NHS dental charges calculator: bands, exemptions and Scotland

This calculator shows the NHS dental charges for your course of treatment in England or Scotland, applies exemptions or HC3 and compares a private quote.

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How it works

  1. Choose where you are treatedSelect England or Scotland in “Where are you treated?”. In England, pick the “Highest band in your treatment plan” and whether the “Course of treatment starts” on or after 1 April 2026 or before.
  2. Scotland: enter the NHS costIf you are treated in Scotland, type the amount from your plan into “NHS cost on your treatment plan (Scotland only)”. The calculator applies the Scottish rule of 80% up to the maximum per course.
  3. Check exemptionsUse “Does an exemption apply?” if you are, for example, under 18 or pregnant. If you have an HC3 certificate, enter the amount from it in “Maximum shown on your HC3 certificate”.
  4. Compare and calculateOptionally enter a “Private quote to compare (optional)”. Click “Calculate costs” to see your NHS charge, the difference to the private quote and the band table.

£27.90Band 1 in England from 1 April 2026 (examination, X-rays if needed, simple gum care); urgent care also £27.90 Source

£76.60Band 2 in England from 1 April 2026 (e.g. fillings, root canal treatment, extractions) Source

£332.10Band 3 in England from 1 April 2026 (e.g. crowns, bridges, dentures) Source

80%, max £384Scotland: you pay 80% of the cost of NHS treatment, up to £384 per course of treatment Source

NHS dental charges in England from 1 April 2026

NHS dental charges in England are grouped into bands. From 1 April 2026, Band 1 costs £27.90 and covers an examination, X-rays if needed, fluoride and simple gum care such as scaling. Band 2 costs £76.60 and can include fillings, root canal treatment and extractions. Band 3 costs £332.10 and can include crowns, bridges, dentures and orthodontic treatment. Urgent treatment costs £27.90. Before 1 April 2026 the charges were £27.40, £75.30 and £326.70, with urgent care at £27.40.

You do not pay for each item separately. The NHS says that if you need a mix of treatments from different bands, you pay only for the highest band in your course of treatment. If you need further treatment within 2 months that is in the same or a lower band, you do not pay extra. A higher band within that time costs the higher band fee. Treatment after 2 months counts as a new course. Choose the right start date in the calculator, because the earlier charges apply to courses that began before April 2026.

Who gets free NHS dental treatment in England

Some people do not pay NHS dental charges at all. According to the NHS, you can get free treatment, among other cases, if you are under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education, if you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, or if you are being treated in an NHS hospital by a hospital dentist. Free treatment also applies if you or your partner get income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, or Universal Credit with income below a certain amount.

You will need to show proof to your dentist, such as a valid HC2 certificate, your birth certificate or a valid maternity exemption certificate. If you are on a low income but not entitled to free treatment, the NHS Low Income Scheme may help with part of the cost. It issues an HC3 certificate showing how much you have to pay towards your health costs. Enter that amount in the calculator. Ask your dentist or the NHS Business Services Authority if you are unsure which rule applies.

  • Under 18, or under 19 in full-time education
  • Pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months
  • Certain benefits, or a valid HC2 certificate
  • Partial help with an HC3 certificate

Scotland, Wales and private treatment

Scotland has its own system. The NHS Business Services Authority says you pay 80% of the cost of your NHS dental treatment, up to a maximum of £384 for each course of treatment, unless you are entitled to free treatment. The calculator uses the NHS cost from your Scottish treatment plan for this. Wales changed its charging system from April 2026, with different charges for different types of care. This calculator does not cover Wales, so please check the Welsh charges with your dentist.

Not everything is available on the NHS. The NHS says you will usually need cosmetic treatments privately, and implants are usually only available privately. If you mix NHS and private care, your dentist must make clear which treatments are NHS and which are private, and the cost of each, in a treatment plan. You can enter a private quote in the calculator to see the difference. Ask your dentist which options exist on the NHS before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

How much are NHS dental charges in 2026?

In England, from 1 April 2026, Band 1 costs £27.90, Band 2 £76.60 and Band 3 £332.10. Urgent treatment costs £27.90. For courses of treatment that started before 1 April 2026, the charges were £27.40, £75.30 and £326.70. The calculator lets you choose which period applies to your course of treatment.

What is included in Band 1, 2 and 3?

Band 1 covers an examination, X-rays if needed, fluoride and simple gum care such as scaling. Band 2 adds treatments such as fillings, root canal treatment, extractions and extensive gum treatment. Band 3 adds crowns, inlays, onlays, dentures, bridges and orthodontic treatment. Each band includes the items of the bands below it.

Do I pay for each NHS treatment separately?

No. You pay one charge per course of treatment, at the highest band you need. If you have treatments from Band 1 and Band 2, you pay the Band 2 charge once. Further treatment within 2 months in the same or a lower band costs nothing extra; a higher band costs the higher fee.

Who gets free NHS dental treatment?

In England, free treatment applies if you are under 18, under 19 and in full-time education, pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months, or treated by a hospital dentist in an NHS hospital. It also applies if you or your partner get certain benefits, such as income-related ESA, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or Universal Credit below an income limit.

What is an HC3 certificate?

An HC3 certificate comes from the NHS Low Income Scheme. It gives partial help with health costs and shows how much you have to pay towards them, including NHS dental charges. Select HC3 under “Does an exemption apply?” and enter the amount in “Maximum shown on your HC3 certificate” to see what you would pay.

How much do NHS dental charges cost in Scotland?

In Scotland you pay 80% of the cost of your NHS dental treatment, up to a maximum of £384 for each course of treatment, according to the NHS Business Services Authority. People entitled to free treatment do not pay. Enter the NHS cost from your Scottish treatment plan and the calculator applies the 80% rule and the maximum.

Are dental implants or veneers available on the NHS?

Usually not. The NHS says cosmetic treatments usually need to be done privately, and implants are usually only available privately. Implants are rarely offered on the NHS, for example for people who cannot wear dentures after mouth cancer or an accident. Ask your dentist which NHS alternatives might be possible for you.

How much is an emergency NHS dentist appointment?

Urgent NHS dental treatment in England costs £27.90 from 1 April 2026. According to the NHS, it can include an examination, X-rays, a temporary filling, removing up to 2 teeth and one urgent filling. Routine, non-urgent fillings are Band 2 treatment. Choose urgent treatment in the calculator to see the charge.

Does the calculator work for Wales?

No. Wales introduced a different charging system from April 2026, with separate charges for different types of care rather than the three bands used in England. The calculator covers England and Scotland only. If you are treated in Wales, ask your dentist for the charge that applies to your course of treatment.

Sources

This tool provides general information and calculates only with the values you enter. It does not replace an examination or advice from a dentist, your health insurer or a financial adviser.

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