Updated May 2026
NHS Tooth Extraction Cost: £76.60 (Band 2, April 2026)
A simple NHS extraction at the practice is £76.60 (Band 2 from April 2026). Multiple simple extractions in one course are the same single charge. Complex surgical extractions referred to a hospital department are typically free.
SIMPLE EXTRACTION (BAND 2)
£76.60
One charge covers one or many simple extractions in the same course.
HOSPITAL SURGICAL EXTRACTION
£0
Hospital-referred surgery is NHS hospital treatment and free under the hospital-patient exemption.
Simple vs surgical extraction: what falls where
An extraction is "simple" if the tooth is fully erupted and can be removed with forceps under local anaesthetic at the practice. A "surgical" extraction requires raising a gum flap, sectioning the tooth, or removing bone, and is more commonly done in a hospital department or by an oral surgery specialist.
| Type of extraction | Where done | NHS cost | Private cost (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple extraction, fully erupted tooth | General dental practice | £76.60 (Band 2) | £100-250 |
| Multiple simple extractions, same course | General dental practice | £76.60 (Band 2) | £200-700 |
| Surgical extraction, broken-down tooth | Practice or hospital referral | £76.60 (practice) / free (hospital) | £200-400 |
| Wisdom tooth, simple erupted | Practice or hospital | £76.60 (practice) / free (hospital) | £200-450 |
| Impacted wisdom tooth, surgical | Hospital oral surgery | Free (hospital-patient exemption) | £400-800 |
Private ranges sourced from Which? UK and Bupa Dental Care published price tiers. London is typically 30-50% higher.
The hospital-patient free-treatment route
NHS dental treatment provided by a hospital dental department to a hospital outpatient is free. This is one of the eleven exemption categories. If your general dentist refers you to an oral surgery department for an extraction they cannot do at the practice, the surgery itself is part of your NHS hospital treatment.
This route is most common for impacted wisdom teeth, surgical removal of broken-down molars, removal of retained roots, and extractions for medically complex patients. NICE Guidance restricts NHS wisdom tooth surgery to cases with clear clinical indication, so not every wisdom tooth qualifies.
Waiting lists for hospital oral surgery vary widely by region. In some areas, waits are six months or more. If you need urgent removal, your dentist should still try the simple extraction route at the practice first if clinically possible.
When extraction triggers a higher band
An extraction alone is Band 2. If you need a denture or bridge to replace the extracted tooth in the same course of treatment, the charge upgrades to Band 3 (£332.10) and includes both the extraction and the replacement work.
| Scenario | Total NHS cost |
|---|---|
| Extraction only, no replacement work in this course | £76.60 (Band 2) |
| Extraction plus filling, same course | £76.60 (Band 2) |
| Extraction plus partial denture, same course | £332.10 (Band 3) |
| Extraction plus bridge, same course | £332.10 (Band 3) |
| Hospital-referred surgical extraction | Free (hospital exemption) |
Free extractions: who qualifies
If you qualify for free NHS dental treatment, the £76.60 extraction charge does not apply. Exempt categories include children under 18, under-19s in qualifying full-time education, pregnant women and women within 12 months of birth (with a Maternity Exemption Certificate), and people on Income Support, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, qualifying Universal Credit, or holding an HC2 certificate.
In addition, NHS dental treatment provided to a hospital outpatient by a hospital dental department is free regardless of any other exemption status. This is the route for complex surgical extractions.