Updated May 2026
Methodology and Sources
Every NHS dental charge published on this site is taken directly from a primary source. This page lists every source we use, what each authoritatively answers, and the verification log behind the headline figures.
How we source figures
We do not republish charges from secondary sources or aggregator sites. Every Band charge, exemption rule, Universal Credit threshold, and regional variation comes from the body responsible for setting or publishing it: the NHS Business Services Authority for England's charges, NHS Wales for the Welsh package model, NHS Inform Scotland for Scottish charges, HSC Business Services Organisation for Northern Ireland, and legislation.gov.uk for the underlying Statutory Instrument.
Where a figure is genuinely contested (for example, the precise NHS Wales package values) we cite the NHS Wales source directly and note any uncertainty rather than presenting a clean but unverified number.
For private-cost comparisons, we use published UK ranges from Which?, Bupa Dental Care, and similar authoritative consumer references. We do not invent private prices or quote unsourced estimates.
Primary sources
NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) - Dental Charges
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-dental-costs
Authoritatively answers: Current band charges in England, exemption rules, HC1 / HC2 / HC3 scheme, Penalty Charge Notice process.
legislation.gov.uk - The National Health Service (Dental Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/265)
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/265/contents/made
Authoritatively answers: Statutory instrument confirming Band 1 £27.90, Band 2 £76.60, Band 3 £332.10 from 1 April 2026 in England.
nhs.uk - Get help with dental costs
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/dental-costs/get-help-with-dental-costs/
Authoritatively answers: Plain-language patient guidance on exemptions, evidence required at the dentist, Maternity Exemption Certificate.
nhs.uk - NHS dental services explained
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/nhs-dental-services-explained/
Authoritatively answers: What each band covers clinically, course of treatment definition, NHS vs private rules.
NICE Guideline NG30 - Dental Checks: Intervals Between Oral Health Reviews
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg19
Authoritatively answers: Risk-based recall interval framework (3 to 24 months). Why six-monthly check-ups are not automatic on the NHS.
Local Dental Committee (LDC) - NHS dental charge poster
https://www.bda.org/dentists/policy-research/ldcs/
Authoritatively answers: Practice-display poster format that wording on this site mirrors so patients see a consistent statement.
gov.wales - NHS dental services in Wales
https://www.gov.wales/nhs-dental-services-wales
Authoritatively answers: Welsh dental contract reform, 50% package contribution model, £384 maximum per course.
NHS Inform Scotland - Dental services
https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/nhs-services/dental/nhs-dental-services
Authoritatively answers: Free dental examinations for everyone in Scotland, 80% patient contribution, £384 cap, free care for under-26s.
hscni.net (HSC Northern Ireland) - Dental services
https://hscbusiness.hscni.net/services/dental-services/
Authoritatively answers: HSC dental charge model (80% patient contribution, £384 cap), exemption categories in Northern Ireland.
Which? - Cost of private dental treatment
https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/dentists/article/cost-of-private-dental-treatment
Authoritatively answers: Independent UK private dental cost ranges used for NHS vs private comparison tables.
Bupa Dental Care - Treatment prices
https://www.bupa.co.uk/dental/dental-services
Authoritatively answers: Published Bupa Dental Care price tiers used as one cited point in private cost comparisons.
Update discipline
NHS dental charges in England are typically uprated on 1 April each financial year. The site is reviewed and republished against the new NHSBSA schedule on the publication date. Between annual updates, the site is reviewed monthly to check for rule changes, particularly to exemption categories and Universal Credit thresholds.
A "review" means: each page is read against its primary source, every numeric figure is cross-checked, and the LAST_VERIFIED_DATE constant in the codebase is rolled forward. That single constant feeds the footer date, the on-page "Updated" banner, and the Article schema's dateModified. The footer date and the on-page date can never diverge.
What triggers a republish
- New NHSBSA charge schedule (annual, typically 1 April).
- A change to exemption rules (Universal Credit thresholds, Pension Credit elements, HC2 eligibility).
- A change in the NHS Wales contract or Scottish charge model.
- A change in NICE recall guidance (currently NG30).
- A verified inaccuracy report from a reader.
- An NHS dental Statutory Instrument amendment.
Minor wording improvements that do not change a figure do not roll the LAST_VERIFIED_DATE forward.
Figure-by-figure verification log
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 charge (England, 2026/27) | £27.90 | NHSBSA charge schedule + SI 2026/265 |
| Band 2 charge (England, 2026/27) | £76.60 | NHSBSA charge schedule + SI 2026/265 |
| Band 3 charge (England, 2026/27) | £332.10 | NHSBSA charge schedule + SI 2026/265 |
| Band 1 charge (England, 2025/26) | £27.40 | NHSBSA historical schedule |
| Band 2 charge (England, 2025/26) | £75.30 | NHSBSA historical schedule |
| Band 3 charge (England, 2025/26) | £326.70 | NHSBSA historical schedule |
| Universal Credit earnings threshold (no housing/childcare) | £435 | nhs.uk - Universal Credit dental exemption guidance |
| Universal Credit earnings threshold (with housing/childcare) | £935 | nhs.uk - Universal Credit dental exemption guidance |
| Wales 50% package contribution + £384 maximum | £384 | gov.wales - NHS dental services in Wales |
| Scotland 80% patient contribution + £384 cap | £384 | NHS Inform Scotland - Dental services |
| Penalty Charge Notice cap | £100 | NHSBSA Penalty Charge Notice guidance |
| NHSBSA Help with NHS dental costs helpline | 0300 330 1343 | NHSBSA - Contact us |
What we do not publish
- Per-practice prices. NHS charges are nationally fixed, so practice-level pricing does not vary on the NHS. Private prices vary widely enough that a national reference site is not the right format.
- Personal clinical advice. Whether a tooth needs a filling, a root canal, or extraction is a clinical judgement made by your dentist.
- Recommendations on particular practices, dentists, or chains.
- Estimates of when an NHS practice in your area will reopen its list. Practice-level access varies week to week and is best checked locally.
Reporting an inaccuracy
If you find a figure on this site that does not match a primary source, email Oliver at [email protected] with the URL of the page in question and the source you have checked against. Verified inaccuracies are corrected the same week and the LAST_VERIFIED_DATE constant is rolled forward.