Updated June 2026
NHS Dental Charges in Wales 2026/27
Wales operates a different NHS dental system from England. From 1 April 2026, Wales charges a fixed fee for each care package of treatment, capped at a maximum of £384 per course. This replaced the old three bands of £20, £60 and £260.
RECALL EXAM
£25.00
fixed care-package fee
MAXIMUM PER COURSE
£384
cap per treatment course
UNDER-25 & 60+ EXAMS
Free
free NHS dental exam
The 2026 Welsh dental contract reform
On 1 April 2026 Wales replaced England’s style of fixed three-band charging (which Wales had run at lower amounts: £20, £60 and £260) with a new General Dental Services contract. Under the new Welsh system:
- Your dentist plans a package of care based on your clinical needs
- You pay the fixed published fee for each care package you receive
- Your total charge for the course is capped at £384, however many packages it includes
- Examinations are free for anyone under 25 or aged 60 and over
This means Welsh charges track the specific packages of care you need rather than falling into England’s three fixed bands. A patient needing only a check-up pays the recall fee; a patient needing complex restorative work pays more per package but is protected by the £384 cap.
Welsh care-package charges from April 2026
These are the fixed patient charges for each care package. You pay the fee for the package your dentist delivers, with the total for the whole course capped at £384.
| Care package | Patient charge | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Recall examination (adult, per visit) | £25.00 | Routine check-up for a returning adult patient |
| New patient assessment (18+) | £27.21 | First assessment for a new adult patient |
| Urgent care | £37.50 | Treatment to manage pain or an acute problem |
| Simple restorative care | £36.03 | Fillings or extractions, up to four teeth |
| Extensive restorative care | £68.75 | Larger courses of fillings or extractions |
| Periodontal care | £48.53 | Treatment for gum disease |
| Anterior root canal treatment | £91.18 | Root canal on a front tooth |
| Posterior root canal treatment | £182.72 | Root canal on a back tooth |
| Crown or bridge | £140.44 | Crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays or veneers (up to two units) |
| Denture | £86.40 | Provision of a denture |
| Stabilisation | £75.00 | Stabilising care for complex or high-need cases |
| Maximum per course of treatment | £384.00 | Cap regardless of how many packages are combined |
Charges effective 1 April 2026. Source: gov.wales NHS dental charges and exemptions; NHSBSA Wales treatment charges guidance. Children under 18 and other exempt patients pay nothing.
Wales vs England: side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Wales | England |
|---|---|---|
| Charge structure | Fixed fee per care package | Fixed 3-band system |
| Examination charge | £25.00 (free under 25 / 60+) | £27.90 (Band 1) |
| Filling charge | £36.03 (simple restorative) | £76.60 (Band 2) |
| Crown charge | £140.44 (crown or bridge package) | £332.10 (Band 3) |
| Maximum charge | £384 per course | £332.10 per course |
| Free exams | Under-25s and over-60s | Not specifically exempt |
| Under-18 treatment | Free | Free |
| Emergency dental care | NHS 111 Wales route | NHS 111 England route |
Exemptions from NHS dental charges in Wales
The same UK-wide exemption categories apply in Wales. You pay nothing if you are:
- Under 18
- Under 19 in qualifying full-time education
- Pregnant or gave birth in the last 12 months (with Maternity Exemption Certificate)
- On Income Support
- On Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- On qualifying Universal Credit
- An HC2 certificate holder
- A War Pensioner (for accepted disability treatment)
Additionally in Wales: anyone under 25 or aged 60 and over receives free NHS dental examinations (though the care-package treatment charges still apply unless otherwise exempt).