NHS Dental Bands Explained: What Each Band Covers
For anyone paying for NHS dental treatment in England, this page explains what each NHS band can include, the charges from 1 April 2026, who does not pay, urgent treatment and what Deepcar Dental Care provides. The core point: a course of NHS treatment carries a single charge, set by the highest band in it.
5.0 from 550+ Google reviews
Open 8am to 8pm, seven days
Free parking at the door
CQC & GDC registered
No referral needed
Clinically reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, dentist · GDC 301711
Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
How does NHS dental banding work?
NHS dental treatment in England is grouped into three charge bands, and each band has a different cost, NHS guidance says.
If you pay for NHS dental treatment, the cost depends on the treatment the dental professional thinks you need.
From 1 April 2026, the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) lists charges for England including Band 1 £27.90, Band 2 £76.60, Band 3 £332.10 and unscheduled care (urgent treatment) £27.90. Before that date they were £27.40, £75.30, £326.70 and £27.40. The NHS website showed the same figures on 3 November 2026.
What does each NHS band cover?
In NHS guidance, Band 1 can include a routine appointment, Band 2 can add fillings and extractions, and Band 3 crowns, bridges and dentures.
| NHS band | Charge in England from 1 April 2026 | What it can include |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | £27.90 | Examination, assessment and advice; X-rays, if clinically needed; fluoride put on the teeth; simple gum disease care such as scaling, if clinically needed; moulds of the teeth; minimal adjustments to dentures or orthodontic appliances |
| Band 2 | £76.60 | All of Band 1, plus fillings; root canal treatment; extractions and other oral surgery; sealant; adding to dentures, or relining and rebasing them; a bite-raising appliance that is not laboratory-made; extensive gum disease care |
| Band 3 | £332.10 | All of Bands 1 and 2, plus crowns; inlays and onlays; dentures; bridges; orthodontic treatment such as braces; other custom-made appliances, not including sports guards |
NHS guidance says scaling is usually a Band 1 treatment, but extensive treatment, or treatment for complex gum problems, may be charged at Band 2. If the dentist says scaling is not clinically necessary, you pay for it privately.
Is a crown Band 2 or Band 3?
Crowns are listed under Band 3, charged at £332.10 in England from 1 April 2026. NHS guidance says you may be offered a metal-coloured crown on a back tooth and could discuss alternatives that may be available privately with your dentist, with their risks, benefits and costs. Crowns may need to be replaced in the future.
How much does NHS root canal treatment cost?
Root canal treatment is listed under Band 2, charged at £76.60 in England from 1 April 2026; a course that also includes a crown takes the Band 3 charge. NHS guidance says your dentist should be able to provide it, but may refer you to another service if you need more complex treatment.
Where does orthodontic treatment fit?
Orthodontic treatment, such as braces, is listed under Band 3. NHS guidance says you can get it on the NHS if a standard assessment shows it is clinically necessary. NHSBSA says people under 18 with a clear health need get it free; for adults NHS orthodontic care is not usually available but may be approved on a case-by-case basis for health reasons.
How does the course of treatment rule work?
NHS guidance says a course mixing bands is paid at the highest band, and several treatments from one band are paid for once.
NHSBSA adds that all treatment identified at your dental examination is covered by one payment, even if you go back more than once to complete the course. For example, an examination, two fillings and a crown in one course make one Band 3 charge, not three charges added together.
What if you need more treatment within 2 months?
NHSBSA says that if you go back to your practice within 2 calendar months of completing a course and need further treatment in the same or a lower band, you do not pay again; in a higher band, you pay that band in full. The 2-month rule does not apply if you did not complete your first course, or if it was emergency treatment. After 2 months, further treatment is charged.
Questions about this treatment? Book online or call the practice.
Who does not pay NHS dental charges?
Some people can get free NHS dental treatment in England, and some on a low income can get help with part of the cost.
