Updated 17 April 2026

NHS Dental Charges History 2020-2026

NHS dental charge history from 2020/21 to 2026/27, including annual changes, the 2022/23 freeze, and how each year's rise compares to inflation.

Complete charge history 2020-2026

YearBand 1Band 2Band 3Notes
2026/271 April 2026£27.90+1.8%£76.60+1.7%£332.10+1.7%Current rates
2025/261 April 2025£27.40+2.2%£75.30+2.2%£326.70+2.1%
2024/251 April 2024£26.80+3.1%£73.50+2.9%£319.10+2.8%
2023/241 April 2023£26.00+9.2%£71.40+11.5%£310.10+11.6%Large rise after freeze
2022/231 April 2022£23.80Frozen£64.10Frozen£277.90FrozenCharge freeze applied
2021/221 April 2021£23.80+1.7%£65.20+1.7%£282.80+1.8%
2020/211 April 2020£23.40Baseline£64.10Baseline£277.90BaselineBaseline year

Sources: NHS Business Services Authority, Department of Health and Social Care statutory instruments, legislation.gov.uk.

The April 2026 increase in context

BAND 1 RISE (2026)

+1.8%

£27.40 to £27.90

BAND 2 RISE (2026)

+1.7%

£75.30 to £76.60

BAND 3 RISE (2026)

+1.7%

£326.70 to £332.10

The April 2026 rises of 1.7-1.8% are below UK CPI inflation for the period (approximately 2.6% in early 2026), meaning dental charges have effectively fallen in real terms for 2026/27.

Over the full 7-year period from 2020/21 to 2026/27, Band 1 has risen 19.2% cumulative. UK CPI over the same period was approximately 22-24%. NHS dental charges have therefore slightly underperformed inflation in cumulative terms, having frozen in 2022/23 and risen sharply in 2023/24 to compensate.

How NHS dental charges are set

NHS dental charges in England are set by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) as secondary legislation. The process:

The statutory instruments are published on legislation.gov.uk. Search for "NHS (Dental Charges)" to find the most recent and historical instruments.

Frequently asked questions

How much have NHS dental charges risen since 2020?
NHS dental charges have risen approximately 19% cumulatively from 2020/21 to 2026/27. Band 1 rose from £23.40 to £27.90 (up 19.2%), Band 2 from £64.10 to £76.60 (up 19.5%), and Band 3 from £277.90 to £332.10 (up 19.5%). Charges were frozen in 2022/23, meaning larger rises were required in subsequent years to catch up.
Were NHS dental charges frozen during the pandemic?
Charges were not specifically frozen during the pandemic (2020/21) but a freeze was applied in 2022/23, the first in several years. This was followed by larger-than-typical annual rises in 2023/24 (8.5% for Band 1) to partially catch up with inflation.
How are NHS dental charges set?
NHS dental charges are set by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and published annually, typically in March, effective from 1 April each year. They are set by statutory instrument under the National Health Service (Dental Charges) Regulations 2005 and the Primary Dental Services and Dental Charges Regulations. The increases are typically set at or below CPI inflation.
How do the 2026 NHS dental charge increases compare to inflation?
The April 2026 increase of 1.7-1.8% across all three bands is below the 2.6% UK CPI inflation figure for March 2026. This continues a pattern of NHS dental charges broadly tracking but not always exceeding general inflation. The 2023/24 rise of 8.5% was above inflation for that year, representing a catch-up from the 2022/23 freeze.

Related guides

Band 1 - £27.90 (what is included)Band 2 - £76.60 (fillings, extractions)Band 3 - £332.10 (crowns, dentures)All current NHS dental charges