal charge applies. See private dental fees in the UK for what that means in practice.
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Who does not pay NHS dental charges?
It depends on where you live. Wales offers free examinations to people under 25 and those aged 60 and over. Scotland makes treatment free for under 26s and for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Northern Ireland lists under 18s, 18-year-olds in full-time education, pregnancy or a baby in the last 12 months, and certain benefits. Check your nation’s official page.