NHS guidance says you can get free NHS dental appointments and treatment if:
- you are under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
- you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
- you have had a stillbirth in the past 12 months
- you are being treated in an NHS hospital by a hospital dentist, though you may still pay for dentures or bridges
- you receive War Pension Scheme or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability (you usually pay first and claim the money back from Veterans UK)
- you or your partner receive certain benefits set out on the NHS website, in which case your dependants aged under 20 qualify too
Depending on the reason, you need to show your dentist proof, such as a valid HC2 or maternity exemption certificate. Free treatment covers NHS treatment only. If you are not eligible for it but are on a low income, you may get help with some of the cost through the NHS Low Income Scheme, and if you paid for NHS treatment when you could have had help, you may be able to claim a refund.
Which NHS dental treatments are free for everyone?
NHS guidance says nobody pays for having stitches removed, or for the dentist stopping bleeding from the mouth, for example after an extraction. Repairing dentures is free too, but if they cannot be repaired you pay for new ones.
How much does urgent NHS dental treatment cost?
Urgent NHS dental treatment in England is charged at £27.90 from 1 April 2026, if you pay for NHS dental treatment.
NHS guidance says urgent treatment can include an examination, X-rays, a temporary filling, emergency partial root canal treatment, refixing inlays, crowns and bridges, removing up to 2 teeth and 1 urgent filling. Further treatment afterwards may have additional costs, and NHSBSA guidance excludes emergency treatment from the 2-month rule.
For urgent dental care, NHS guidance says you can get advice from NHS 111 or contact a dentist and ask for an appointment. Go to A&E or call 999 if you have:
- serious injuries to your face or jaw
- heavy bleeding from your mouth that will not stop
- severe swelling of your mouth, lips, throat or neck, and difficulty breathing or opening one or both eyes
- any injury to your head or face that has caused you to lose consciousness, vomit or have double vision
If you are not sure whether you need A&E, call 111 or use 111 online.
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance. Bring any medicines you take with you.
When should you speak to your dentist about NHS charges?
Ask your dentist before treatment starts: NHS guidance says the dental professional should tell you the cost before they begin.
NHS guidance also says your dentist must make clear which treatments are available on the NHS and which only privately, with the cost of each. It says your dentist has to give you a treatment plan, with the costs, for Band 2, Band 3 or a mix of NHS and private treatment, and should tell you of any changes. NHS treatment plans are not usually given for Band 1 or urgent treatment, but you can ask for one.
What does Deepcar Dental Care provide?
Deepcar Dental Care provides private treatment only and does not offer NHS treatment.
The guide to NHS or private dental care explains how they differ in charging and cover.
The practice's private treatment includes restorative dentistry, which repairs and rebuilds damaged natural teeth, with white fillings, inlays and onlays, crowns, bridges and dentures, as well as root canal treatment. The restorative cost page shows what it costs to have restorative treatment privately at the practice.
Frequently asked questions
Do three fillings mean three Band 2 charges?
No. NHS guidance says when you need several treatments from the same band, the band is charged once, so three fillings in one course are one Band 2 charge, £76.60 in England from 1 April 2026. If the same course also needs a Band 3 item, such as a bridge, it is one Band 3 charge.
Is cosmetic dental treatment covered by an NHS band?
Usually not. NHS guidance says the NHS provides the treatment needed to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy, and cosmetic treatments are usually private. NHSBSA names teeth whitening and sports guards among treatments you must pay for privately, and Band 3's custom-made appliances exclude sports guards.
Are NHS dental charges the same across the UK?
No. The bands and 2026 figures here are England's NHS dental charges. NHSBSA says that in Scotland you pay 80% of the cost of NHS dental treatment, up to £384 for each course, unless you are entitled to free treatment, and Wales charges by care package, with its own figures from 1 April 2026.
Book a consultation.
Online in under a minute, or call and speak to a real person.
Appointments can be booked online or by phone. Deepcar Dental Care is at 334 Manchester Road, Deepcar, Sheffield, S36 2RH, and there is free parking directly outside.
334 Manchester Road
Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2RH
0114 288 2121
Contact us
Opening hours
Open 8am to 8pm, seven days
Free parking at the door