Updated 17 April 2026
NHS Band 1 Dental Charge: £27.90 (April 2026)
Band 1 covers your dental check-up, X-rays, preventive care, and advice. It is the lowest NHS charge and applies when no active treatment (fillings, extractions) is needed.
BAND 1 CHARGE (APRIL 2026)
£27.90
Up from £27.40 in 2025/26 (up 1.8%)
This is a fixed charge set by NHS England. Every NHS dental practice charges exactly the same amount. There is no negotiation and no variation between practices.
If you qualify for free NHS dental treatment (pregnancy, under-18, benefits, HC2), you pay nothing regardless of what band your treatment falls into.
What you get for £27.90
Band 1 covers a complete diagnostic and preventive appointment. Your dentist must offer all of these if clinically appropriate:
Dental examination and diagnosis
A full assessment of your teeth, gums, soft tissues (lips, tongue, cheeks), and jaw. Your dentist is looking for decay, gum disease, oral cancer signs, and bite problems.
X-rays (as many as clinically needed)
Bitewing X-rays to check for decay between teeth, and any other X-rays your dentist considers clinically necessary. All X-rays taken during the appointment are covered by the one Band 1 charge.
Scale and polish (if clinically necessary)
A professional clean to remove tartar and staining, but only if your dentist judges it clinically required. This is not guaranteed at every visit. See the section below for the full detail on when a polish is included.
Preventive care and advice
Fluoride varnish (especially for children and high-risk adults), fissure sealants for children, and personalised advice on brushing, diet, and oral hygiene.
Small repairs to dentures or braces
Minor adjustments or repairs to existing removable dentures or removable orthodontic appliances are included in Band 1 if no other treatment is needed.
Referral to a specialist if needed
If your dentist identifies something requiring specialist care (periodontist, oral surgeon, orthodontist), the referral is part of Band 1 work. You pay the appropriate charge at the specialist separately.
Full treatment planning
A written or explained treatment plan for any further work required, including which band each proposed treatment falls into and the total cost.
The scale and polish clinical-discretion rule
Many patients assume a scale and polish is automatic at every NHS check-up. It is not. Under NHS regulations, a scale and polish is included in Band 1 only if your dentist judges it clinically necessary for your oral health.
Clinically necessary means: there is calculus (tartar) build-up that is contributing to or is likely to cause gum disease; or the patient has a history of gum problems that require regular professional cleaning.
If you want a routine scale and polish for cosmetic reasons (whiter teeth, fresher breath) and your dentist does not judge it clinically needed, they can offer it as a private treatment at a separate charge. Always ask before the treatment begins which parts are NHS and which are private.
When Band 1 becomes Band 2 or Band 3
The moment your dentist decides any active treatment is needed as part of the same course, the charge upgrades. You pay only the higher band, not both.
| What the dentist finds/does | Band (charge) |
|---|---|
| Check-up, X-rays, preventive advice only | Band 1 (£27.90) |
| Check-up plus one or more fillings | Band 2 (£76.60) |
| Check-up plus a tooth extraction | Band 2 (£76.60) |
| Check-up plus root canal treatment | Band 2 (£76.60) |
| Check-up plus crown preparation | Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Check-up plus bridge work | Band 3 (£332.10) |
| Check-up plus dentures | Band 3 (£332.10) |
Three typical Band 1 visit examples
£27.90
Annual check-up, no problems
Examination, two bitewing X-rays, scale and polish (clinically necessary), fluoride varnish, advice. Total charge: Band 1 at £27.90.
£27.90
Check-up, X-rays, fissure sealant
Check-up plus four bitewing X-rays and a fissure sealant on a molar (preventive). All Band 1 work. Total charge: £27.90 only.
£76.60
Check-up finds one small filling
Examination finds one cavity needing a filling. The charge upgrades to Band 2 (£76.60). You do not pay £27.90 plus a filling charge separately.
How often can you have an NHS check-up?
Your dentist sets your recall interval based on your individual oral health risk. NICE guidelines recommend individualised recall intervals between 3 and 24 months. You are not entitled to an automatic 6-monthly check-up.
| Risk category | Typical recall interval |
|---|---|
| Low risk adult (good oral health, stable history) | Up to 24 months |
| Moderate risk adult | 12 months |
| High risk adult (active gum disease, high decay rate) | 3-6 months |
| Children and young people | 6-12 months typically |
Source: NICE Guideline NG30 (Dental Checks: Intervals Between Oral Health Reviews).
Band 1 and children
Children under 18 pay nothing for any NHS dental treatment, including Band 1 check-ups. Under-19s in qualifying full-time education (sixth form, college, but not university) also pay nothing. There is no Band 1 charge to worry about for children.
For children in England, the NHS aims to provide routine dental care including fissure sealants (protective coatings on back teeth) as preventive Band 1 treatment. Access varies by region.
Band 1 charge history
| Year | Band 1 charge | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 (from 1 April 2026) | £27.90 | +1.8% |
| 2025/26 | £27.40 | +1.9% |
| 2024/25 | £26.80 | +3.1% |
| 2023/24 | £26.00 | +8.5% |
| 2022/23 | £23.80 | Frozen |
| 2021/22 | £23.80 | +1.7% |
| 2020/21 | £23.40 | Baseline |